Angela Gheorghiu – Diva (2004) CD-Rip

Diva is an entertaining and attractively packaged compilation of Angela Gheorghiu's EMI recordings made between 1996 and 2002. All of the selections have appeared on previous releases, but some of them only in the context of complete operas. As a one-disc snapshot of Gheorghiu's career so far, Diva does pretty well, and it would make a good first choice for anyone looking to get to know her work. The variety of repertoire that Gheorghiu tackles on this record is huge -- even including a rendition of Handel's "Lascia ch'io pianga." It's an old-fashioned choice, and somewhat out of step with Baroque fashion, but her simple and heartfelt performance is a winner (especially here, tucked in between so many warhorses of the soprano repertory). More than anything, it establishes the degree to which Gheorghiu will adapt her approach to the material at hand: her Manon has just the right dose of free-spirited sexuality; her Carmen is fiery; and her Magda (Puccini's La Rondine) is a picture of lyric beauty. Gheorghiu also shows herself to be an unusually colorful singer, shading each phrase for maximum expressive effect. Not all selections are equally excellent. Her "Una voce poco fa" from Rossini's Il barbière di Siviglia shows her struggling some with the fast coloratura passages, and "Vien diletto" from Bellini's I puritani suggests that the high-flying bel canto repertory is not where she's most comfortable. But in all, this album is an impressive display of singing and musicianship, and highly recommendable.