TOTAL TIME: 132 MINUTES

CD 1 71:51

CD 2 60:30  

!!! Condition of this CD is USED LIKE NEW !!!

English Summary:

La Sonnambula is more than just a beautiful opera: it is one of the most powerful manifestos of early 19th century theatre, in which romantic atmospheres recently arrived from beyond the Alps are toned down into a much more subtle, ambiguous game and are therefore indelibly impressed in the audience's memory.

This recording of La Sonnambula is taken from a live 1988 performance of the opera in Como, and it suffers from many of the weaknesses that plague live performances by provincial companies. The sound is less than ideal, generally a little tinny, brittle, and thin, and the chorus is distant sounding. There are the usual ambient sounds of live recordings (here including distant road and air traffic), which would be easier to overlook if the performance were stellar. Marcello Viotti, conducting Orchestra Sinfonica di Piacenza and the Coro Città di Como, leads an uneven reading of the score, one that's generally a little on the slow and flaccid side, and his pacing of the solos is particularly lackluster. There is occasionally a lack of coordination between the orchestra and the chorus, which sometimes lags about half a beat behind and has some moments of embarrassing tentativeness. In the title role, Mariella Devia sings with purity, warmth, and agility, but does little to dramatically fill out the part. Luca Canonici is mostly adequate as Elvino, but is a little breathy and unsupported sounding. As Count Rodolfo, Alessandro Verducci sounds very old, unconvincing as a possible rival for Amina's affections, and he sings with excess vibrato. The singers in the supporting roles are not outstanding. Aside from Devia's fine vocalism, there's little to recommend this enervated performance of the opera, particularly when there's a wealth of superior versions available.

Vincenzo Bellini

La Sonnambula

Opera in Two Acts

Orchestra Sinfonica di Piacenza,

Coro Citta di Como

Marcello Viotti, conductor

Recorded Como, 1988

Cast

Amina - Mariella Devia
Il Conte Rodolfo - Alessandro Verducci
Teresa - Laura Musella
Elvino - Luca Canonici
Lisa - Elisabetta Battaglia
Alessio - Giuseppe Riva
Un notaro - Vittorio Gattozzi

Tracklist

DISC 1

La sonnambula, opera     
    
1     Act 1. Viva! viva! viva! viva! Amina!
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 11:02     
    
2     Act 1. Care compagne, e voi, teneri amici
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 10:48     
    
3     Act 1. Perdona, o mia diletta, il breve indugio
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 2:42     
    
4     Act 1. Prendi: l'anel ti dono
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 10:15     
    
5     Act 1. Vi ravviso, o luoghi ameni
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 8:33     
    
6     Act 1. A fosco cielo, a notte bruna
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 8:01     
    
7     Act 1. Son geloso del zefiro errante
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 6:27     
    
8     Act 1. Davver, non mi dispiace d'essermi qui fermato
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 13:50    

DISC 2    

   
1     Act 1. ? menzogna
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 2:00     
    
2     Act 1. D'un pensiero e d'un accento
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 5:41     
    
3     Act 1. Non pi? nozze
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 2:13     
    
4     Act 2. Qui la selva ? pi? folta ed ombrosa
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 6:22     
    
5     Act 2. Reggimi, o buona madre
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 4:31     
    
6     Act 2. Vedi, o madre, ? afflitto e mesto
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 4:29     
    
7     Act 2. Ah! perché non posso odiarti
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 2:40     
    
8     Act 2. De' lieti auguri
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 8:59     
    
9     Act 2. Lisa mendace anch'essa!
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 6:52     
    
10     Act 2. Oh! se una volta sola rivederlo io potessi
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 5:18     
    
11     Act 2. Ah, non credea mirarti
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 7:14     
    
12     Act 2. Ah! non giunge uman pensiero
    
Luca Canonici / Mariella Devia / Marcello Viotti 4:04