Search - Rossini, Baltsa, Araiza :: Rossini: La Cenerentola (Dig)

Charming, Delicate Performance

Strephon | Montana, USA | 03/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Cenerentola" is Rossini at his best. The music is manic, engaging and funny, and Marriner and his orchestra and cast are up to the challenge without a weak link amongst them.



Agnes Baltsa plays the lead on this album. The chief rival on recording is of course the version with Cecilia Bartoli as Cinderella and Enzo Dara as Don Magnifico. Where Ms. Bartoli is a showman pulling notes out of left field and displaying a triumphant coloratura, Agnes Baltsa sticks to a more dramatically truthful portrayal. Her Cinderella is both thoughtful and forgiving. Where Ms. Bartoli is spectacular, Ms. Baltsa is beautiful. She gives a real characterization to a girl trapped by a dysfunctional family.



Francisco Araiza as the prince is a real treat. He has a good comic touch and a voice that blends tremendously well with Ms. Baltsa's. Mr. Araiza wins out in all aspects in regards to the role of the Prince compared to the other recordings available.



The Duet when Cinderella and the Prince meet is a burst of pure happiness where Araiza and Baltsa actually take the time to match each others coloratura phrasing virtually note for note, instead of showing off individually, which really delivers the full emotional payoff of Rossini's composing. It's as if these two were meant for each other, not because the music has them declare their love through coloratura passages, but because when they do, they're already in perfect synch.



The stand out performance on this album is that of Ruggero Raimondi as Don Magnifico. Truly, this is a magnificent man. I was laughing out loud during his performance. While he has never tackled the role on stage, you would hardly know it. On the other recording his rival is Enzo Dara, who in my opinion is a better Don Magnifico, but Raimondi finds such humor in Rossini's delightful music that it make this a recording well worth owning. His aria about the dignified donkey is worth the price of the CD alone... and he's got three more great songs to come. He takes a few of the songs at a noticably slower pace than Dara, but he gives you a delightful performance during the wait.



A few other things that stand out are the ensemble "Cenerentola, vien qua" which is taken at such a clip that it hardly seems possible. Also, in the ensembles the singers make sure to blend harmonies without showing each other up like on the other available recordings.



Dandini and Alidoro or very capable, Dandini is particularly amusing, and Clorina and Tisbe are hands down the best sisters on recording.



If You follow my advice, buy this recording. It's wonderful."