[.ca] Turandot Comp (Ital)

Amazon.com essential recording:
Joan Sutherland is not usually considered a Puccini singer, and in fact she sang the role of Turandot only in the recording studio. But for that assignment she had exactly what was needed: a voice that seemed to have no upper limits and a personality that concealed vulnerability under an air of icy detachment. She also had an ideal set of colleagues, notably Luciano Pavarotti, whose "Nessun dorma" has become practically his signature tune. --Joe McLellan

Very good, but definitely not the best:
If you're primarily a voice buff, you'll find plenty to enjoy in this version. As Calaf, Pavarotti delivers one of his very greatest performances, the voice at its effortless best, the vocal acting superb. Ghiaurov is a sensational Timur, and Caballe's singing makes you wish Liu had a more expansive role. Kraus, Poli and Palma give excellent support as Ping, Pang and Pong and the John Alldis choir supplies high-voltage excitement or low voltage atmosphere, as appropriate, in the important crowd scenes. I'm far less enthusiastic about Sutherland in the role of Turandot, hitting all the notes but mooning her way through the words and, to me, adding little in the way of dramatic interest. Pears, too, doesn't live up to the billing he received from the English press in the cameo role of Altoum, sounding more like a irritable schoolmaster than an ancient emperor. Mehta pumps plenty of energy into the Puccini's orchestral score and the London Philharmonic rise to the challenge of his generally fast speeds and crisp rhythms. There is plenty of glitter in this version, with a typically-bright mid-70s vintage Decca recording to match. But to hear what else there is in this score, to discover the subtleties and the drama Puccini has written into the work, go to the Karajan version. Domingo may not quite match Pavarotti, Raimondi can't touch Ghiaurov, and the Wiener choir is rather lacklustre compared to Alldis crew. But the other voices are at least the equal of what we have here and the Vienna Phil under Karajan provide an experience that makes Mehta's reading sound two-dimensional and dull in comparison, particularly in Act 2 and the post-Liu part of Act 3. I've owned Mehta's version since it first came out on vinyl in 1973, but not until I first heard Karajan's did I fully appreciate what this opera is all about, dramatically and musically.

Anna Shafajinskaia better as Turandot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:
Sutherland as Turandot? Don't be ridiculous. I saw Anna Shafajinskaia in the title role in San Diego and she was superb. Her shrillness and wide vibrato in high passages, including the role's high C's, are better than Sutherland's vocalism on this set. I only gave this set five stars so that it would get past amazon's review screening system.

Why, why does Pavarotti do this to his career?:
Why would a singer that had some great, even some monumental recordings under his belt (Fille du Regiment) do something like this? Oh, I know, money. Luciano Pavarotti was blessed with a great voice, but NOT a voice for singing Calaf. If you want to know how Puccini wanted his Calaf to sound find a recording of Giacomo Lauri Volpi or one of Franco Corelli. Fleta did the opening night of this Puccini's swan song, but he was wise enough not to sing it again (no recordings of Fleta on this role are available); I wish Pavarotti and other singers would have learned a lesson from Miguel Fleta.

My response to the "Amazon Customer":
I'm not saying that Turner sings Turandot better, she's just my favourite, that's all. (Even though only her "In questa reggia" and some snipets were recorded, the critics describe her precisely) As for Nilsson: Sadly I was never so fortunate to hear her live but ever since I bought my first recording starring her (Turandot with her, Corelli and Vishnevskaya) I've loved her laser-like sound. A personal favourite of mine is a late Tosca starring her and, as she called him, her "Baby-Cavaradossi" José Carreras. (My favourite tenor) Also, I've never said that Callas was better than Nilsson, they are completely different voice-types Nilsson being a dramatic soprano and Callas being a soprano sfogato. Quite honestly you should be ashamed of your attitude, judging people you don't know like this. I have no reason to fake fondness for anyone. At least I don't spread lies about other singers and call everyone who disagrees with me tone-deaf, sycophant or worse. Aren't you realising that you're behaving like a baby? I have a guess that I know you from some Yahoo-Group, but I'm not sure. I might be mistaken. As for von Karajan: I'm not a great fan of his Turandot but to dismiss one of the greatest conductors ever like this just shows how arrogant and ignorant you truly are. I too have my dislikes but I'm not playing God, dictating which recordings should be "banned" etc. Quite honestly? I'm sick of your lies, of your hatred for Callas (Who was a sweet person btw, that you're following cheap prejudices only confirms your ignorance! Ever heard of Caballe? She says that Callas was a sweet person!) and of your arrogance. Have courage for once and admit your name at least, you COWARD! I have no intention of plaguing the Review-Space of this recording anymore so here is my email-addy: elisabetta611@yahoo.de Now let the hatemail flow or are you too much of a WIMP to show your true colours? To all Amazon-Customers: Please accept my apology for abusing the Reviews-Section like this but I won't have my good name slandered by an immature brat, I'm truly sorry!

An Absolute Phenomenon!:
This Turandot is nothing short of fabulous. Even though I generally dislike Pavarotti, he is wonderful here--perhaps because this isn't a later recording of his. And I can't think of a single way in which Caballe's Liu could be any better. Sutherland's voice is surprisingly dramatic, also. It makes you wonder if she would have been better suited training in the dramatic fach than the coloratura (though one listening of her "Caro nome" will suggest otherwise). The sound is vibrant, and there isn't a problem with any one of the singers. If you like Turandot, perhaps Puccini's grandest opera, snag a copy of this recording. And though not exactly written by Puccini, Turandot's ending is my favorite of any opera.

• Turandot: Act I: 'Popolo di Pekino!' (Un Mandarino) - Act I: 'Indietro, cani!' (La folla - People - La foule - Die Menge)184276 - Puccini
• Turandot: Act I: 'Gira la cote!' (La folla - People - La foule - Die Menge) - Act I: 'Perche tarda la luna?' (La folla - People - La foule - Die Menge) - Puccini
• Turandot: Act I: 'O giovinetto! Grazia, grazia!' (La folla - People - La foule - Die Menge) - Puccini
• Turandot: Act I: 'Figlio, che fai?' (Timur, Calaf) - Puccini
• Turandot: Act I: 'Fermo! Che Fai? T'arresta' (Ping, Pang, Pong) - Act I: 'Non indugiare!' (Le ombre dei morte - Phantoms - Les ombres des morts - Die Schatten der Toten) - Puccini
• Turandot: Act I: 'Signore, ascolta!' (Liu) - Puccini
• Turandot: Act I: 'Non piangere, Liu!' (Calaf) - Puccini
• Turandot: Act II, Scene 1: 'Ola, Pang! Ola Pong!' (Ping) - Puccini
• Turandot: Act II, Scene 1: 'Ho una casa nell 'Honan' (Ping) - Puccini
• Turandot: Act II, Scene 1: 'O mondo, o mondo...' (Ping, Pang, Pong) - Act II, Scene 1: 'O tigre! O tigre!' (Ping, Pang, Pong) - Puccini
• Turandot: Act II, Scene 2: Introduzione - Puccini
• Turandot: Act II, Scene 2: 'Gravi, enorme ed imponenti' (La folla - People - La foule - Die Menge) - Puccini
• Turandot: Act II, Scene 2: 'Un giruamento atroce mi costringe' (L'Imperatore) - Puccini
• Turandot: Act II, Scene 2: 'Popolo di Pekino' (Il Mandarino) - Puccini
• Turandot: Act II, Scene 2: 'In questa Reggia' (Turandot) - G. Puccini
• Turandot: Act II, Scene 2: 'Straniero, ascolta' (Turandot) - G. Puccini
• Turandot: Act II, Scene 2: 'Gloria, gloria, o vincitore!' (La folla - People - La foule - Die Menge) - Act II, Scene 2: 'Figlio del cielo! Padre augusto!' (Turandot) - G. Puccini
• Turandot: Act II, Scene 2: 'Tre enigmi m'hai proposto' (Calaf) - G. Puccini
• Turandot: Act III, Scene 1: Introduzione: 'Cosi comanda Turandot' (Gli araldi - Heralds - Les Herauts - Die Herolde) - G. Puccini
• Turandot: Act III, Scene 1: 'Nessun dorma!' (Calaf) - Act III, Scene 1: 'Tu che guardi le stelle' (Ping, Pang, Pong) - G. Puccini
• Turandot: Act III, Scene 1: 'Principessa divina!' (Ping) - Act III, Scene 1: 'Tanto amore segreto' (Liu) - G. Puccini
• Turandot: Act III, Scene1: 'Tu che di gel sei cinta' (Liu) - G. Puccini
• Turandot: Act III, Scene 1: 'Liu! Liu! Sorgi!' (Timur) - G. Puccini
• Turandot: Act III, Scene 1: 'Principessa di morte' (Calaf) - G. Puccini
• Turandot: Act III, Scene 1: 'Che e mai di me?' ( Turandot, Calaf) - G. Puccini
• Turandot: Act III, Scene 1: 'Del primo pianto' (Turandot) - G. Puccini
• Turandot: Act III, Scene 1: 'So il tuo nome!' (Turandot) - G. Puccini
• Turandot: Act III, Scene 2: 'Diecimila anni al nosotro Imperatore!' (La folla - People - La foule - Die Menge) - G. Puccini