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In this day of a dearth of opera recordings of any kind it is with a grateful heart and ear that we can welcome Henry Clifford. To come to the end of it first let me say it is much more than a museum piece. It is enjoyable and you will come back to it both for the music and for the performance. This recording is a companion recording to the Albéniz Merlin issued a year or so ago. But unlike Merlin, which while most interesting, is composed of mixed virtues. And this albeit somewhat later than Clifford. If you pick up the recording without bothering with the program notes or libretto you might think at one moment that musically this might be high grade Sir Arthur Sullivan and you would be encouraged in this belief by the plot which derives from historical characters in the War of the Roses. And how much more English than that can you get? The excellent program notes by the conductor are must reading and set the whole thing straight. The music varies between very English to certain spots where the very Spanish Albéniz lets loose. For instance the First Act duet between Lady St. John & Lady Clifford could be inserted without change into Iberia. There are other instances of course but as a whole it is very listenable - half Spanish and half English. Actually the libretto is not half bad. Originally written - and set by Albéniz in English is was translated into Italian because in 1895 - the date of it's premiere in Madrid - that was the language for singing. Eusebio has very wisely returned it to English - although this has its own problems for scarcely a word in ten can be understood. You'll need the libretto to keep track of things, believe me. As to the singing: Alessandra Marc is her usual self: A fine voice and a meaning for the text that goes well beyond mere comprehension. Machado is a serviceable tenor in the title role and there is not a lemon in the cast. I just wish their pronunciation were better. Eusebio is very much in charge in every way and brings not only feeling but also grasp to the very complicated score. The orchestra is fine and my only complaint with the chorus is that they are miked too distantly. That and the fact that nary a word is discernable. Sound is up to Decca's high standard and the packaging is excellent and worth a read. The best complete opera recording of the year? More likely the only.
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Albéniz:
Henry Clifford
