DONIZETTI: “L’Elisir d’Amore.” Kathleen Battle, Luciano Pavarotti,...

DONIZETTI: “L’Elisir d’Amore.” Kathleen Battle, Luciano Pavarotti, Leo Nucci, Enzo Dara, Dawn Upshaw, forces of the Metropolitan Opera, James Levine, conductor. Deutsche Grammophon 429-744-2 (two CDs). Pavarotti’s Nemorino, first recorded 20 years ago, remains one of the tenor’s most ingratiating parts. He sings it now without some of his old suavity, perhaps, but still offers a limpid demonstration of bel-canto sound and style. “Una furtiva lagrima” is the proper highlight of the recording. Battle’s Adina is sensitive, silvery and beautifully controlled. Nucci’s sadly frayed baritone is hard-pressed in the coloratura passages, and Dara’s Dulcamara, while aptly characterized, sounds quavery. Upshaw, who has already won success as Adina, represents luxury casting as Giannetta. Levine does not take naturally to bel-canto bubbles, but keeps things moving along well enough.