Netrebko/Garanca: I Capuleti E I Montecchi

No complaints for Garanca. Netrebko...eh.

Their voices are very distinguished, and wonderfully complement each other. Very powerful recording.

I like them both. Both are very accomplished singers, with a pleasant color and above average technique. The problem is that their voices are very similar. Garanca is a lyric high mezzo and Netrebko's voice is getting darker and darker. You don't understand who's singing what, and in an opera full of duets like Capuleti it is a fatal flaw.

Netrebko's comments on Bellini are interesting and perhaps revealing: "It's amazing someone could write music like this in the 18th century ... it sounds very modern...." Why do I get the idea that she wants to make everything new and young and sensual, without regard for tradition or true artistry?

That said, this looks like a fine recording.

Hmm.. I wonder. You may be right, perhaps she might be trying to do that (not that I'd really know) - but then again the first time I heard the Sutherland/Pavarotti recording of I Puritani the very same thought struck me. So maybe it's just that Bellini's writing does sound rather modern. :)

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