Gaetano Donizetti, Beverly Sills, Carlo Bergonzi, Thomas Schippers, London Symphony Orchestra - Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: Complete Opera (with full libretto and translation)

This Lucia was recorded in 1970, when Beverly Sills was at the peak of her vocal and dramatic powers. She had been singing the role of Lucia on stage for six years, and she knew the character. Here is a manic-depressive who is slightly crazy from the start, and Sills's embellishments to the vocal line (and there are tons of them; hardly a line is left as written), mostly composed especially for her, are always at the service of the drama. She is a far cry from the chirpy Pons and Peters (and even Sutherland, whose just-plain-singing of the role is unmatchable, but who was never all that interested in building character) and comes closer to Callas, but without the great Greek soprano's huge palette of colors or, for that matter, vocal limitations. Sills is gloriously fluent in the coloratura, the high notes are impeccable, and her reading of the words is truly involved and involving. Carlo Bergonzi has everything as Edgardo, while Piero Cappuccilli's Enrico is snarling and cruel. Schippers leads a very tight, exciting, complete performance, and for the first (and only) time on CD, the glass harmonica Donizetti asked for is used in the Mad Scene. This is a must for lovers of great singing. --Robert Levine Amazon.com

bravo,Beverly

Bravro, Beverly. God must be in heaven with you there now . Oh, of course, God is already in Heaven---You just made it better !
Tears just flowed at your Mad Scene---And then there was Carlo Bergonzi ! Does it get any better ??? Maybe, but I don't think so--Magnificent !
Thank you Beverly Sills for all you gave us with your Beauty and tenacity
Marcia Hennessy
Owls Head,NY July 24, 2008

opera

I bought this as a present for my husband who is an "opera maven". It is considered to be a rare recording as it is not only the complete (unabridged) opera but features Beverly Sills and a glass harmonica (rarely used). He loves the recording April 6, 2008

Brilliant

I usually don't write reviews but this is a worthy recording. I have heard about eight different recordings of Lucia Di Lammermoor (including popular Callas and Sutherland ones) and this is by far my favourite. Sills' voice is beautiful, melodic, and dances right on the edge of chaos as every good Lucia should. This is THE performance of Lucia di Lammermoor. March 20, 2008

Beverly's Finest Hour ?

Excellent recording of a noteworthy performance. The glass harmonica adds a special charm.

JWH November 29, 2007

you DO need THIS recording of "Lucia"!

There are many recordings of "Lucia di Lammermoor", and, many are very good, some are excellent, and then, there are some that would not be missed.

This, luckily, is not one of the last group. Neither, is it from the very good group! Which leaves excellent for our rating!

Sills is truly great in this role. Her coloratura is spot on, her entire personna for Lucia comes through as a living, breathing, person. Now, let's face it, she's not Sutherland (who owns the role), but, nevertheless, she bests Dame Joan in that her Lucia is human, which, Sutherland's was not necessarily. She could spin the notes beautifully, but her characterizations were always wooden, 2-dimensional cut-outs (it's just the way she was). But, Sills gives us a believable Lucia...3 dimensional, and one you can feel for as a real person. She simply is wonderful. Period.

Bergonzi, luckily for us, was before his unravelling, and is in clear, crisp tone here, demonstrating everything that Edgardo should be. He is in charge of himself, and on top of everything. A great characterization and "performance" that can stand up to anyone's.

Cappucilli, here, is in particularly great form. His turn at Enrico is a gnarly, nasty piece of work, perhaps just a touch over the top, but it sure works here, set against Sills and Bergonzi. While I have always "given it up" for Merrill in this role, Cappucilli, in truth, is just wonderful, an admirable performance, for sure.

Schippers, at the head of it all, as always, turns in a wonderfully thought-out, completely cohesive reading of Donizetti's score. Never uneven or "episodic" (patchy) as many conductors are wont to do with this tragic work. Schippers, sadly, passed away very young, and would, surely, have come to have inherited Toscanini's mantle, I believe. We are fortunate indeed to have this reading of this great work with him conducting.

One of the high-points of this recording, and that which makes it special over every other one, is the inclusion of the glass harmonica in the mad scene, as Donizetti wrote it...not the flute. This is the only recording that includes this eerie, surreal instrument, and it DOES work wonderfully! Even if the recording and the singing of the artists were not at the top of the list, you would still need to make room on your shelves for this recording, just for this aspect. If you are not familiar with this set, by all means, do go in with both feet and order it. You will never be sorry after you have heard "Lucia" as written by Gaetano. September 11, 2007

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