This collection is culled from CDs recorded between 1995 and 2002, and in brief, Angela Gheorghiu lives up to the appellation the CD’s title gives her. She is, indeed, an outstanding singer. Her voice is unique, with a grain going through it that’s the opposite of “pure” but nevertheless is glorious; her interpretive capabilities vary, but when she’s engaged–as she is, say, in the Carmen, Norma, and Werther–she’s utterly convincing.
“Casta diva”, shorn of its cabaletta, is taken at a hypnotically slow pace, and Gheorghiu handles it beautifully, exuding a type of peace and piety absolutely right for this moment in the opera–and as pure singing, it’s almost uncriticizable. Similarly, Charlotte’s third-act lament is deep and rich, and Carmen’s Card Scene, though the voice itself is not really what the character calls for, is superbly put across. What Gheorghiu’s voice seems to have trouble conveying is real youth and innocence: the arias from Gianni Schicchi and “Juliette’s Waltz Song” (not to mention “Una voce poco fa”), though extraordinarily well sung, are pretty devoid of mirth, irony, or true gaiety. Her voice’s darkish hue seems to exclude such emotions. And her Tosca and Leonora need fleshing out as characters. But I’m being overly critical because Gheorghiu can take it–she is, by any definition, a great soprano, and if you don’t know her work, this disc is a fine introduction.
