excellent recording with magnificent Tinsley

Could not agree more about Pauline Tinsley. She is a personal friend and lives near to me and I visit her from time to time. She celebrates here 80th birthday on March 27th this year so any tributes or contributions can be sent c/o me. Email me direct for my address. She is the only singer apart from perhaps Caballe who has sung just about everything from Purcell, through Handel, Bellini, Donizetti, Veri, Puccini to Wagner and Richard Strauss all with tremendous success. It is one of the great tragedies that she made so few commercial recordings but there are numourous “Pirates” available. I would go as far as to say her Turandot, Lady Macbeth and Abigaile(Nabucco) were the definitive performances in these roles and people like Dimitrova and Souliotis pale into insignificance after her. Why she has had no honours from the British Government is beyond me and many others and I think she should certainly be made Dame Pauline Tinsley!Best wishes to all.Neville

I am very thankful for the release of this recording. Pauline Tinsley was a superb soprano with an exceptionally varied repertory (ranging from Mozart’s Elettra, recorded for Sir Colin Davis, to twentieth-century roles) who was unfortunately far too little recorded. In this performance of Santuzza, she displays all of her finest qualities: an unfailing dramatic instinct, a voice of color and appropriate range, and an ability to adapt her performance to the other members of her cast. All told, Tinsley sings a superb Santuzza, startling in her vehemence and very moving in her sorrow. Mastromei leaves little to be desired as Alfio. Domingo’s Turiddu is perhaps not quite as impressive as it should have been (this performance was in the period during which Domingo’s famed Otello was still a relatively new addition to his repertory) but is effective as drama and vocalism. Other principals are acceptable. The choral and orchestral sounds are occasionally somewhat muddy, but the sound is generally very good. Tinsley’s Santuzza is a classic performance that, unlike many classic performances, enjoys a good setting. Many thanks to Opera Depot for making this performance available.

I have to agree with the above comments about Pauline Tinsley. I saw her as Lady Macbeth with WNO in the 60′s and she was stunning.Also saw her in Moses (Rossini) at Sadlers Wells with WNO. A wonderful singer with a wonderful voice. She formed part of my early opera going experience. I have never forgotten her. Thank you Pauline Tynsley!