Cilèa - Adriana Lecouvreur - Caballé, Carreras - 1976Performer: Ivo Vinco, Piero de Palma, Attilio D'Orazi, Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Scilly Fortunato, Fiorenza Cossotto, Paolo Mazzotta, Nella Verri, Pietro De Vietri, Keizo Takahashi
Conductor: Giancarlo Masini
Orchestra/Ensemble: NHK Symphony Orchestra Tokyo
1976 saw Carreras in his prime, and here his young, ardent voice suits Maurizio to a T. He produces some glorious ringing top notes in his solos, and his duets with his two lovers are all marvellous. He too manages an impressive graded diminuendo at Adriana’s death. This is a fitting tribute to the artist before the publicity machine took over. Most characterful of all, however, is the fire-eating Fiorenza Cossotto, who chews up the scenery as the Princess. She is a formidable, imperious stage presence with a full, rich voice to match. Her first aria in Act 2 is really exciting, and she clearly loves the excitement of the live occasion; her vengeful fury in Act 3 is entirely believable. In short, the three principals strike sparks off each other and raise this melodrama to the level of great music which it can miss in the hands of lesser mortals. D’Orazi is a well-rounded Michonnet, curmudgeonly in the opening scene, but touching in his not-quite-declarations-of-love for Adriana. The comprimario roles are all taken very well, especially the Abbé if Piero de Palma.
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