James Levine assembled a cast of stars for his 1989 recording of Donizetti’s opera of potions and passions. Luciano Pavarotti (on loan from Decca) reprised the role he had recorded in July 1970 alongside Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge and his voice was noted to be ‘just as pure and steady’ as it was nearly twenty years before. For many, the generous selection of highlights on this set will be attractive for the inclusion of Kathleen Battle in her exquisite performance as Adina, not to mention the sumptuous sound and polished playing of the Met Orchestra under Levine.
GAETANO DONIZETTI
L’elisir d’amore (Highlights)
Adina: Kathleen Battle
Nemorino: Luciano Pavarotti
Belcore: Leo Nucci
Il Dottore Dulcamara: Enzo Dara
Giannetta: Dawn Upshaw
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus
James Levine
Recording Producer: Cord Garben
Co-production: Claudia Hamann
Balance Engineer: Wolfgang Mitlehner
Editing: Jürgen Bulgrin
Recording Location: Manhattan Center, New York, USA, May and September 1989
‘Levine conducts a lively performance, Battle makes a sympathetic Adina, Dara is a thoroughly professional purveyor of the elixir … spirited virtuosity in the orchestral playing’ Gramophone, February 1991