Search - Antonio Carlos Gomes, John Neschling, Plácido Domingo :: Gomes: Il Guarany / Domingo, Villaroel, Alvarez, Neschling

First-class Gomes

Erico Mangaravite | Vitoria, ES Brazil | 11/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Poor brazilians. We don't have in our country any great Opera House able to record commercially the operas of national's major opera composer: "il maestro" Carlos Gomes.
Althought everybody here knows Il Guarany's sinfonia (the signature tune of a boring government program, in the radio), few are those that listened the complete opera. Yes, we had recordings at past, but they are not so good (lots of strange noises, some amateur singing, bad sound engineering). This one is a kind of miracle. A live recording, it's true, but sounds very good: that fact addicts a nice emotional content to the recording.
Well, the performers are exceptional: the role of Pery is interpreted by no less than Placido Domingo, who has an ideal "tenor lirico" voice, and sings his arias and duettos with great bravura and sensibility (listen "Vanto io pur" and "Sento una forza indomita", and Pery's first appearence at stage - here, you'll remember Otello's "Esultate"). Ms. Villaroel is quite good in the delicate role of Cecilia. In the skin of the spaniard Gonzáles, we have the good baritone Carlos Alvarez (althought the perfect Gonzales was the late brazilian singer, Paulo Fortes).
Minor roles are also well served, the chorus and orchestra too. The conductor is a brazilian with a strange name for one from our country: John Neschling, who also conducts in Rosenkavalier's Palermo production (on DVD).
If you like Verdi operas (as "Il Trovatore", one of Gomes favourites), you'll like Gomes. Unfortunately, we don't have already modern recordings of "Fosca" (Gomes at his best) and "Lo Schiavo". Let's wait for..."

An EXOTIC opéra: plenty of melodical and exuberant richness

J. E. ASENCIO-NEGRON | Guaynabo, Puerto Rico USA | 04/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Il Guarany" (1870, La Scala, Milan) gave Antônio Carlos Gomes (of brazilian origin) a reputation as a significant lyric opera composer throughout Europe. It is plenty of melodical and exuberant richness following the Italian musical school, and the plot recreates the exotic milieu of Brazil of the 1560's with portugueses' fights and dealings with the native tribes of Aimorè and Guaraní. In this Sony recording, the baritone Carlos Alvarez (as Gonzales) gives an excellent performance in the 2nd act with "Senza tetto, sensa cuna" (Without shelter, without refuge) (see Track 9 starting at 1:22 minutes). Also, I enjoyed the 1st act duet Pery/Cecilia (Plácido Domingo/Verónica Villaroel) which is dramatic as well as charming: "Sento una forza indomita" (I feel an irresistible force) (see Track 5 starting at 1:58 minutes). Although I prefer the Donizettian coloratura of Bidú Sayão's old recording (HMV DB 2304), and the delightful lift she gave to Gomes' soprano-arias of "Il Guarany", the soprano Verónica Villaroel is quite good in: "Gentile di cuore" (Tender-hearted) (see Track 3 starting at 6:39 minutes), and "C'era una volta un principe" (There was once a prince) (see Track 10 starting at 3:50 minutes). The dramatic quality and powerful voice of Plácido Domingo is evident in Pery's 2nd act tenor-aria: "Vanto oi pur superba cuna" (I am of high birth)."