This is an entertaining performance of L’elisir d’amore, but it is far from crucial. There are dozens on the market–Pavarotti and Sutherland, Pavarotti and Battle, Alagna and Gheorghiu, Tagliavini and Tasinari, Alagna and Devia, Valetti and Noni–to name a few. This set will be of interest to fans of the lovely Bidu Sayao, always enchanting and youthful, coloring her words with glee, making us understand precisely why Nemorino is willing to go to such ends to get her to marry him. And Tagliavini fans will be glad to hear the tenor live and in such good voice–he sings with grace and charm, and gives strong emphasis when needed. His “Una furtiva lagrima” is as show-stopping as it should be.
Giuseppe Valdengo’s Belcore is full of bluster but comes off as just a bit too threatening, and Salvatore Baccaloni’s Dulcamara is performed too broadly: this basso buffo might exercise a bit more control over his mugging and still make his point. But he is vivid–no doubt about it. The Met Opera Chorus and Orchestra sing and play zippily (if without any real distinction) for Giuseppe Antonicelli on this Christmas Eve, 1949, and Naxos’ sound is surprisingly good. Nice energy, nice cast, probably a very worthwhile evening in the theater–but overall, not one for the books.
