"The Druid Duo"
Stanley H. Nemeth | Garden Grove, CA United States | 09/29/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This wonderful concert reminds those of us fortunate enough to have heard these singers in person of the excitement their outstanding vocalism alone was able to generate. Highpoints here are the fiendishly difficult duets from "Semiramide" and "Norma," both of which are sung almost to perfection. Horne is in her absolute vocal prime, moving with ease from lush, long-held low notes to fleet coloratura passages. Sutherland is somewhat past her prime. Consequently, her very highest notes are noticeably thin here, and her release from held notes sometimes has her slipping from pitch. Nevertheless, these are small faults when taken in conjunction with her still mostly present, extraordinary elasticity and power in taking on such demanding duets and arias. Altogether, this concert amounts to a grand night of singing.
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