Search - Giuseppe Verdi, Claudio Abbado, Mirella Freni :: Verdi - Simon Boccanegra / Freni, Cappuccilli, Carreras, Ghiaurov, van Dam, Foiani, Teatro alla Scala, Abbado

Needed to be seen

Nicholas Moore | Bordeaux, France | 12/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I happened to see this production in paris in the late 70's with the singers as in the CD, conductor Abbado, director Giorgio Strehler, and it is still engraved in my memory as one of those truly magical moments that justify years of listening to poor performances. The final act, the death of simon, was a moment of absollute beauty, with the two tremendous voices of Capuccilli dying and ghiaurov realising he is losing a son ...

It is true that Simon is not an easy opera, there are few aris, and the titel role has not a single aria. For those who like easy opera, go to Carmen, or traviata, or boheme (which incidentally I love and have seen many times with good (ah! boheme with freni-domingo!!, cosi with te kanawa and ludwig!!!) or less good singers and directors. Simon is second-grade opera: you graduate to simon once you start understanding what opera is really all about: sit, let the music immerge you (especially simon with its marine leitmotiv), and spend 2 or 3 hours (or 5 if its wagner) in another universe...

The recording is almost as good as the real thing, but since there no hope to ever see these singers together again, buy the record, close your eyes, and "bon voyage""