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ANNA NETREBKO/ROLANDO VILLAZÓN DUETS Staatskapelle Dresden. Conductor: Nicola Luisotti  DG 4776457 ****

These two are currently the golden couple of the opera stage, and they recently completed a grand tour with much of this material.

This recital covers a range of great French and Italian duets from the 19th century, together with lesser known duets from Iolanta (Tchaikovsky's last opera) and a Zarzuela, Luisa Fernanda (by Torroba).

In the opera house Netrebko's voice is larger and colder than Villazón's, but on this disc they blend well in terms of volume. Villazón is more committed and at ease in the French and Italian register, where his ringing top register is thrilling.

However, Netrebko comes into her own in the little known Tchaikovsky duet where she conveys the intensity and pain of young love. A contemporary portrait of two young operatic superstars. www.deutschegrammophon.com  COLMAN MORRISSEY

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