This disc is her solo debut.
Caution is the watchword of the day.
Gheorghiu's voice is dark and characterful, rather like Sylvia Sass's, but without the Hungarian soprano's Callas-like mannerisms. In spite of her voice's dark color, Gheorghiu sounds most comfortable in the florid selections by Bellini and Donizetti. When she sings out, her sound blossoms and becomes truly attractive, and her trills and high notes are admirable. Unfortunately, she doesn't sing out much in this collection, and her singing often sounds hollow and tentative. She also tends to go sharp.