In general, ” Greatest…” announces a compilation of existing CDs to which there is hardly any reason to pay attention. That is not the case here. Phonographic publishing, having largely abandoned the recording of operas in the studio, documents the singers through recitals or DVDs. The idea here is to group memorable appearances by soprano Renée Fleming on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. Between otello And Peter Grimes from 1994 andThe Merry Widow in 2015, 19 shows were covered in this way. Some were released on DVD ( Eugene Onegin with Hvorostovsky, Thais…), others would have deserved this fate (divine Marriage of Figaro of 1998). The selection is generally wise (we would have done withoutRodelinda, for example), the compilation very pleasant to listen to. The only limit is that these recordings, of a good radiophonic standard, document public performances for broadcasting on the airwaves and not for discographic publication. Clarity and dynamics therefore peak in a legitimate and beautiful product.
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