RECORDS / New Releases: Giordano: Fedora. Marton/Carreras/Hungarian RTSO/Patane (Sony, CD)

A two-CD set from the mid-Eighties, when Carreras was still in full bloom and Marton was, well, wobbly - which may be why the set was withdrawn. It was never thought much competition for the old 1960s Monte Carlo Opera recording on Decca (Olivero, del Monaco, Gobbi), but Sony has reissued it to catch the interest generated by Carreras's current Covent Garden appearance (see review, The Critics, main paper). And re-hearing proves the Hungarian set to be worthwhile after all: Carreras is wonderfully fluent, and the performances are committed.