Title: in a word - terrible!
Review: This one will appeal to neophytes who uncritically swoon over Pavarotti's mannerisms and don't know any better. To call this poor "performance" of one of Verdi's great operas even "adequate" (except for Gruberova), much less "great", is a sign to go back and do more listening. Avoid this turkey. Pavarotti is his post-70's below-par, trying-to-compensate-by-mugging worst. Wixell tries hard but is just not up to the role that was so superbly performed by Warren or Gobbi. Ponnelle's direction is bizarre (as usual). For a better sung and more honest performance, I recommend the English National Opera video. Ok, it's sung in English and updated BUT the singing is superior on all counts, the translation is workable, and the updating doesn't violate the spirit of Verdi's drama.
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