Early Ewa Podles sings "O Don Fatale" (LIVE 1990)

Live Geneva 1990
Eboli: Ewa Podles
Conductor: Fabio Luisi
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Podles is most famous for her Bel Canto roles, but she essayed most of the Verdi Dramatic mezzo roles too. This concert performance from early in her career (1990) shows not just superlative vocalism that we are accustomed to with Podles - the amazing power and clarity in every register, wonderfully pliant legato, a radiant vocal tone and depth of timbre - but also a thrilling vocal characterisation, that leaves most of her rivals on record sounding rather bland (even those that sang the role a lot). My all time favourite recording of this aria, Callas' 1964 studio recording, is quite different, but Podles provides an extremely compelling alternative that presents the character just as fully formed in sound - every phrase is sculpted with clear dramatic intent which makes the character live and breath in the minds eye. The result is a very psychologically astute portrait, full of hesitancy and trembling - one who has peered too far into their own evil. The only slight mar, as always with Podles, is the occasional lisp, but this really is quibbling in a performance this fine! Luisi gives marvellously atomspheric support with his orchestra.
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