Search - Giuseppe Verdi, Carlo Maria Giulini, Saint Cecilia Academy Orchestra :: Verdi: Il Trovatore

Verdi: Il Trovatore
Giuseppe Verdi, Carlo Maria Giulini, Saint Cecilia Academy Orchestra
Verdi: Il Trovatore
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (19) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (16) - Disc #2

With its distinguished cast, this Trovatore, one of Carlo Maria Giulini's (1914-2005) most successful opera recordings, makes a fine memento of a great conductor of the 20th century.

     
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With its distinguished cast, this Trovatore, one of Carlo Maria Giulini's (1914-2005) most successful opera recordings, makes a fine memento of a great conductor of the 20th century.
 

CD Reviews

If only all things from the 80's were this classy.....
Angus W. Grant | Melbourne, Australia | 06/25/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Please ignore Grumpy old Santa Fe Listener, does he not realise that Plowright has continued her career as a mezzo and her Aida on Chandos was well received. Her voice was exceptionally beautiful, with an ethereal, floating quality in the middle register that had people comparing her to Callas. Her upper register, while strong, was never totally comfortable (and as it turns out, was unnatural) but you would have to be a very picky vocal connoisseur to throw such a gorgeous baby out because there were a few things wrong with the bathwater. She is an excellent interpreter and musically very sensitive.



The other three principals are outstanding. Domingo too can sound a little strained on some high notes but he is so compelling, partly becuase of his usual musicianship and dramatic instinct, but also because of the respect he shows the part, not treating it as a power tenor display.



Fassbaender is quite unhinged as Azucena and the results are thrilling. She negates any of the arguments against the absurd plot because she sounds like she would very readily throw her baby into the flames. It is an outstanding interpretation of the role and features much glorious singing.



This is one of Zancanaro's greatest recordings. He is dark and brooding and with his thrilling high register given so many opportunities to shine, he is truly in his element. His ability to sound evil and menacing helps create such dramatic tension against Plowright's purity, Fassbaender's nuttyness and Domingo's nobility.



The interpretaion by Giulini is spacious and profound. Many of the tempi are measured (if not slow) and the result is not a slowing of the drama but added intensity.



It is a very reverberant acoustic which works quite well, and the sound quality is generally excellent. Very highly recommended.







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