Angela Gheorghiu - Live from La ScalaCD - DDD - Cover - 65'33
EMI Classics 2007
She could have sung all night - and still they'd have begged for more
The audience is clearly out for an orgy of diva-worship, applause after every song, so this is a recital to be enjoyed in the spirit of indulgence. It’s a bit odd to hear “Plaisir d’amour” in Italian right at the start, and although Angela Gheorghiu sings that and the succeeding group of 18th-century songs and arias by Scarlatti, Parisotti and Gluck with plenty of luscious tone, like many singers before her she is using these ancient airs to give the proceedings a gentle start. The songs by Bellini and Donizetti suit her better, but it’s the Verdi group that is the heart of the first half. “In solitaria stanza”, with its main theme closely resembling “Tacea la notte” from Il trovatore, must rank as one of the loveliest things she has recorded. This is framed by the coquettish “Stornello” and the almost raucous “Brindisi” (nothing to do with La traviata).
The second half opens with a French group, the Gounod Sérénade and Bizet’s “Chant d’amour” nicely contrasted, love songs in relaxed and urgent moods. It is the Massenet “Elégie” that benefits from Gheorghiu’s operatic experience: here are words and music given equal importance to make a miniature drama. The songs by Romanian composers Alfred Alessandrescu, Diamanti Gheciu and Tiberiu Brediceanu are sung with obvious affection and relish; in these, and throughout the recital, Jeff Cohen provides sensitive and idiomatic accompaniment. Brediceanu’s “Bade, pentru ochii tai” is a particularly haunting melody. To end this group, Gheorghiu sings a classic of Romanian operetta, “Te iubesc” from Gherase Dendrino’s Lasati-ma sa cant, a beautiful slow waltz, and another song that suits her perfectly. The encores, including “I could have danced all night” (no comment), seem to provoke a certain amount of heckling from the audience, to which Gheorghiu responds simply with “Grazia”. The recording catches the mood; it was obviously a fun evening. -- Patrick O'Connor, Gramophone [11/2007]
1. Martini: Piacer d’amor
2. Scarlatti: O cessate di piagarmi
3. Parisotti: Se tu m’ami
4. Gluck: O del mio dolce ardor
5. Bellini: Malinconia, ninfa gentile
6. Bellini: Vanne o rosa fortunata
7. Donizetti: Me voglio fa’na casa
8. Verdi: Stornello
9. Verdi: In solitaria stanza
10. Verdi: Brindisi II
11. Gounod: Serenade
12. Bizet: Chant d’amour
13. Massenet: Elegie
14. Alfred Alessandrescu: Sub perdeaua dragei mele
15. Diamanti Gheciu: Si daca
16. Tiberiu Brediceanu: Floricica de pe apa
17. Tiberiu Brediceanu: Bade, pentru ochii tai
18. Tiberiu Brediceanu: Vai, badita, dragi ne-avem
19. Gherase Dendrino: Te iubesc
20. F. P. Tosti: A Vucchella
21. Lerner/Loewe: I could have danced all night
22. Puccini: O mio babbino caro
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Listen to the 22 tracks at Amazon
