Title: GREAT SINGING, MEDIOCRE OPERA
Product review: FIRST, THIS RE-ISSUE BRINGS NO LIBRETTO AND SCANT NOTES. THE PRINCIPALS ARE WELL ESTABLISHED STARS, WHICH DOES NOT REALLY MEAN THEY ARE EXPERTS ON THE SINGING OF VERISMO. THEREFORE, THEY SOUND LIKE THEIR USUAL PHENOMENAL SELVES: TECHNIQUE BUT NO . . . FEELING. OR PERHAPS IT MAY BE THAT THIS OPERA ITSELF IS NOT TRANSCENDENTAL, IT DOES NOT MOVE THE LISTENER TO IDENTIFY WITH IT. THE STORY OF A TYPHOID MARY RUSSIAN PRINCESS WHO COMMITS SUICIDE WHEN HER LOVER DOES NOT FORGIVE HER (BUT, YES, HE DOES, TOO LATE)FOR WIPING OUT HIS FAMILY, HAS NONE OF THE UNIVERSAL THEMES A WORK OF ART MUST HAVE IN ORDER TO SURVIVE. THIS ONE DOES BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC. BUT IT DOES NOT BEAR A SECOND LISTENING.
Would you say this review depicts the product in a flattering or unflattering light?
