Wall Street Journal, FEBRUARY 5, 2009

BARRYMORE LAURENCE SCHERER

Her Season of Puccini on Stage and on Disc

Excerpt only:

Her latest Puccini role is Madame Butterfly, which she recently recorded, "because at this moment in my career I felt ready for it. I spent two weeks in Rome rehearsing for the sessions -- I sang Butterfly for three or four hours each day. It is the most demanding role for me because I feel I am not just singing it, but actually living the part. And having the music in my throat actually helps me to say Cio Cio San's words. They are so incredibly moving. And for me, from the first moment she opens her mouth she is a tragic figure." Having just listened to advance copies, I can say that under Antonio Pappano's profoundly sensitive baton Ms. Gheorghiu and tenor Jonas Kaufmann deliver a heartbreaking performance to treasure.