Search - Beverly Sills, Sherrill Milnes, Ruggero Raimondi :: Rossini: The Barber of Seville (Complete opera); Beverly Sills; Nicolai Gedda; James Levine; London Symphony Orchestra

Lively, Idomatic Performance at a Bargain Price!

Robert Sorrentino | Cherry Hill, N.J. | 03/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded in 1975 and recently re-issued at a bargain price, this recording of "Barbiere" is hard to beat for sheer, sportive fun, with everyone involved sounding like they're enjoying themselves. Here you have Sills, Milnes, Gedda, Renato Capecchi, and Ruggiero Raimondi, all at the height of their respective powers, and the young James Levine, all bounce and go with the first flush of success, conducting. How to pick highlights from highlights? Well, how about Milnes with a "Largo al Factotum" to rival Merrill and Ruffo's recordings for sheer abandon? And then there's Gedda, with the most feather-light "Ecco, Ridente" I have ever heard. Alas, the recording includes a synopsis, but no libretto. No real loss, though, when you consider what you're getting for the price: A vibrant performance full of fun and great music-making."

A Misfire

Ted Zoldan | Los Angeles, CA, USA | 10/09/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"On paper, this looks like a dream cast, but the reality proves unfortunate. BVeverly Sills, Nicolai Gedda and Sherril Milnes are some of my favorite singers, but here, Sills sounds fatigued (though her "Un Vene Poco fa" is charming and winsome), Milnes misses the finese of Figaro, and Gedda, sad to say, sounds old and tired. Renato Cappecchi is a miscast Bartolo, but Raimondi is an imposing Bartolo, if without the nuances that Zaccaria brings to the role or the sheer glee Ramey and Montarsolo do. Levine's tempi are plodding, and Fedora Barbieri shows up in a cameo as Bertha, compleatly ill-equiped. If it were not for Sill (who can do no real wrong) and Raimondi, I wouldn't even bother looking at it. 2/5"

Recorded too late

Otello1901 | Boston, MA USA | 07/06/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I wish that I could speak more highly of this performance, as it was made by some of my favorite singers (and conductor). Alas, I can not. Milnes is a fine Figaro. Sills (I love her) should have recorded this role about 10 years earlier. Really unfortunately, I found Gedda's work painful. A fine, stylish tenor in his prime, he is well past it here.



Sometimes great talents come together and misfire. But, if you are a Sills fan..."