Pavarotti, Nucci et al. - Ballo in Maschera - Act 3 finale

[MrNeveman]

GRANDISSIMO Luciano....qui riesce a unire mirabilmente una davvero realistica e toccante interpretazione scenica ad un'ottima riuscita vocale dovuta alla sua bravura e anche al fatto che il repertorio è di quelli che lo favoriscono...davvero un gram bel finale del Ballo in Maschera..uno dei migliori mai sentiti da me sicuramente

[jenni4claire]

Yes, I have that recording- the Amelia on it isn't the greatest but Battle is outstanding. How she makes herself actually sound like a young boy and not her usual self I cannot imagine.

I don't know if Battle was ever in this production, but I recognised the name Harolyn Blackwell as that of her eventual successor at the Met.

[murderouskeeshondje]

I believe they only officially dismissed Battle in 1994 for outrageous divalike behaviour during rehearsals for La Fille du Regiment, but perhaps the fact that she was replaced in this 1990 performance also foreshadowed her dismissal already?

But her replacement is no match for Battle indeed. I have the recording with Pavarotti and Battle, and she is really a perfect Oscar.

[jenni4claire]

This Oscar is the woman who replaced Kathleen Battle after her dismissal from the Met.

She is quite good though her voice is no match for Battle's, in my opinion. I bet no one at the Met minded that.