Donizetti - L'elisir d'amore / Alagna, Devia, Spagnoli, Praticò, Provisionato, Viotti
This "Elisir," well-done throughout, can be strongly  recommended. Its cast is relatively unfamiliar to American  audiences (except for Alagna, now the hottest young tenor on the  international scene) but highly proficient, dramatically as well  as musically, and good at working together. The chorus and  orchestra, well-conducted, have a refreshing lightness well  suited to the opera's atmosphere and Spagnoli and Pratico give  it a deft comic touch. Devia sings well but is particularly  impressive for her characterization. Alagna's singing rivals  Pavarotti's, notably in "Una furtiva lagrima."--Joe McLellan