PUCCINI: Turandot
Birgit Nilsson (Turandot); Jussi Bjoerling (Calaf); Renata Tebaldi (Liù);
Giorgio Tozzi (Timur); Alessio De Paolis (Emperor Altoum); Mario Sereni
(Ping); Piero de Palms (Pang); Tommaso Frascati (Pong); Leonardo Monreale
(A Mandarin); Rome Opera House Chorus and Orch/Erich Leinsdorf, cond.
RCA LIVING STEREO 82624 (2 disks) TT: 54:06 & 60:55
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VERDI: La traviata
Anna Moffo (Violetta); Richard Tucker (Alfredo); Robert Merrill (Giorgio
Germont); Anna Reynolds (Flora); Piero de Palma (Gastone); Rome Opera
House Chorus and Orch/Fernando Previtali, cond.
RCA LIVING STEREO 82623 (2 disks) TT: 64:04 & 48:46
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PUCCINI: Madama Butterfly
Leontyne Price (Cio-cio-San); Richard Tucker (Pinkerton); Rosalind Elias
(Suzuki); Philip Maero (Sharpless); Piero de Palma (Goro); RCA Italian
Opera Chorus and Orch/Erich Leinsdorf, cond.
RCA LIVING STEREO 82622 (2 disks) TT: 60:45 & 68:44
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PUCCINI: La Bohème
Anna Moffo (Mimì); Richard Tucker (Rodolfo); Robert Merrill (Marcello);
Mary Costa (Musetta); Colline (Giorgio Tozzi); Philip Maero (Schaunard);
Rome Opera House Chorus and Orch/Erich Leinsdorf, cond.
RCA LIVING STEREO 82621 (2 disks) TT: 50:13 & 49:45
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These recordings have figured prominently in opera collections
ever since their first LP issues, and RCA is to be commended for
releasing them in their mid-price Living Stereo SACD format.
Previous CD (and LP) issues were marred by overload and distortion
in louder passages,
particularly
in Turandot. Just about all of this has been eliminated in
these new DSD remasterings of the original tapes—these remarkable
performances have never sounded better. And the performances are, indeed,
remarkable,
with strong casting throughout. The dream cast of Turandot could
hardly be bettered: Nilsson, Bjoerling and Tebaldi - what more could
one ask?
Anna Moffo
was in
her prime
at the time (Traviata 1961, Bohème 1961),
and remains one of the finest Violettas on recordings. Leontyne Price
perhaps isn't
ideal for Cio-cio-San, but the glory of the voice is surely present
throughout. Memorable issues all, and highly recommended. There are
no libretti, but these are available on the internet.
R.E.B. (September 2006) |
