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MUSIC REVIEW
Angela Gheorghiu

by Joel Crotty
April 2005

The Essential Angela Gheorghiu; music by Catalani, Puccini, Verdi, Gounod, Massenet, Donizetti, George Grigoriu/Decca 473 320-2

Singers are a different breed of musician, especially the operatic kind. Many (not all) have temperaments that are a little demanding, and they tend not to be interested in music other than in the music they know or are rehearsing. It can be very frustrating as a teacher to guide them in different, unusual directions when they are fixated with singing nineteenth century operas and, at a pinch, some art song.

One such personality with the complete package of annoying diva qualities is Romanian soprano, Angela Gheorghiu. Of course, Gheorghiu tries to play down this aspect. “Most things written (about me) are completely false or exaggerated,” she proclaims. However, in the bitchy world of opera there is always someone ready to push the line of her difficult behaviour. Russian soprano Galina Gorchakova is quoted in Classical Voice as believing, “(Gheorghiu) only loves herself … She is unpleasant, very unpleasant.” And the Romanian singer did not win friends, a few years back, when she cancelled without notice - or worse, without justification - her appearances in La Traviata at Lisbon’s Sao Carlos Theatre.

But when one hears Gheorghiu’s voice you forget all the problems and sit back and thank the stars that you have been able to witness a phenomenal voice. Decca’s The Essential Angela Gheorghiu admirably acts as a sampler for those who do not want the full opera experience. Beautiful arias from Verdi, Puccini and others fill this glorious CD. Her musicianship is technically controlled and her emotional engagement is completely honed. Each track demonstrates a freshness in interpretation and the warmth in her voice allows us to believe her characterisations. With the death of the great soprano Renato Tebaldi, some commentators have suggested that she has taken over her reign. It is of course a big claim and one that I don’t think is yet justified. She is, however, moving successfully towards this opinion in leaps and bounds.

Her husband Roberto Alagna (tenor), Frank Lopardi (tenor) and Tiziana Tramonti (mezzo soprano) supports Gheorghiu on this CD as do numerous orchestras conducted by such luminaries as Sir Georg Solti, and Riccardo Chailly. The Essential Angela Gheorghiu is just that – essential. It is worthy to be placed in any music library, and comes highly recommend.

Joel Crotty lectures on music at Monash University, Melbourne, and writes music reviews for The Age.