COMPOSERS: Puccini
LABELS: Discover International
WORKS: Gianni Schicchi
PERFORMER: Eduard Tumagian, Miriam Gauci, Yordi Ramiro; BRTN PO Brussels/ Alexander Rahbari
CATALOGUE NO: DICD 920119 DDD
After Rahbari’s Suor Angelica (see previous page), his Gianni Schicchi comes as a disappointment. The orchestra plays very well, but without sparkle. The absence of Italian singers in this most Italian of Puccini’s works is a major drawback; the singers simply do not savour the witty text as they should and the voices sound very dim and recessed. Gauci is again the star, singing as seductive an ‘O mio babbino caro’ as you are likely to hear. But the rest is frankly provincial. Hugh Canning
Puccini: Gianni Schicchi
After Rahbari’s Suor Angelica (see previous page), his Gianni Schicchi comes as a disappointment. The orchestra plays very well, but without sparkle. The absence of Italian singers in this most Italian of Puccini’s works is a major drawback; the singers simply do not savour the witty text as they should and the voices sound very dim and recessed. Gauci is again the star, singing as seductive an ‘O mio babbino caro’ as you are likely to hear. But the rest is frankly provincial. Hugh Canning
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:32 pm