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Yes, its sung in English, and the translation is as pungent as the original, but the compelling reason for buying this set is for the Turandot. It is, hands down, Jane Eaglens finest recording. The soprano is in superb voice, absolutely secure, with high notes easy and blazing and tenderness available when needed. A great performance. ONeills Calaf is caught too late in his career to be totally heroic, but his dedication and involvement are never in doubt. Mary Plazass Liu has the requisite (amazingly beautiful) soft high notes, and shes deeply moving. Clive Baylay does what he can with Timur, the dullest bass role in opera. Nicolai Gedda offers a cameo as the ancient Emperor, singing in perfectly understandable English. David Parrys leadership is thrilling. And Chandoss engineers have given us a crystal-clear recording, even in the biggest, heaviest moments. Very exciting. --Robert Levine
Rate Points :3.5
Binding :Audio CD
Label :Chandos
Manufacturer :Chandos
ProductGroup :Music
Studio :Chandos
Publisher :Chandos
UPC :095115308622
EAN :0095115308622
Price :$31.98USD
Lowest Price :$21.46USD
Rating Point :2 Helpful Point :0
Jane Eaglen has often been touted as the coming great dramatic soprano. However, her recorded work doesnt give people any such impression. Her Turandot on this set is underpowered, unsteady and unfeeling. Its just a cardboard protrayal without any real vocal or interpretative distinction. The other members of the cast perform adequately.
Introduction To Turandot For Starters
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :0
The Chandos Opera In English series are perfect introductions to opera for beginners. This Turandot features the great talents of Dennis ONeill as Calaf, Jane Eaglen as Turandot, Mary Plazas as Liu and as the Emperor is Nicolai Gedda. Sung in English, it does not sacrifice the dramatic content, nor the original melodic beauty of Puccinis Italian opera style. What a splendid intro to opera for novices. Among other operas in the English-sung series are Mozarts Don Giovanni, Wagners Ring Cycle, Puccinis Tosca and Bizets Carmen, all popular and mainstream operas that are performed in major opera companies in our current day.
Turandot was Puccinis final masterpiece, opening night was in Italy in 1926 directly after Puccinis death. It is said every noted celebrity and big wig was there, except for Mussolini who hated the operas mix of patriotism and emphasis on the triumph of love. Turandot is set in ancient Peking, China, in a time of legend. The Princess Turandot (Jane Eaglen) the virgin daughter of the Emperor, has been decreed by law to wed the man who answers three riddles. Every suitor has failed so far and executed. As the opera begins, the Prince of Persia is being executed. Calaf (Dennis ONeill)is the son of Timur, the Tartar King, who is nearly crushed in the milling crowd. He meets up with his father and with his slave girl Liu, who is in love with Calaf. Upon first sight of the cold and proud Turandot, he vows he will answer all three riddles and strikes the gong. The three Ministers Ping Pang and Pong provide comic relief and melodic trios as they try to reason with Calaf. Turandot appears and tells the story of her wronged ancestor, Princess Lo-u-Ling, who was killed (and possibly raped) by the armies of the Tartar enemy. She asks the three riddles and each time Calaf answers correctly. She begs her father to change the law but her father insists the law is sacred. Calaf does not want to have her by force so he makes a deal with Turandot. If she discovers his name by dawn the next day, she will not have to marry him. Liu is in love with Calaf and attempts to keep his name a secret, even under torture. She stabs herself. Calaf finally kisses Turandot and breaks the spell. She is now in love with him and decides to keep his identity as a Tartar enemy a secret, proclaiming his name is "Love" to the public. The finale is one of the most renowned in opera history. Jane Eaglen is the reason you should purchase this recording. She is first and foremost a Wagnerian soprano, in the tradition of Birgit Nilsson who also sang the role of Turandot. Turandot is an icy Empress, whose high tessitura and sustained high notes are not flexible, but pretty static, yet powerful, cutting through the orchestra. This kind of voice is the definition for Wagnerian vocals and it is perfect that Jane Eaglens mighty voice is suited for Turandot. She has also sang the role of Brunhilde in Wagners Ring operas.
A mediocre performance
Rating Point :2 Helpful Point :4
I dont find this recording to be at all satisfactory. The orchestral playing is good enough and Puccinis colorful score gets a vivid, if not truly exceptional reading. Unfortunately, the singing leaves much to be desired. Jane Eaglens Turandot is underpowered and she sounds like the characters same old haughty self even when shes supposed to be won over by Calafs love. This is a very one-dimensional and uninteresting characterisation. Dennis ONeill is caught here past his prime. Some of the high notes (and high lying passages) are rather effortful and the tenor is not in very fresh voice. Mary Plazas gives a tender performance of Liu with some beautifully spin-out high notes. Hers is the best performance of the set. The other roles are adequately taken but its good of have Gedda as the Emperor.
this turandot rules supreme
Rating Point :5 Helpful Point :4
This performance is recorded in magnificent sound and captures an interpretation full of energy and verve by all performers involved.
jane eaglen, above all, our greatest living turandot.
the chandos company captures the full beauty and size of her voice ( as it did with her tosca and aida ) unlike any of her sony recordings ( why ? why ? why ? ). this will tide us over until decca FINALLY releases the live metropolitan performance with pavarotti, hong and levine it has been sitting on lo these many years.
dennis oneil, excellent in everything except the big act 3 aria
and their the competition is just too fierce. plazas is a good
liu and like oneil maybe lacking that last bit of polish that
makes a good singer a great one.
and speaking of great singers, nicolai gedda as the emporer,
what a treat !
timur, ping, pang and pong all very good.
the scene change for act 2 has to be heard ( and felt ) to be believed ( i think my living room floor shuddered )
parry, the conductor, knows how to drive this piece forward and when to take his time and the chandos team captures the chorus and orchestra in extraordinary clarity and sparkle.
i have rarely heard an accoustic so spacious and full.
all hail jane eaglen ! may she reign for a thousand years !
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