Giacomo Puccini: "La rondine" (EMI)

Dial-a-track code: 1201

On the face of it Lo rondine (The s~wallow~) is another Boheme, complete with cast of youthful insouciants whose idea of an artistically sound lifestyle consists of boozing, bonking and scarpering when the bills come around. Commissioned in Vienna, it was supposed to be a light hearted operetta; Puccini being Puccini, however, the tissues are out from act one. The plot is simple, not to say minimal; fallen woman (Magda) meets ardent youth (Ruggero), they elope, he wants to marry her, she is guilt stricken and leaves him. Here is low sell"esteem of a high order, and it would take a miraculous performance by the soprano to convince anyone of Magda's worth: luckily that's exactly what we get on this set as the brilliant Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu steals the show in ravishing fashion from - among others - her husband, the splendidly macho tenor Roberto Alagna. Hers is a voice to make heads turn, eyes water and hearts spin. Angeta Gheorghiu is what opera is all about, and she couldn't be shown off to better effect than she is here. Puccini buffs will also be chuffed by the extracts from an early opera with the endearing title of The Willis, which is thrown in for good measure.