La Gioconda (2006)

"Regardless of almost anything else, the success or failure of any performance of La Gioconda depends on the soprano singing the title role. The voice must be big and full of colors, equally strong across a two octave-plus range reaching high-C, and capable of singing at all dynamic ranges. And the soprano must have stamina: the final act is about 35 minutes long, and Gioconda sings almost constantly, at the end of a very long, arduous evening. The fact that the libretto is one of the worst in all of opera matters little if the lead soprano has convinced us of her utter misery, love, devotion, and despair. This performance, taped live at Barcelonas Teatre Liceu in 2005, stars Deborah Voigt, and she is marvelous in the role. She doesnt come near the searing intensity of Callas, but nonetheless I have never heard her sing with such commitment, so much voice, and such guts, and she makes the role her own." (Robert Levine, ClassicsToday; voor complete tekst: klik op link)