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Verdi Operas - Page 2

post #16 of 23
2/6/07 at 9:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JayG View Post
Haven't listened to Toscanini's Traviata yet, but I'm sorry to hear that it's not up to snuff.

Have you checked out Otello? I think you'll be more pleased with that.

-Jay
I was very pleased with what I heard of this Otello (first act and part of the second). As I wrote somewhere in the thread, it is one Desdemona shy of being great. My favourite Desdemona is Mirella Freni with Vickers/Glossop in Vienna. Pity it is so hard to hear her in the atrocious Opera d'Oro set I have. She was also great a few years later with Domingo/Cappuccilli in Milano (directed by Kleiber).
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post #17 of 23
1/22/11 at 4:53am

I listened to this recording and it has really well executed vocals from Maria callas.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by calaf View Post

spent a couple more hours with Toscanini Verdi Recordings. Not everything is golden: the Traviata III act is borderline parody. I was slamming Solti for rushing Gheorghiu a bit but here the Maestro really butchered a masterpiece: I haven't written down the exact timings but for example "Addio del passato" was less than three mins to Giulini more than five. It sounded like playing an LP at 45 RPMs. Speaking of Giulini, the 1955 Callas/Giulini set

is going for less than $12 on amazon. I paid $30 for it and never regretted it! At this price it is a crime not to get it.

Coming back to Toscanini, there are (at least) two gems added as filler in the set: a longish scene from "I Lombardi" is played beautifully by a certain Mischa Mischakoff on the violin and beautifully sung (kind of a miniature violin concerto in the middle of the opera); and the moving, flowing, "Va pensiero" is the redeeming feature of the CD containing the Traviata parody and a Rigoletto III act which left me cold.
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post #18 of 23
1/22/11 at 4:59pm
My favorite Verdi is Zefferelli's filmed version of La Traviata with Cortrubas and Domingo. Unfortunately, it is out of print, but you can find it on DVD at eBay. Beautiful staging and direction. Cortrubas is a heartbreaker.

Opera on video is infinitely superior to opera on cd.
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post #19 of 23
1/22/11 at 5:09pm
Maria Callas video
http://www.animationarchive.org/?p=1606
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post #20 of 23
1/22/11 at 7:58pm


Quote:

Originally Posted by JayG View Post


P.S. In the spirit of this thread, I just finished giving the Björling/Milanov Aida another spin.


I never get tired of Jussi in anything. When I first started listening to opera, his was the first voice I fell in love with, and I think he's ruined me for all other tenors. His "Ch'ella mi Creda" (Ok, I know it's Puccini, and this is a Verdi thread) never fails to break my heart.

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post #21 of 23
1/22/11 at 8:00pm

For those of you who like Traviata, especially the duet between Violetta and Germont (padre),  you should take a listen to the New Orleans excerpts from the late 50's in real honest-to-god stereo.  It features Dorothy Kirsten and Cornel MacNeil.  MacNeil is a true Verdi baritone and more.  Listen to how softly and tenderly he can sing and yet, turn on the afterburners when needed.  It's really quite a dynamic swing.  I've been in Traviata about 60 times with different singers and this duet caps 'em all.  For 6 bucks plus shipping, you can't beat it.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Dorothy-Kirsten-Orleans-Gustave-Charpentier/dp/B000006OR0/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1295755130&sr=1-4

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post #22 of 23
1/24/11 at 7:19pm

i made a list about several la traviata recordings. i have almost all of them. take a look if interested.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-La-Traviata/lm/1ZIHVZTKS8TP6/ref=cm_srch_res_rpli_alt_1

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post #23 of 23
1/25/11 at 7:02am
I never got quite as far with this opera as you have, but my choices for the top picks jibe with yours. Some don't like Cortrubas because she doesn't sing "pretty" enough, but that's acting and it totally fits the drama.
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