Reasons for the indifference:
- Despite being a typical ‘highlights’ type version typical of bel canto recordings of the post-war years, it is often touted as the go-to recording – which is factually incorrect.
- Contemporary notes describe it as an “extensively cut performing version,” with about fifty minutes of score removed compared with a modern critical edition.
- While the three leads do sing the material well, there has been a glut of recordings since then which are more complete and at least as well sung.
- Nor is it a ‘rediscovery’ of the opera, since the butchered version was produced for Sara Scuderi in 1947. Marina Cucchio starred also in the second reprise of Anna Bolena in 20th Century (Bergamo, Festival Donizetti, 1956).
- The first contemporary reprise of Bolena took place in Barcelona (Gran Teatre del Liceu, 1947). In the leading roles: Sara Scuderi, Giulietta Simonato & Cesare Siepi. No recording survives of both Barcelona & Bergamo.
