La dolorosa (Serrano)

Pedro Lavirgen, Teresa Tourne, Julio Catania, Maria Oran, Segundo Garcia. Coro Cantores y Orquesta Conciertos de Madrid, c. Pablo Sorozábal
EMI 5 74216 2

Teresa Berganza, Dolores Cava, Plácido Domingo, Ramon Contreras, José Manzaneda, Juan Pons. Coro di solistas líricos, Orquesta Sinfónica de Barcelona, c. L.A. García-Navarro
BMG Alhambra WD 71588

Alfredo Kraus, Angeles Chamorro, Dolores Cava, Antonio Blancas, Enrique del Portal. Coro Cantores de Madrid y Orquesta Manuel de Falla, c. Enrique García Asensio
Carillon CAL 30

Cayetano Renom, María Espinalt, Marcos Redondo, José Permanyer. Coro general, Orquesta Sinfónica Española, c. Rafael Ferrer
EMI Regal LREG 8017 [LP, nla]

José Picaso, Lily Berchman (Dolores Pérez), Delia Rubens, Santiago Ramalle, Joaquín Deus. Orquesta de Camara de Madrid, c. Daniel Montorio and Enrique Navarro
Zafiro 50603023 [nla]

Emilio Vendrell, María Badia, Cora Raga, Trini Avelli, Anselmo Fernández, Marcos Redondo, Vicente Sempere. Orquestas, c. Francisco Palos, Antonio Capdevila
Blue Moon BMCD

[brief digest from the full comparative review]

For a really complete modern version, Kraus on Carillon is the one to have. Otherwise, EMI offer a more than serviceable account, whilst the BMG recording is a must-buy for fans of Berganza and Domingo. The Zafiro (nla) is not in any case competitive, and the absorbing EMI-Regal early LP, with Redondo and Renom both on good form, has yet to make it to CD.

In many ways the best singing of all comes from Vendrell in two historic readings conveniently packaged on Blue Moon, but his superior later account with Raga is spoilt by a carelessly low-pitched transfer.

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