Donizetti: Don Pasquale
Label: BEL CANTO SOCIETY Catalog: BCSDVD686 Format: DVD 1 DVD - Label: Bel Canto Society - BCSDVD686 - Don Pasquale - Donizetti, Gaetano - Orchestra: Rai National Symphony"Don Pasquale is a gem. A 1955 Italian TV film with a cast which has rarely been equalled. Italo Tajo is an ideal Pasquale, firm of voice, histrionically hilarious but never going over the top; Sesto Bruscantini is a marvellous Malatesta, more human than this character is usually made; and these two great buffos seem to have more facial muscles between them than the rest of us put together. Their duet (without reprise) is a tour de force. Alda Noni has exactly the right mix of acid and humour for Norina and Cesare Valletti is a likeable, believable Ernesto. There has not been a better sung Don Pasquale; and both sound and vision are quite good in this edition. Alberto Erede conducts sensitively, opening some traditional cuts (the tenor caballetta is still out.)" |