Search - Giuseppe Verdi, Claudio Abbado, La Scala Theater Orchestra :: Verdi: Don Carlo

Great conducting, variable singing, muzzy sound

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 12/02/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"
This is a gripping performance theatrically, broadcast from La Scala in 1968 when Abbado was a young up and comer. Here he's more committed and exciting than in his studio recording for DG of the French version of Don Carlo (for some reason Abbado's Verdi seems rather inert in studio settings). The orchestra plays well, and some of the singers are excellent. Fiorenza Cosostto gives one of the best Ebolis I've ever heard, amking this tricky part sound almost easy. the lower voices among the males are also world class: Ghiaurov as King Philip, Cappuccilli as Rodrigo, and Talvela as the Grand Inquisitor. There's never been a beter trio than that, I imagine.



But we run out of luck with the leads. As Don Carlo, Bruno Prevedi is a stalwart, loud, but thankfully not vulgar tenor who gets by pretty well but is no domingo. Rita Orlandi-Malaspina as elisabetta is also more than acceptable but no Caballe, much less Callas.



You also have to contend with the dull, fuzzy sonics that are no better than one would expect from a table-top AM radio. Because the solo voices are miked close, they don't suffer as much as the murky chorus and orchestra. This is a Don Carlo to enjoy in parts, but you should know what you're in for, even at Opera d'Oro's rock-bottom price."