La dogaresa (Millán)

Pilar Lorengar, Teresa Berganza, Manuel Ausensi, Carlos Munguía, Antonio Campó. Orfeón Donostiarra, Orquesta Sinfónica, c. Ataulfo Argenta
BMG RCA Classics WD 71808

Emilio Sagi Barba, Luisa Vela, Lolita Arellano, Arturo de Castro. Orquesta y coro, c. Rafael Millán
Aria SL 1027 [highlights]

Millán's romantic melodrama has many charms, most of which are admirably conveyed in the standard reading under Argenta. The stellar cast are all at their best, and the recording has been better transferred than many earlier reissues in this series. The score is given relatively complete, although Munguía loses Paolo's brief but effective meditation of death as he crosses the Bridge of Sighs.

Aria's half-hour of highlights with the marvellous original singers under the composer are even more atmospheric, and include an attractive Intermedio omitted by Argenta. They are suitably coupled with a reissue of extended highlights from a real Millán rarity, El dictador; but in truth the 1920 acoustic recording is very dim and the BMG issue is definitely the one to go for.

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