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Verdi: Il Trovatore
Home > Complete List of "v-w" Artists > Viva Voce > Item 17
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Verdi: Il Trovatore
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by Giuseppe Verdi, Alberto Erede, Geneva Grand Theater Orchestra, Antonio Balbi, and Athos Cesarini
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$12.49
At Amazon
on 9-8-2008.
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I decided to buy a used copy of this half century old Trovatore on the strength of the earlier review posting. I'm certainly glad I did. First, there is the pleasure of hearing Tebaldi in a role that wasn't central to her repertory. Having heard her Violetta on an early '50s Decca recording of Traviata I was not expecting much in the way of florid singing. I was pleasantly surprised. True, some of the runs are sketchy and the tone isn't always ideally equalized when she goes for the high notes, but Tebaldi isn't far behind the fabled Milanov, a favorite in this role. Tebaldi's italianate timbre is a decided plus. A few days ago I played the first act aria and cabaletta for some friends without any identification. After some puzzled looks, someone commented that whoever it was, she was great and though she sounded like Tebaldi, the florid singing was too good for it to be her. Needless to say, they were all pleasantly surprised. I think Simionato is simply the finest Azucena on disc - whether here or in the legendary Salzburg broadcast of a few years later. Del Monaco isn't an intellectual tenor by any stretch of the imagination, but this is elemental, viscerally exciting singing. I'll give up the subtle nuances for a vital, heroic Manrico like this. Savarese is a competant Di Luna. He's certainly not offensive, but there's not much here to convince the listener he belongs in the company of the great exponents of the role. I have to admit that I think the role's showpiece, "Il balen" is a problem for any interpreter. I think organ grinder every time I hear it. It's always a pleasure to hear the young Tozzi's richly overtoned voice as Ferrando. Erede is no Karajan (or Mehta) but he gives us a well routined reading of the score. Finally, the sonics of this 1956 recording are very impressive early vintage stereo. Despite its occasional flaws, I quickly have become very attached to this venerable Trovatore.
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Verdi: Il Trovatore
Available from Amazon
Price: $12.49
Updated on 9-8-2008.
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