This is a nicely entertaining Barber, with just the rightsense of fun running through it to avoid slapstick and still bring asophisticated smile to one's lips. Teresa Berganza is so right, sounexaggerated, so pyrotechnically capable yet filled with good taste, that it'simpossible to find fault with her Rosina. Luigi Alva's Count is classy andhoney-toned up to the top of the staff, where the voice simply stopsblooming; he's also not as good as one might wish with Rossini's difficultfast music. Hermann Prey's Figaro is similarly impaired--the coloratura isjust not pristine--but his style, attitude, and intelligence are pure gold; he'svastly entertaining. The other low-voiced men are ideal Rossinians. Abbadoholds the whole thing together--this is a very satisfying performance. Robert Levine
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