Verdi: La Traviata - Freni, Pavarotti, D'Orazi; Cara. Modena, 1965
$8.95
Listen to a Sample:
This recording depicts the genesis of one of the quintessential couplings in the history of opera- Mirella Freni and Luciano Pavarotti. This performance comes from 1965 from their hometown of Modena. Both singers, although only about 30, seem almost fully formed as artists at this point and sing with freshness and ardor. I assumed that Freni would lack some of the heft that Act II demands. Perhaps it is the intimacy of the theater, but I did not find that to be the case. Pavarotti's voice actually seemed to be darker in his younger days. This probably has more to do with a technical adjustment that he must have made as opposed to the voice changing. Nonetheless he sings with his branded elegance and beauty. The sound is fair to good.
OD 10539-2
