Search - Verdi, Gobbi, Gencer :: Simon Boccanegra

A lovely souvenir of Gobbi and Gencer in their prime

Ralph Moore | Bishop's Stortford, UK | 05/17/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am surprised that no-one has previously reviewed this Opera d'Oro issue, given the quality and reputation of the soloists - and especially as Gencer (along with Olivero, the "Queen of Pirate Recordings", both being so grievously neglected by the big companies) is in such fine form - her pianissimo B flat alone in her first solo is to die for. Gobbi can also be heard on his lovely 1957 EMI studio recording with Christoff and de los Angeles (see my review) but this has the added zest of a live performance. The cast is completed by more famous names: Zampieri, Vienna's favourite resident Italian tenor at that time, whose sturdy, baritonal, but sensitive, tones are very welcome; the noble-voiced Tozzi as Fiesco and Panerai as Paolo - whose opening few minutes are wobbly and frankly almost disastrous, but he warms up later.



Gobbi is, of course, incomparably detailed and affecting in this, one of his most celebrated interpretations. As ever, his top notes are a bit dry but his verbal inflections and nuances are a delight, the tone, with that characteristic flickering vibrato, firm and incisive. Gencer is wonderful: that warm, spicy sound bringing a Callas-like electricty and drama to her interpretation without sounding the least like Callas. The ubiquitous Gavazzeni brings an experienced ear to the score - he is always so reliable but never dull.



OK; the question of sound - always a crucial question with Opera d'Oro - can be delayed no longer. Actually, the good news is that it's really quite good for an old, live recording. I got excited when I heard the first few notes of the Prologue; it's clear and present with little fuzziness, but then something happens about half way through and it suddenly becomes less distinct and more opaque. It seems to recover by the beginning of Gencer's opening of Act 1 - or maybe my ears adjust; in any case, it's very listenable and has the atmosphere of the live theatre, as it should, as there is often a lot of space around the voices.



This performance has of course been previously available on labels like Gala, but more expensively. At this price, it's a steal."