Search - Franco Alfano, Arrigo Boito, Alfredo Catalani :: Lebendige Vergangenheit: Magda Olivero

Incredible Artistry

Raymond M. Bercse | 04/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Magda Olivero is an artist to her finger tips. Truly one of the finest soprano's of the twentieth century, she should be a role model for students of singing. Perfect legato, eveness of tone, superb control of dynamics at all levels are combined with passion, intensity and tenderness. These recordings range from 1939 to 1953 during the earlier phase of her career. The tone is lilting, heightened by a fast vibrato, which adds a luster and shine to the voice. Treat yourself to this recital. It is simply enchanting."

I love this!

Morten | 06/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This disc leavs no doubt: If Magda Olivero had made more records, she would have been as famus and loved as Callas and Tebaldi. Olivero has everything: A beautifull voice, great technique and first class vocal acting. She is simply one of the most exciting sopranos ever recorded."

A Truly Special Singer

scshu | 07/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Magda Olivero began her career in the early 1930s and gradually built up a reputation in Italy as an outstanding lyric soprano before her retirement in 1941 due to marriage. The verisimo composer Cilea considered her to be the ideal interpreter of his operatic heroine Adriana Lecouvreur and tried hard to persuade her to come back to the stage after the War. She did make a come back in 1951. As a unique and highly distinguished interpreter of the verisimo roles, she managed to hold her ground despite the dominance of Renata Tebaldi and Maria Callas in the Italian operatic scene. Her secure, durable technique as well as the long interval of rest enabled her to enjoy a long career of almost 60 years, singing well into her 80s and outlasting both her more famous colleagues [She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1975 as Tosca when she was 65 years old!].



The selections on this CD demonstrate why she has been so much cherished and prized by cognoscenti of vocal art. Indeed she deserves to be known as one of the truly great sopranos of the Twentieth Century. She possesses a voice capable of a wide range of colours and a great variety of expression, but most importantly, she is a stunning vocal actress owning an arsenal of crescendos and decrescendos of the most incredible intensity. Apart from the verisimo heroines of Puccini, Mascagni, Cilea, Catalani and Alfano, she makes a marvelous Violetta, with fantastic colouratura and heart-wrenching expressions in the Act I Scena from Verdi's La Traviata.



The Preiser issue of Olivero's records, made during her vocal prime between 1939 and 1953, is a wonderful souvenir of her special and inimitable artistry and musicianship. It's one that all fans of Italian operas should not be without."