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Title: A powerful, gorgeous Fidelio!
Review: Such a moving version of Fidelio! Orchestra and singers ring out every note with clarity and deep, serious meaning. Christa Ludwig is the best Leonore I've heard: luminously sweet, sad and strong. She soars on her high notes with flawless ease. It's really important to me that the voices of Leonore and Marzelline be distinctive from one another, so Ludwig's golden-deep tone and amazing range are the perfect counterpart for the lighter soprano. Vickers is Ludwig's perfect Florestan, with a dark, metallic tenor... capable of expressing such lyrical suffering. The tempo of their reunion duet at first seemed to me a little slow for the ecstatic moment but it ends up being overwhelmingly emotional and powerful; as is the entire opera. All the soloists are sure of their characters and their notes. Berry and Frick are perfect in their roles. And the chorus is brilliant. I can't stop listening to the atmospheric, gripping prison act! A really majestic recording.
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