Track Listing

1. Casta Diva...Ah! bello a me ritorna
2. Casta Diva...Ah! bello a me ritorna
3. S'allontanano alfine!...Selva opaca
4. S'allontanano alfine!...Selva opaca
5. Qui la voce...Vien, diletto
6. Qui la voce...Vien, diletto
7. Ah! non credea mirarti
8. Una voce poco fa
9. Una voce poco fa
10. L'ora fatal s'appressa...Giusto ciel! In tal periglio
11. L'ora fatal s'appressa...Giusto ciel! In tal periglio
12. Piangete voi?...Al dolce guidami
13. Piangete voi?...Al dolce guidami
14. Regnava nel silenzio...Quando rapito in estasi
15. Regnava nel silenzio...Quando rapito in estasi

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #112968 in Music
• Released on: 2001-08-14
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
The title Casta Diva tells all. This recital disc shows soprano Angela Gheorghiu reaching out beyond the lyric Verdi-Gounod-Massenet-Puccini repertory in which she made her name and edging into the gymnastic world of coloratura and bel canto--with some measure of success. Her opening number, the eponymous Bellini "Casta Diva," doesn't show Gheorghiu at her best: the sound is hollow rather than serene and just a touch too fluttery in the vibrato to feel comfortable. But in other arias from La Sonnambula, I Puritani, and Guglielmo Tell, she seems on surer ground--though even here, the fioritura can be rushed and swallowed when it needs to be approached with measured confidence. Of course, the technique is there, as are the eloquence and subtlety--but take this disc as a token of things to come rather than evidence of what has already arrived. That way, you'll be pleasantly surprised as opposed to slightly disappointed. --Michael White

Customer Reviews

A taste of things to come
When I saw this disc, I was very sceptical. Sure, Gheorghiu is a wonderful soprano. But until now, she has focused on Verdi, Puccini, Massenet. Anything BUT bel canto! She is in what I would call 'Callas territory': Sure enough, the disc opens with 'Casta diva'' - Callas was famous for Norma. She sings the notes well, but in regard to the interpretative qualities, it falls. She doesn't convince me fully in the aria, and in the following cabaletta, she exaggerates too much, trying to be too dramatic. Norma is a difficult opera: even Callas said she finds Wagner easier than Norma.
In the other Bellini selections, she fares much better. She digs into the words, giving clear meanings and impressions of clear agaitation, as the drama calls for it(particularly in the Sonnambula aria; pity the finale was not included).
The Rossini selections are wonderful. Of the three composers represented (Bellini, Rossini, Donizetti), she seems to be at home most in Rossini. Her singing in the L'assedio di Corinto is especially moving(listen to 'Giusto ciel!' Her pianissimi are to die for!). 'Una voce poco fa', the only comic representation here, she proves to be a charming comedienne, portraying her Rosina with humour and sharp wit. Her use of words here is impressive again. Right at the end of the aira, where she has a high note, Gheorghiu attacks the note straight - a thrilling spectacle. In fact, I decided to buy the disc, when I listened to the note.
Of the Donizetti offerings, she is more successful in Lucia than Anna Bolena.In the Lucia selection, she gets into the heart of Lucy's character, hinting to the madness that is to follow later in the opera, whereas in the Bolena, she tries too hard again, robbing the music of its simplicity and subtleties- Generally, this is a mildly successful recording. Gheorghiu has some way to go before she is to be fully ready for this repertoire, but as mentioned in the booklet, this will hopefully be 'a taste of pleasures to come'. The LSO and Pido give the most sensitive accompaniment imaginable, and the sound is a winner.

Good starting place into dangerous territory
Angela Gheorghiu is a beautiful woman who happens to have a lovely, dark voice capable of many colors. Her voice is immediately recognizable. She dives head first into this recital of technically difficult and dramatically challenging arias. Some arias are performed superbly. Others need more work. She has good Italian throughout this disc. She is a speaker of the language, so to say that she has bad Italian shows ignorance on the part of the one reviewer who said disparaging remarks about her diction. She does not have intonation problems on this disc. Her "Casta Diva" sounds far too studied and detached. She sounds as if she wants to perform the aria brilliantly in terms of simply pulling it off rather than investing her entire dramatic intelligence into it. The arias from "Guglielmo Tell" and "L'Assedio di Corinto" are performed superbly with a lot of dramatic commitment. Her coloratura throughout is secure, but it does not have the same fluidity that Sutherland and Sills commanded. However, to criticize her good coloratura technique is too narrow-minded. She is not a true coloratura. Keep that in mind. The "Anna Bolena" aria is sung well. The first half is done superbly, but the requisite nostalgia in the second half is missing. She tries, but fails to convince. Her "Una voce poco fa" is sung brilliantly, but without any charm or wit. It is too bad. The arias from "La Sonnambula" and "I Puritani" are sung nicely, but the high E's are not really secure. She needs to work on those notes. She also lacks a real trill. Her "Lucia di Lammermoor" excerpt is good, but Sutherland and Sills have sung it better. Sills also sang it with more convincing emotion. Overall, this disc is a good look at what may come from Gheorghiu in the future in the bel canto repertory.

Previous Customer Reviews seem Biased
I have only listened through this CD once, and I must say that I found it quite enjoyable. I must also say that the review given by Amazon, is the most acurate amongst the reviews I've read here. Ghoerghiu clearly has a beautiful, well produced voice, and that is in evidence here. She does NOT have intonation problems in this recital, and while at times her vioce feels like it could be more florid and relaxed in places it is generally easily produced. If you enjoy her smokey hued voiced you will enjoy this album, although it is not the most artistically put together recital, in general I concur totally with the Amazon editorial review. I too believe that this CD forshadows directions Ghoerghiu could take herself.