Giuseppe Verdi ( 1813-1901)
Beniamino Gigli, Maria Caniglia, Gino Bechi
Fedora Barbieri, Elda Ribetti, Tancredi Pasero
Coro e Orchestra del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
dir: Tullio Serafin
EMI References (2000) 7243 5 67476 2 3 ADD mono 2 CDs
Abbey Road Technology - Rec. 1943
[flac & cue, cover, inlays, booklet & disc scans]
Review:
It was made during a time when the Allies were poised to ensure Italian capitulation; it is a fascinating historico-musicological fact that some wonderful recordings were being made contemporaneously in Nazi Germany regardless of the implosion of the Fascist state and its war aims.
For all his vocal splendour, Gigli has never been my favourite tenor but his irritating mannerisms of gulping and over-emoting are hardly in evidence here and he sounds considerably more boyish than his actual 53 years, chuckling winningly in "È scherzo od è follia" and rising magnificently to the desperation of "Forse la soglia attinse". His regular partner Maria Caniglia is already evincing signs of decline despite not yet being forty, yet hers was a grand, passionate spinto soprano which, while never perfect nor always sweet on the ear nor even completely under control, was, to be fair, apparently never recorded as gratefully as the tenor's voice. Her lower register is striking and she is not yet singing too often under the note, a fault which later crept in. She is never less than wholly committed to the emotional import of her music and her "Morró, ma prima in grazia" is moving and an example of singing in the old, grand manner. The thirty-year-old Gino Bechi tears a passion to tatters as Renato,exhibiting one of the most sheerly exciting Italian baritones ever to stride stage -and I include Ruffo, Straciari and Amato in that category. He doesn't attempt much in the way of variety of colour or subtlety of expression but what a sound he makes. An even younger Fedora Barbieri at 23 completely and commandingly inhabits the role of Ulrica, displaying extraordinary vocal maturity and artistic confidence as the prophetess. Elda Ribetti is no more shrill or annoying than most coloratura sopranos as Oscar; in my experience the best has been Reri Grist in the highly recommendable - indeed still my first choice - recording by Leinsdorf with Leontyne Price, Bergonzi and Merrill. It is odd to see the great basso Tancredi Pasero cast in the minor role of Samuel the conspirator but his presence lends vocal glamour.
Tullio Serafin is of course completely at home conducting this archetypal Verdi opera and the Rome Opera forces sound as though they are enjoying their part in proceedings, singing and playing con gusto."Ralph Moore - Amazon.com