LIVE COVENT GARDEN GALA CONCERT. Placido Domingo,...

LIVE COVENT GARDEN GALA CONCERT. Placido Domingo, Cheryl Studer, Eva Randova, Thomas Allen, singers; Royal Opera Orchestra, John Barker, conductor. EMI 7 49811 2 (compact disc). Domingo’s record sales ability may be the sole reason for this disc, which concentrates on music the tenor has recorded before. The best singing comes from Studer, who provides a shimmering “Fledermaus” csardas and a lyrically affecting Desdemona in the love duet. Domingo finds the two Spanish songs his most congenial numbers. Allen offers a robust baritone in the “Boheme” duet, Randova a quavery mezzo in “Aida.” One could do without the hokey “Traviata” Brindisi, as well as Domingo’s preceding speech. The total music time, less than an hour, seems a bit stingy.