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Editorial Reviews

Mirella Freni is one of the most celebrated sopranos of the group that came to prominence in the 1950s. In her prime, she possessed a lovely, glowing voice that never seemed the slightest bit strident, and she cautiously safeguarded it as it matured from lyric lightness into darker spinto colors, so that it still sounded remarkably fresh late in her lengthy career. (In 2005, as of the release of this set, she was still actively performing at age 70.) This two-disc retrospective of her recordings for the Decca label, spanning the years 1963 to 1990, focuses largely on classic moments from Puccini and Verdi -- which is just as well, for her portrayals of Mimi, Tosca, Butterfly, Aida, and Desdemona are not easily surpassed. Some of the best of those recordings were made in partnership with Pavarotti (who, like Freni, is a Modena native born in 1935), and the set-opening excerpts from La Bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly sample that joint work. Filling out the first disc, familiar arias from Catalani, Cilea, and Leoncavallo offer a taste of the verismo repertoire, while a touch of the bel canto style is provided by Rossini's "Selva opaca" from William Tell. Disc Two is almost entirely devoted to Verdi, including arias from Aida, Un ballo in maschera, Otello, and others, while Boito's "L'altra notte in fondo al mare" from Mefistofele and the famous letter scene from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin round out the collection with Freni in peak form. Opera fans will find this a fitting tribute to the beloved singer, and it also makes a fine companion to EMI's The Very Best of Mirella Freni, which offers a wider sampling of French and bel canto music. EJ Johnson, Barnes & Noble

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