Gaetano Donizetti - Don Pasquale - "Quel guardo il cavaliere" (Lucia Popp)

Recently I acquired another two recordings of Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" and "L'elisir d'amore" into my collection. Both these pieces are well-known and don't need any kind of introduction. Saying that the works have received numerous recordings would be a very big understatement: according to one of the best sites for discographies, operadis-opera-discography.org.uk, there are, respectively, 62 and 77 recordings of the operas. I have several recordings of the operas with which I am pretty happy: Abbado's recording of "Don Pasquale" with Allen, Mei, Lopardo and Scimone's "L'elisir" with Carreras, Ricciarelli, Trimarchi and Nucci would have to be the highlights... At least, they were before I bought the two new ones.
Heinz Wallberg was a German conductor. He became principal music director in Augsburg in 1954, and in Bremen in 1955, concluding in both posts in 1960. From 1964 to 1975, Wallberg was principal conductor of the Tonkünstler Orchestra, Vienna. He held the same post with the Munich Radio Orchestra from 1975 to 1982, and with the Essen Philharmonic from 1975 to 1991. From what I managed to read on him, most of his recordings are set firmly in Wagnerian operas and verisimo.
And yet, in 1979 and in 1984, with the help of Bavaria Radio and BMG Music, he recorded Donizetti's comic masterpieces (in the order already given at the beginning)... One would imagine that the recordings are bound to be heavy, over-emphasized affairs... They aren't even close to these qualities: both recordings are extremely fresh, wonderfully conducted, superbly recorded endeavors that make one wish that Wallberg had a thicker portfolio in belcanto. They make the works come alive before our very eyes.
A large portion of the success can also be attributed to the fact that Munchner Rundfunkorchester, the orchestra in the present recordings, is extremely responsive to the demands of the music and the drama. The fact that both recordings feature a talented cast of singers is also a big help. Even though the recordings have been made with a five year gap, they feature three recurring singers: Lucia Popp (as the soprano heroines; she has already began heavier roles by the time when these recordings were made, but it doesn't really show), Yevgeny Nesterenko (in the buffo roles of Pasquale and Dulcamara; considering his experience in dramatical roles, such as Boris Godunov, it comes as a surprise that he is outrageously funny in the classical Italian buffo roles) and Bernd Weikl (in the baritone roles of Belcore and Doctor Malatesta; he is actually considered a Wagner singer but his performances in the Donizetti pieces are very persuasive and extremely well-sung). The tenor roles are taken by young versions of Francisco Araiza (Ernesto) and Peter Dvorsky (Nemorino): Araiza seems to have just transferred from bass to tenor, so some of the singing is a bit tentative but it works for the character of the rather timid and unsure Ernesto; Dvorsky is not Pavarotti, but I actually prefer his simpler, gentler, more alive Nemorino to that of his colleague's.
Anyway, I decided to post some of the highlights from these recording to give you an opportunity to judge for yourself. I'm starting with "Don Pasquale", from which I'm uploading several of my favorite numbers: Norina's cavatina, her subsequent duet with Malatesta and notturno with Ernesto. I will post more, if such a need will arise. Anyway, enjoy :)!

[@77Opera]

SUBLIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lucia's voice is a miracle. Thank you LindoroRossini

[@normancharles7953]

All this music and the quality of the entertainers are rare treasures, thank you for your programs...Rossini & Moffo what a pair...

[@ddzinhomoraes7715]

amo ópera 😍

[@andreea94a]

Such a sweet voice.No to mention her incredible technique.Unique

[@dkssud640]

I feel so relaxed! It's such a beautiful music.

[@65attila]

Beautiful performance by Popp what charm and vocal ease. IMO Donizetti was a very great opera composer.

[@michelsf11]

Ufff .... What a voice !!!!

[@giuseppecerescioli9645]

Ho scoperto Donizetti da qualche tempo,è' stato un gran piacere ascoltare le sue arie così' gentili e romantiche pur nella loro essenzialità' bergamasca

[@ronaldopaino671]

Maravilhoso, emocionante, Grande Lucia

[@alfonsoriveroll5764]

Bellísimo. Bravo

[@gvbrandolini]

Brava...

[@Rapunzelcita]

Esta es una muy buena versión! respeta más que otras la partitura, además la voz de Lucía es muy clara y precisa! Brava! Gracias por subirlo.

[@Mavros40]

Wonderful!!...the best version I've heard !

[@i.p.jwhiteley1572]

Thank you for uploading, it's beautiful

[@andysbg77]

Wonderful!!!

[@ahimsainternational]

What a lovely performance!

[@Operaphile]

SUPERB!!!! Fizz, crackle and POPP

[@alexanderkings8371]

M encanta la ópera !!

[@duncanrichardson2167]

what could be more delightful than to hear (and to see) a beautiful young woman singing the amusing (and tuneful) song beautifully?

[@tt1230147]

BRAVO!!!!!!!!

[@oakroom48]

Yes, apart from the fabulous singing, the Orchestra is out of this world. Thanks!!

[@MrDexterPeabody]

Thanks!

[@jordansparks6113]

"Quel guardo, il cavaliere in mezzo al cor trafisse, Piegò i lginocchio e disse: Son vostro cavalier. E tanto era in quel guardo Sapor di paradiso, Che il cavalier Riccardo, Tutto d'amor conquiso, Giurò che ad altra mai, Non volgeria il pensier." Ah, ah! So anch'io la virtu magica D'un guardo a tempo e loco, So anch'io come si bruciano I cori a lento foco, D'un breve sorrisetto Conosco anch'io l'effetto, Di menzognera lagrima, D'un subito languor, Conosco i mille modi Dell'amorose frodi, I vezzi e l'arti facili Per adescare un cor. Ho testa bizzarra, son pronta vivace, Brillare mi piace scherzar: Se monto in furore Di rado sto al segno, Ma in riso lo sdegno fo presto a cangiar, Ho testa bizzarra, Ma core eccellente, ah!

[@eralexdj]

excelente! música para la Arquitectura :D

[@josed5704]

LA MEJOR DE TODAS POR SIEMPRE!!!

[@siempresinnombre779]

Yo las pongo en las consultas, me hacen ameno el trabajo.

[@aaaaa-fi6jb]

Jajaja te la mamaste bro

[@richielopez747]

siempresinnombre yo la pongo cuando hago mezcla (albañil) pero todos me miran feo 😭 después ponen komander y me awito en la chamba 😖

[@nicolerosa7121]

magnífico

[@mcrockdriguez9019]

excelente ...

[@Lusi2361]

❤

[@ronaldopaino671]

Maravilhoso.

[@britters2010]

UNREAL!!!!!!!!!!!

[@marie-armelle458]

très belle interprétation,que cette aria semble aisée!!magnifique L.Popp

[@moon22723]

素晴らしい...

[@armandogonella2770]

G R A N D E L U C I A PER UN GRANDE DONIZETTI !

[@alyortiz7044]

EXCELENTE

[@normancharles7953]

I will add Donizetti to that list...

[@Machike57]

What a delightfull voice! A Popp of Luciadity...

[@KarolynRoseroPerez]

i love lucia popp

[@MariaElena-dm6qh]

solo escuche por curiosa y me encanto su voz

[@blashauwu]

i tried to look up the lyrivs in google and coudlnt where can i find it

[@jonathanbravo7687]

busco una canción de opera, no se como se llama pero el coro dice la letra A, en diferentes tonos, espero puedan ayudarme, gracias

[@Artistadelhambre]

la flauta magica de mozart , reina de la noche

[@LindoroRossini]

If you liked it, check out her duets with the men from his opera, they are even better :D. Just search lucia popp don pasquale in my videos :).

[@blichilde]

Ah, Lucia, Lucia....

[@jamesdivito865]

Would you be so kind as to tell me the name of the lovely picture that accompanies this beautiful music.

[@anunita0361]

The name of that painting is On the Thames by Tissot

[@betorosales7503]

Emitan anuncios por favor, un concierto y eso, no es justo

[@MrGozgozgoztepe]

Aq

[@MadAuralSkills]

Looks like there are 54 divas who think they have a better voice than Lucia Popp.

[@carlosibanez3024]

:v

[@ddzinhomoraes7715]

amo ópera 😍