MINDENBEN AGYETERTEK VELVEK - MARION LIPPERT KIVETELESEN NAGY NEMZETKOZI RAGN SZOPRAN VOLT. OPERAHAZ BUDAPEST, ERKEL THEATRE, NEPOOPERA (ERKEL SZINHAZ). EXCUSE ME, MY HUNGARIAN. THE TEATRO COMUNALE BOLOGNA GIVE THEAT GUEST. EXCELLENT PERFOMANCE WITH COMPLET ENSEMBLE WITH MARION LIPPERT AS TURANDOT AND ANOTHER PROTAGANIST.

I'm going to guess this Turandot is from Philadelphia as the principals were all singing in or near New York at the time and probably made the trip to Philly for a one or maybe two-off. Lippert is a very fine Turandot with gleaming, easy top notes (essential for this role.) Her characterization is more noble than usual and she makes a formidable presence. Labo sings beautifully, fully inside his role. He joins Lippert on an excellent top C at the end of "In questa reggia", but doesn't risk the more exposed C at "No, no, principessa altera". His "Nessun dorma" elicits cheers from the enthusiastic audience. Caballe certainly deserves the cheers she gets for her lovely Liu. Her pianissimo top B-flat at "Perche un di" is heavenly. Wildermann is a terrific Timur who gets a hand after his lament in Act Three. The three ministers are excellent. Patane conducts an exciting performance that he keeps together despite a chorus and orchestra that are less than stellar. The sound is very listenable; it sounds cobbled together from a variety of sources, but never is a problem. All Turandot fans should snatch this up!

Excellent performance due to the protagonists. I was able to hear Marion Lippert live in this role in Budapest and according to my opinion she was one of the best Turandots for ever. Flaviano Labó is an excellent Calaf and though I prefer Rosanna Carteri and Pilar Lorengar as Liú, Montserrat Caballé has memorable moments in this role. William Wildermann gives dignity to the role of Timur. There is a solid team around the stars and they give a very good ensemble production. I have no problem with the chorus and the orchestra. They are really not in the level of the protagonists but we get a reliable performance from them. Giuseppe Patané is well-known for the Hungarian opera lovers because during a long period he was the first guest conductor in the Hungarian State Opera House and he leads with strong hands the performance. It would be good to know where this performance was running,

GREAT AS EVER !!!

This recording of Turandot is quite wonderful. The sound is very listenable and the supporting cast is good. The 4 leads are excellent. William Wildermann is solid and sings with ease. Caballe is superb, exhibiting every quality for which she was so well known. Labo is a tenor who ranks with the best. He is ringing and heroic with tone that is consistently pleasing and very exciting. Marion Lippert is excellent as Turandot. She is one of the warmer voiced interpreters of this part but is not lacking in strength or great high notes. This is a woman but her transformation from a hurt being to someone awakened to love is believable. It is a shame there are not more recordings of this very talented and excellent singer. Check this recording out. I would be very surprised if any one was disappointed.

All the cast is superb but Labò is really unique; warm voice with a charming colour, perfect diction, great interpretation, sweet and heroic at the same time.