Decca's 1955 recording of L'elisir d'amore features a group of stars at the height of their powers in roles in which they are idiomatically fluent and which vocally and dramatically suit them ideally. Outstanding in the very fine cast is Giuseppe di Stefano; he is fully successful at avoiding caricature and making Nemorino a believable, three-dimensional character. This music seems to be in his blood, and his voice is warmly resonant and lovingly colored. He shines not only in the showpieces, Una furtiva lagrima and Quanto è bella, quanto è cara, but the numerous opportunities Donizetti offers for passionate, lyrical expressiveness. Hilde Gueden is an adorable, vivacious Adina, and her singing is bright and gleaming. Fernando Corena, a legendary Dulcamara, brings plenty of fun and vocal sparkle to the role, but his humor is nicely understated. As Belcore, Renato Capecchi's voice is darkly commanding. Luisa Mandelli doesn't have the vocal sheen to put her in the same league as the others, but her Giannetta is sharply characterized. The uniform excellence of the principals would be reason enough to cherish this performance, but the fact that it is very much an ensemble effort makes it even more attractive. Francesco Molinari-Pradelli leads the Orchestra and Chorus of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in a fleet and limber reading of the score. The sound is clean and the balance is good. This version should be of interest to anyone who loves the opera, and any fans of good old-fashioned bel canto performances.
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