Search - Edita Gruberova, Alfredo Kraus, Renato Bruson :: Donizetti: Lucia Di Lammermoor

Not the best but good

Vissi d'arte | 03/29/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I guess I was too excited to listen to Gruberova's Lucia for some reason. And yes...it was not as good as what I expected. It is still good but if this is the first Lucia set you are thinking to get, you better consider Callas's Lucia FIRST or if you want better recording quality with GREAT Lucia, choose Sutherland one with Pavarotti. This set though is worth to have as an additional version."

One Of The Better Lucias

Mr John Haueisen | 07/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lucia Di Lammermoor is Donizetti's most popular masterpiece. It is the definition of bel canto, since so much of the singing is gorgeous and listening pleasure. There are many sopranos who take on the role of Lucia. It was Maria Callas who popularized the opera in the 20th century. Before that, sopranos who had sung Lucia considered the entire opera to be non-dramatic, romantic fluff and merely a showcase for coloratura divas. The Mad Scene is the highlight and the opera's most famous and memorable scene, which requires the soprano to spin out vocal trills and roulades in an effort to convince the audience that she has gone mad and is ranting. In addition, she must match the pace of the flute which accompanies the last part of the aria. Maria Callas does a great job and succeeds in presenting a dramatic performance with her Lucia. She does seem to be going mad, and her lush elegant legato and coloratura is quite superb. But other than Callas, it is Beverly Sills, Lily Pons and Edita Gruberova who manage to take the trophies.Personally, my favorite and the one I regard as the best and definitive Lucia is Beverly Sills. But this cd is about Edita Gruberova. Gruberova is exceptional, quite gifted and a worthy Lucia interpretor. Her "Regnava n'el Silenzio" is one of the best I've heard as is "Rapito en estasi", the forementined Mad Scene and "Spargi d'amaro pianto". Gruberova brings coloratura expression with the right touch. In addition, this recording is very worth buying for Alfredo Kraus' tenor role of Edgardo. He is one of the best, next to the likes of such great tenors as Placido Domingo, Carlo Bergonzi and Enrico Caruso."

The lovers of Lammermoor--Great because of the singing

Mr John Haueisen | WORTHINGTON, OHIO United States | 03/20/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If Lucia di Lammermoor is one of your favorites, this is a recording you will treasure.

I've heard better orchestras, and it's hard to beat the drama when you watch an opera live, or even on a DVD. But this one is great because Lucia performances succeed chiefly on who plays Lucia and Edgardo.



Edgardo here is Alfredo Kraus who brings a combination of passion and perhaps the clearest, honest, most believable Edgardo you will ever hear.



Lucia is Edita Gruberova who sings as close to perfection as woman or man has ever come. She sings all the difficult sections with ease, precision, and at times, ornamentation that seem almost beyond human capabilities. Occasionally people remark to Gruberova that it must be wonderful to have been born with such a gifted voice. Although she replies with a polite "Thank you so much," she has explained many times that she has worked hard all her life--that the voice must be exercised and conquered through hours of practice every day to make it the wonderful tool that we hear in this recording.



It's currently unavailable, but if you get the opportunity to buy a used copy, you will hear perhaps the greatest ever pairing of the lovers of Lammermoor.

"