Search - Giacomo Meyerbeer, Jean Perrison, Antonio de Almeida :: Meyerbeer - L'Africaine / Domingo · Verrett · Mittelmann · Perisson [Selection]

The Only Recording So Far...

Daniel Mitrano | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 12/04/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The good--Shirley Verrett has an ample and sultry dramatic mezzo-soprano/soprano voice and sings with endless feeling, color, and detail: a noble and gripping performance. Domingo nearly matches her with golden tone, dramatic insight, and unfailing musicality. Mittleman, Mandac, and the rest of the cast don't disgrace the stars but never reach their level either. Perisson doesn't let the music drag and conducts with verve. The bad--live performance values don't undermine the enjoyment of this set, but add little in the way of ensemble clarity from both singers and orchestra. The added electricity of stage singing (as opposed to studio conditions) is welcome but could be traded for better sonics. The ugly--Why hasn't this opera been commercially recorded? Surely Verrett and Domingo could have found time in their busy 1970's schedules to record parts they obviously own every note of. Another opera-recording-world mystery."