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Donizetti: The Three Queens / Radvanovsky, Frizza, Lyric Opera of Chicago
PENTATONE

Donizetti: The Three Queens / Radvanovsky, Frizza, Lyric Opera of Chicago

$29.99

Details

Composer
Gaetano Donizetti
Artist
Sondra Radvanovsky, Lyric Opera Of Chicago, Riccardo Frizza
Format
CD
Label
PENTATONE
Released
Mar 04, 2022
Catalog #
PTC5186970
UPC
827949097065

About

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents The Three Queens, a program that brings together the finales of Gaetano Donizetti’s Tudor trilogy, showcasing three of the most fascinating heroines of opera history. These extraordinary women are interpreted by soprano star Sondra Radvanovsky, who performs them together with an excellent ensemble of soloists under the baton of Donizetti specialist Riccardo Frizza. Singing these three breathtaking roles on one night is an enormous challenge for any soprano, and this live recording captures all the excitement of this exceptional achievement.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious opera houses. Riccardo Frizza is among the most sought-after conductors for nineteenth-century Italian opera, while Sondra Radvanovsky is one of the most in-demand singers of her generation on both sides of the Atlantic. All three make their PENTATONE debut with The Three Queens.

REVIEWS:

This document may be the finest work I’ve ever heard of Radvanovsky, in what may be her crowning achievement. It is evident that she has not only put in the hard work and constant refining to achieve this, but it should be noted that the soprano is 50 here, and the voice is still in its prime, full, unblemished, and more secure than ever.

A few minor quibbles aside, the Mad Scene from Anna Bolena shows Radvanovsky consummately responsive to the shifting moods in the recitative, with a splendid high C on ‘infiorato,” and with more rhythmic impetus to the emotions of the text than I heard in the past.

The “Al dolce guidami” is gorgeous, long-lined, and exquisitely shaded, and she fines down the tone most impressively without it turning white and core-less.

Here also is one of the best performances of Maria Stuarda’s last half hour on record. Radvanovsky has the true dramatic soprano and grandeur of tone to fill out the Scottish queen’s 3 scenas: the prayer “Deh! Tu di un’umile preghiera—beautifully poignant, with some lines excitingly raised; the penitent “Di un cor che muore,” and most of all the concluding “Ah, se un giorno ritorte,” where the soprano effortlessly unleashes the fullness of her voice, which abets Maria’s mounting urgency with awesome, majestic power.

The conductor, Riccardo Frizza, leading the Lyric Opera of Chicago forces, is a true ally to his star soprano: he accompanies and accentuates her singing in the most positive of ways, providing Radvanovsky with unerring support.

The gatefold, 2 CD set is truly luxurious packaging. The overtures to all three of the operas and choral introductions are included, which may not interest everyone, but it does capture the sense of a complete evening occasion. The booklet contains a welcoming introduction by the general director Anthony Freud, and a very warm, sincere one by Radvanovsky herself; and Roger Pines provides an engaging, fascinating history of the operas. Full texts and translations are provided.

Highly recommended. Radvanovsky is very special here!

-- Parterre.com (Niel Rishoi)

Sondra Radvanovsky is essentially a lyric-spinto soprano, but one capable of summoning the lung power for the kind of long-lined legato singing required to effectively deliver in Roberto Devereux the aria Vivi, ingrato and the many messa-di-voce demanded throughout the role’s range. On the other hand, she can surmount climactic moments with total aplomb. Her coloratura technique is inexhaustible. Her musicality, her elegant phrasing, her intelligent choice of embellishments, her idiomatic understanding and delivery of the text define Sondra Radvanovsky as one of the great singers of our time.

-- Rafael's Music Notes

Tracklist 22 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Sinfonia 08:05
    Track
    1
    Title
    Sinfonia
    Duration
    08:05
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  3. 2 Act II: Chi può vederla a ciglio asciutto (Ladies) 05:57
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act II: Chi può vederla a ciglio asciutto (Ladies)
    Duration
    05:57
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  4. 3 Act II: Piangete voi? (Anna, Ladies) 05:09
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act II: Piangete voi? (Anna, Ladies)
    Duration
    05:09
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Sondra Radvanovsky
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  5. 4 Act II: Al dolce guidami (Anna, Ladies) 05:23
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act II: Al dolce guidami (Anna, Ladies)
    Duration
    05:23
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Sondra Radvanovsky
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  6. 5 Act II: Qual mesto suon? (Anna, Hervey, Rochefort, Percy, Smeton, Ladies, Courtiers) 04:05
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act II: Qual mesto suon? (Anna, Hervey, Rochefort, Percy, Smeton, Ladies, Courtiers)
    Duration
    04:05
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Sondra Radvanovsky, Eric Ferring, Anthony Reed, Mario Rojas, Lauren Decker
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  7. 6 Act II: Cielo, a' miei lungi spasimi (Anna, Smeton, Rochefort, Percy) 02:24
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act II: Cielo, a' miei lungi spasimi (Anna, Smeton, Rochefort, Percy)
    Duration
    02:24
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Sondra Radvanovsky, Lauren Decker, Anthony Reed, Mario Rojas
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  8. 7 Act II: Chi mi sveglia? (Anna, Ladies, Courtiers, Smeton, Rochefort, Percy) 02:12
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act II: Chi mi sveglia? (Anna, Ladies, Courtiers, Smeton, Rochefort, Percy)
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Sondra Radvanovsky, Lauren Decker, Anthony Reed, Mario Rojas
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  9. 8 Act II: Coppia iniqua, l'estrema vendetta (Anna, Courtiers, Ladies) 04:16
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act II: Coppia iniqua, l'estrema vendetta (Anna, Courtiers, Ladies)
    Duration
    04:16
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Sondra Radvanovsky
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  10. Disc 2
  11. 1 Overture 07:01
    Track
    1
    Title
    Overture
    Duration
    07:01
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  12. 2 Act II Scene 3: Vedeste? (Familiars) 06:10
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act II Scene 3: Vedeste? (Familiars)
    Duration
    06:10
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  13. 3 Act II Scene 3: Anna! Qui più sommessi favellate (Familiars, Anna) 01:42
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act II Scene 3: Anna! Qui più sommessi favellate (Familiars, Anna)
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Kathleen Felty
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  14. 4 Act II Scene 3: Io vi rivedo alfin (Maria, Anna, Familiars) 02:47
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act II Scene 3: Io vi rivedo alfin (Maria, Anna, Familiars)
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Sondra Radvanovsky, Kathleen Felty
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  15. 5 Act II Scene 3: Deh! Tu di un'umile preghiera (Maria, Anna, Familiars) 04:27
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act II Scene 3: Deh! Tu di un'umile preghiera (Maria, Anna, Familiars)
    Duration
    04:27
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Sondra Radvanovsky, Kathleen Felty
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  16. 6 Act II Scene 3: O colpo! (Familiars, Cecil, Maria) 01:19
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act II Scene 3: O colpo! (Familiars, Cecil, Maria)
    Duration
    01:19
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    David Weigel, Sondra Radvanovsky
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  17. 7 Act II Scene 3: Di un cor che muore reca il perdono (Maria, Anna, Talbot, Familiars, Cecil) 04:29
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act II Scene 3: Di un cor che muore reca il perdono (Maria, Anna, Talbot, Familiars, Cecil)
    Duration
    04:29
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Sondra Radvanovsky, Kathleen Felty, Christopher Kenney, David Weigel
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  18. 8 Act II Scene 3: Giunge il Conte (Talbot, Maria, Leicester, Cecil, Familiars) 02:07
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act II Scene 3: Giunge il Conte (Talbot, Maria, Leicester, Cecil, Familiars)
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Christopher Kenney, Sondra Radvanovsky, Mario Rojas, David Weigel
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  19. 9 Act II Scene 3: Ah! se un giorno da queste ritorte (Leicester, Talbot, Anna, Familiars, Cecil, Maria) 05:51
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act II Scene 3: Ah! se un giorno da queste ritorte (Leicester, Talbot, Anna, Familiars, Cecil, Maria)
    Duration
    05:51
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Mario Rojas, Christopher Kenney, Kathleen Felty, David Weigel, Sondra Radvanovsky
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  20. 10 Sinfonia 06:47
    Track
    10
    Title
    Sinfonia
    Duration
    06:47
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  21. 11 Act III Scene 2: E Sara in questi orribili momenti (Elisabetta, Ladies) 06:00
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: E Sara in questi orribili momenti (Elisabetta, Ladies)
    Duration
    06:00
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Sondra Radvanovsky
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  22. 12 Act III Scene 2: Vivi, ingrato, a lei d'accanto (Elisabetta) 03:53
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Vivi, ingrato, a lei d'accanto (Elisabetta)
    Duration
    03:53
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Sondra Radvanovsky
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  23. 13 Act III Scene 2: Che m'apporti? (Elisabetta, Cecil, Sara, Knights, Nottingham, Lords, Ladies) 03:39
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Che m'apporti? (Elisabetta, Cecil, Sara, Knights, Nottingham, Lords, Ladies)
    Duration
    03:39
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Sondra Radvanovsky, Eric Ferring, Kathleen Felty, Ricardo José Rivera
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza
  24. 14 Act III Scene 2: Quel sangue versato (Elisabetta, Ladies, Courtiers) 06:14
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Quel sangue versato (Elisabetta, Ladies, Courtiers)
    Duration
    06:14
    Composer
    Gaetano Donizetti
    Performer
    Sondra Radvanovsky
    Ensemble
    Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
    Conductor
    Riccardo Frizza