"Everyday is like Christmas with Opera Rara around!
Yet another great recording (and a live one) with Opera Rara faves Jennifer Larmore, Majella Cullagh and Bruce Ford. The Divine Larmore gives her many fans what they expect. (Why is this mezzo not singing in the States?)
The real treat for me is the duet in Act I with Ottone (Larmore) and Adelaide (Cullagh)...Wow...This is what great Rossini singing is all about. The pure sound and rockin' bel canto singing is to die for. These gals sure got it. Thank you.
As for the opera? Good? Bad? Who cares...It's Rossini done brilliantly.
Why are there no record labels like Opera Rara done out of the United States?? Huh?"
NOT THE BEST FROM OPERA RARA
bel canto fan | edmonton, canada | 06/15/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I give this performance 3 stars only due to the singing of soprano Majella Culagh. She screaches every time she gets to high notes, her voice is very sharp and unpleasant at this moments and not clear most of the time. I am surprised by applaudes she gets from audience, but it is a life performance of rare opera, so people are pleased.
As far as opera itself, it is hard to judge when you have to cover your ears everytime the star of the opera is singing. My opinion: it is average Rossini. It has a few great arias and duet, after all it is Rossini. I spend a few days watching DVD Bianco and Faliero, which is without reservations is top notch Rossini, so after that one, Adelaide is just OK.
I will look for a performance with Mariela Devia though, there was a copy from Amazon.UK available couple weeks ago, in her hands the Adelaide may still shine. To quote Opera Rara Jeremy Commons "Rossini is never without vitality, and never without musical distinction. Even in his operas of minor fame, he never stands less than a cubic taller than most of his contemporaries".
Just a short outline of plot.
The action is based on real historical persons and events of Italian history in 10th centuary. Adelaide is widow of Italian king Lottario, who is murdered by Berengario. Berengario tries to force Adelaide to marry his son Adelberto to legitimise his claim to the throne. Adelaide resists and calls for help to Otto II, Ottone in opera, German king. He arrives to rescue her, falls in love and marries her, but not before falling into various traps provided by Berengario and Adelbrando. Historically Otto II then unites Germany and Italy under one crown, thanks to Adelaide, and is crowned the Holy Roman Emperor, but that is after the opera ends.
The plot is very solid, with characters who speak and act as real people.
It is short opera, 2 discs - 77 min and 52 min. Opera Rara's booklet and packaging is per their usual standards, which is never less than excelent.
Sound is very good. Scotish Chamber Orchestra plays well. Jennifer Larmore as Ottone does great job. Bruce Ford is very competent Adelberto.
But somehow all together it is not the best."
Mixed-bag Rossini given a stunning perrmance
John Cragg | Delta(greater Vancouver), B.C Canada | 07/22/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When it was first put on, this opera was a resounding flop. It has some very, very good Rossini -- the sort that shone brilliantly in the lighter operas -- some very routine Rossini, some borrowed Rossini and some material composed by another (very minor ) composer. The libretto is not great -- and was a bit butchered by Rossini -- though Jeremy Commons rather quixotically spends much of his essay in the booklet defending it. As is all too common with Rossini, the music does not exactly complement what is going on in the libretto. This is a minor problem outside a staged production, since one does not have to follow the libretto closely and in any case Rossini's esthetic and own bel-canto style regularly loses the sense of the words completely in the glorious music. And glorious much of it is. The choral writing is usually rich -- for Rossini -- and Rossini's writing for the main soprano, contralto and tenor is always good, sometimes inspired and sometimes only standard or typical (or borrowed) Rossini.
The performance here is outstanding. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus perform with conviction and energy, ably conducted by Giuliano Carella. Majella Cullagh in the title role turns in some outstanding bravura singing, though she seems to have had to sing herself into the part, and especially near the beginning produced some very harsh tones. Jennifer Larmore, in a trouser role that probably would be very unconvincing in the theatre no matter who is the diva, sings with great beauty and supurb technique, handling the bravura passages with great elan. Bruce Ford, playing a villain though you would not guess it from the music alone, is in as good voice and confident technique as I have ever heard him -- and Bruce Ford at his best is very very worth hearing. Mirco Palazzi rounds out the principal singers and turns in a most creditable job. All in all, this is the best Adelaide di Borgogna we are likely to get any time soon, and while I would not travel far to see the opera if it should be staged again, I shall certainly be listening to this recording repeatedly."
Track Listings (34) - Disc #1