An album of Puccini duets by a real-life couple can be a regrettable thing, as one half of this recording duo has already discovered. But there’s much to be gained when both artists are as committed as Roberto Alagna and Aleksandra Kurzak, a husband and wife team to rival Deutsche Grammophon’s Anna and Yusif. There’s an attempt at a concept which, though forced, mostly works, though it perhaps doesn’t reflect all too kindly on Puccini. As explained in the liner notes, “all Puccini’s operas could be one and the same work…all his couples could be one and the same couple”. The duets from his myriad operas thus form an “unbroken narrative” on this recording, charting the ups and downs of a single relationship.
Mariusz Kwiecień: back on track
Award-winning baritone Mariusz Kwiecień retired from performing in 2020 and is now Artistic Director at the Wrocław Opera. He explains how he's been attracting audiences in their thousands.
December 20, 2021
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