DON PASQUALE

By Gaetano Donizetti

VIDEO: One of the liveliest opera buffa delights in the repertoire; unfortunately, no adequate video.

B) CETRA: Sesto Bruscantini, Alda Noni, Cesare Valletti, Rossi conducting (1949); more perfectly balanced ensemble, better conducting, poorer sound, less opulent voices; Mono [G.R.]

C) EMI: Ernesto Badini, Adelaide Saraceni, Tito Schipa, Sabajno conducting (1932); Badini's sparkling comic style leads this celebrated recording, featuring the most imaginative Ernesto (Schipa) on records, recorded, alas, somewhat past his best, and a Norina (Saraceni) who gives fingernails on blackboards a run for their money; if this had only been recorded a few years earlier, with a different soprano, this would outclass all the rest; Mono. [G.R.]