Donizetti: Lucrezia Borgia - Sills, Marsee, H, Price, Yule; Rudel. 1976

Description: When Beverly Sills decided to undertake the Donizetti “Queen” roles, she did so knowing full well that it would likely come at a cost to her lyric voice. Her efforts prove to be well worth the sacrifice as she delivers a searingly intense performance bordering on reckless, and although the voice at times shows some ware, she deftly navigates her way around this emotionally charged bel canto tour-de-force without ever falling over the precipice (think Martha Mödl in her later years.) The American mezzo, Susanne Marsee, delivers a puckish yet earnest Orsini and Henry Price brings mellifluous lyricism to the role of Genarro. But there is no mistaking whose night it is… In Mono BONUS:Beverly Sills sings excerpts from Lucia di Lammermoor and I Puritani OD 11295-2