Donizetti: Maria di Rohan - Zeani, Zanasi, Tei; Previtali. Napoli, 1962
$9.95
Description:
Maria di Rohan may not rank among Donizetti’s masterpieces, but it remains a musically intriguing and vocally rewarding work in which the composer defies many of the expectations of the bel canto tradition. Most notably, the opera ends with surprising restraint—no dying heroine, no show-stopping final aria—just the abrupt conclusion of the action. In a way, this denies Virginia Zeani one last moment to dazzle, but she has ample opportunities elsewhere in the opera to display her creamy soprano and technical finesse. She navigates the role’s dramatic demands and coloratura passages with ease and expressive depth.
Mario Zanasi, as Maria’s husband, brings vocal authority and dramatic presence, overshadowing the comparatively pallid tenor of Enzo Tei, who portrays her lover. Both are eclipsed in sheer dramatic impact by Anna Maria Rota’s vivid cameo as their political rival—a brief appearance, but one that injects real energy into the performance.
The sound is very fine, although occasional audience noise can be distracting.
In Mono
OD 11347-2
