It was a tragic irony that this particular recording arrived for review on the Monday just before the world was taken by storm as the death of the much loved Luciano Pavarotti was announced. Immediately, this rare set has achieved cult status as it is the only version apart from the Decca studio recording with the same conductor available of this opera.
You can admire the relatively young Pavarotti in full cry accompanied by singers of no lesser capability such as the underrated Gilda Cruz Romero and the wonderful voice of Raffaele Arié who really matches his more illustrious counterpart for scintillating singing.
Arts has done everyone a truly great service by issuing recordings with Peter Maag at the helm conducting fine Italian orchestras such as this one. We all know his brilliance in Mozart but he also conducts Verdi with a passion that is rarely found in other more famous versions. 'Luisa Miller' is a rather difficult opera to bring off but Maag succeeds handsomely in ever department and I for one, prefer this version to the studio recording. In a way, this is also a fine tribute to the great tenor who will forever be in everyone's hearts. Addio Luciano
Copyright © 2007, Gerald Fenech