Search - Gioachino Rossini, Alberto Zedda, Collegiume Instrumentale Brugense :: Rossini - Tancredi / Podles, Jo, Olsen, Spagnoli, di Micco, Lendi, Zedda

"Bargain" opera at it's best!

03/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rossini-lovers, take note--here is the biggest bargain you'll find in CD sets of full operas. Recorded on the budget label, Naxos, this set is less than the usual cost of a single disk. Yet here is a group of people who obviously know their way around Rossini's music. From the crisp, energetic little period orchestra to the utter joy of Sumi Jo's pure coloratura soprano voice, this is a really fine performance. Polish "mezzo" (I would say she's actually a contralto with an unusually large range and some pretty amazing coloratura) Ewa Podles gives a beautifully- sung and noble interpretation of the character of Tancredi. Her vocal style, somewhat reminiscent of Marilyn Horne, is smooth, natural, and free. American tenor Stanford Olsen does his usual wonderful Rossini work. The arias, duets, and choral comments are to die for. Wow! How did Naxos afford to pay this cast on such a low selling price?? The one drawback--the libretto is in Italian only (no English translation.) In spite of a very good synopsis that proceeds by track by track, the plot is rather complex and might be a bit hard to follow unless you are already familiar with this opera and Rossini's music, and you are accustomed to listening to Italian. But even the inexperienced opera-listener who enjoys classical vocal music might love this just for the beauty of the score and the excellence of the performance. A truly great recording."

Stendhal thought it Rossini's masterpiece.

darragh o'donoghue | 02/08/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was the release that suggested Naxos was more than just a churner of necessary bargains for the impecunious; that the label could produce quality work comparable with the established companies. This recording was considered far superior to its 'major label' competitor. Alberto Zedda's alternately vigorous and sensitive conducting; the clarity of the playing, bringing out the rich nuances of Rossini's orchestral writing usually overlooked by discs that emphasise only his exuberance; and the extraordinary cast, including the now-legendary Sumi Jo as the heroine Amenaide, and the mezza-soprano Ewa Podles in the (male) title role, affecting the sound of a coutertenor; all contribute to a major achievement. Whereas most opera recordings are inhumanly airbrushed in the search for studio perfection, this set leaves the rough scratchy edges in - it feels like a high-quality bootleg (compliment!), giving the listener the illusion that s/he is in the teeming pit of the Teatro del Fenice, 1813.The opera itself dates from the same period as Rossini's first masterpiece, 'L'Italiana d'Algieri'. If it's not the equal of that infectious comedy, 'Tancredi' is an enjoyable melodrama in its own right. There are few of the accumulative ensembles and choruses, or violent musical snowballing that have become synonymous with the composer - all is melodious and restrained, which is just as well, as the halting and repetitive plot (after Voltaire, but with the ending changed), is not the most dramatic Rossini ever had to work with. Like his great successor Verdi, Rossini was primarily interested in the interplay between the private and the public, individual desires and communal needs, and how relationships might or might not mediate between the two. The start of the opera is a brilliant demonstration of this - the opening urban pomp as two major clans join in reconciliation introduces the heroine who accepts public acclaim, but worries privately. This is followed by the arrival of the hero, with beautifully lyrical music evocative of love and nature. A more urgent example sees Amenaide fretting in prison while her former lover fights off stage - private anxiety becomes public exultation as we hear the rising cheers of victory."

A Dazzling Performance for a great price!

M. Ramos | 01/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This great recording gives the listener the opportunity to appreciate a work of Rossini that is a rarity today but it was one of his first succeses on the operatic stage. Even with the implausible plot, Rossini gives the characters excellent music to sing. In this performance by Naxos, the singers are uniformily excellent, specially Podles, Jo and Olsen. Ewa Podles, the Tancredi, has a miraculous contralto voice capable of handling the most difficult passages. On this recording, her range go from a dark, solid low F up to two ringing high Cs during her last solo. At the same she is very expressive and involved. Sumi Jo as Amenaide brings an excellent contrast to Podles. Her Amenaide is youthful, feminine, and cristal-clear accurate, with great dominion of legato singing. The beautiful duets are handled by Podles and Jo with both emotion and vocal brilliance, their voices blend beautifully. Stanford Olsen is spectacular as Algirio. He sounds as if he is not having any difficulty with this fiendishly florid role, going up to a high C sharp. Alberto Zedda not only is the expert conductor but he also made the ornamentations and cadenzas. Before this recording, I did not see Naxos as an important company. Now I see that great musical performances are not necessarily related to expensive albums. I hope the Naxos company produce more belcanto operas with Podles, Jo and Olsen."