Lecouvreur

This late 70's recording of Francesco Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur is an outstanding example of how this rare and out-of-vogue opera can be thrilling and powerfully moving .This particular recording is of special importance because it marked the last time that Placido Domingo, Renata Scotto and Sherill Milnes worked together on a studio recording, after a period of time in the late 70's when they recorded for RCA - namely Otello and Andrea Chenier. For fans of these singers, and mezzo-soprano Elena Obrazstova, this recording is a treasure and a must-have .
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An all-star cast led by soprano Montserrat Caballé in one of her most acclaimed portrayals. Fiorenza Cossotto sings the role of Adriana’s nemesis, the Princess of Bouillon, and José Carreras is Adriana’s lover, Maurizio, in this live 1976 performance from Tokyo. The NHK Symphony Orchestra is under the direction of Gianfranco Masini.

Unter der Leitung von Roberto Rizzi Brignoli verlieh eine neue Sängergeneration Cileas berühmtester Oper im Januar 2000 frischen Glanz. Für ihr Scala-Debüt als Adriana wurde Daniela Dessi von der italienischen Presse einhellig bejubelt. Die Oper von Francesco Cilea bezieht sich auf die authentische Figur Adrienne Couvreur, die Anfang des 18. Jahrhunderts als erfolgreichste französische Schauspielerin galt und durch eine Liebschaft mit dem Grafen Moritz von Sachsen zur Rivalin der Herzogin von Boullion wurde. Dieser Umstand wird auch mit ihrem plötzlichen Tod im Alter von nur 38 Jahren in Verbindung gebracht, der die Folge einer Vergiftung gewesen sein soll. Die Oper feierte ihre Uraufführung im Jahre 1902 mit Enrico Caruso.

Francesco Cilea’s most popular work is based on the 1849 play by Eugene Scribe and Ernest Legouvé. Adriana Lecouvreur is a star of the stage who could seemingly have any man she desires, but when she falls hopelessly in love with the Count of Saxony, she discovers he's already been promised to the Princess of Bouillon, leading to a battle of wills between them. Filmed in 1984 at Sydney Opera House.

An operatic whodunit with gravitas: Francesco Cilea's 'Adriana Lecouvreur'. It is said even Giuseppe Verdi briefly gave consideration to writing an opera based on this whodunit, when Cilea decided to set the material to music in 1899. The opera's world premiere in Milan in 1902 was a triumph, due in no small measure to a stellar cast of singers that included Enrico Caruso as Maurizio.

Starring Angela Gheorghiu as the celebrated French actress Adriana Lecouvreur and Jonas Kaufmann as her lover Maurizio, Count of Saxony, Cilea’s verismo drama explores celebrity, romance, jealousy, and death. The trio of sublime voices is completed by Russian mezzo-soprano Olga Borodina as Adriana’s jealous rival, the Princess de Bouillon. David McVicar’s hit production – the first performance of the opera at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden for more than a century – presents the life of the French actress as a blurring of the distinction between fantasy and reality.

Seven complete operas starring the magnificent Montserrat Caballé - great live opera recordings at budget price in one space-saving set! Exciting live recordings taped 1965-1975! Along with Maria Callas ("La Divina"), and Joan Sutherland ("La Stupenda"), Montserrat Caballé (b. 1933) took her place as one of the Big Three sopranos of the second half of the 20th century. When Caballé made her New York debut in 1965, she was instantly heralded as "La Superba," a sure sign she had reached the pinnacle of diva fame. Caballé was especially noted for her pure legato, effortless phrasing, and ability to float soft high notes of breathtaking beauty. Her generosity and down-to earth humor have endeared her to her fans. In 1987, she astonished classical and pop fans alike by recording a duet of the song Barcelona with the rock star Freddie Mercury of the rock group Queen.