Man of La Mancha (Studio Cast Recording (1990))

Plácido Domingo endows Quixote with a vocal richness and intensity no previous man of La Mancha has brought to the role. But as wonderful as Domingo is, he is too overpowering to capture the vulnerability of Quixote's mental state, an essential quality of this character. Julia Migenes gets trapped in Aldonza's massive register changes, even though her lower range is expressive and robust. She is unafraid of indulging the chest tone, a vital necessity in this role. The sore spot is Mandy Patinkin, who is misguided by delivering Sancho in an unnaturally nasal and obnoxious manner--he is more annoying than cute. A worthy, if far from perfect, recording. --Barbara Eisner Bayer