LE NOZZE DI FIGARO:Mozart
Original Air Date: 01/28/1995
Levine; Alaimo, Upshaw, Vaness, Croft, Ziegler
SID.19120214
This is very much a “Levine repertory” cast. Upshaw, Croft, Vaness figure prominently in Levine’s performances with a native as Figaro. Senechal is a marvelous Basilio. This is Alaimo’s only season as Figaro, and his historical broadcast competition is major, to just mention Siepi and Terfel. Upshaw has one other broadcast (three years earlier) when I saw her and was unimpressed. She was musically fine, but I find the tone very one-dimensional. Vaness and Croft and dependable performers, but again not on the top drawer of other singers. Vaness is an excellent Mozartean and her Fiordiligi, Vitelia, and Electra all have much to commend them, but the Countess can always stand an extra dose of tonal glamour, and that is not hers to give. The Met has featured some very glorious Countesses: Steber, De Los Angeles, Della Casa, Te Kanawa, Fleming, all with fine broadcast representations.
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