La Gioconda

Placido Domingo recently appeared as Enzo, the tenor hero of Ponchielli's best-known opera, in a commercial recording for the first time, though it's long been one of his signature roles. But this taping of a 1986 mounting at the Vienna State Opera captured Domingo's performance when he was at his prime, and it's surely the highlight of this DVD. His voice rings out with sweet, burnished tone and a marvelous ease of delivery, making for a splendid "Cielo e mar!" and equally imposing singing throughout. Unfortunately, the other contributions don't equal his. Adam Fischer conducts decently, but the orchestra is not a virtuoso ensemble, and Filippo Sanjust's staging seems cramped and a trifle tacky. In the title role, soprano Eva Marton, with her large but not ideally controlled voice, makes an impressive sound but doesn't match Domingo, while veteran Matteo Manuguerra is suitably sinister but a bit rough-sounding as the Iago-like Barnaba. The real problem, though, is the opera itself. Boito's libretto is a virtual catalogue of operatic cliché--adultery, lust, suicide, unrequited love, and sleeping potions are but a few of the prominent elements--and Ponchielli's music is comparatively undistinguished (it's no wonder that La Gioconda is no longer the repertory staple it once was; the “Dance of the Hours” ballet is the only real highlight, and here the choreography doesn't make much of it). Presented with DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1, and stereo sound options, this is a strong optional purchase, but only for Domingo's performance. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)