Search - Giuseppe Verdi, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Florence May Festival Orchestra & Chorus :: Verdi: Ernani

Verdi: Ernani
Giuseppe Verdi, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Florence May Festival Orchestra & Chorus
Verdi: Ernani
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #2


     
?

Larger Image

CD Details

All Artists: Giuseppe Verdi, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Florence May Festival Orchestra & Chorus, Anita Cerquetti, Athos Cesarini, Boris Christoff, Ettore Bastianini, Luciana Boni, Mario del Monaco
Title: Verdi: Ernani
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Opera D'oro
Original Release Date: 1/1/1957
Re-Release Date: 10/16/2001
Genre: Classical
Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Historical Periods, Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 723724020528
 

CD Reviews

A libretto away from becoming the definite ERNANI set
Armindo | Greece | 05/30/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been hunting this recording for a long time. The Florence May Festival always offers unique operatic moments. This Ernani is one of its two best (the other one being the Mitropoulos Forza Del Destino with Del Monaco/Tebaldi/Barbieri/Protti/Siepi). Many regard this as Anita Cerquetti's best performance ever and though I'm not a fan, I was definitely amazed and impressed. She is sensitive and moving at times and fierce when needed. Stentorian Del Monaco is ideal in the role of the Spanish Ernani. Many dislike his powerful voice but the excitement his animal-like sound could offer in a theatre has never been equalled. The show continues with two other legendary singers; Ettore Bastiannini and Boris Christoff. There is not much to say. Just listen to Bastiannini...at any moment! Perfection! What a timbre! Christoff is also great as Silva. NO OTHER Ernani performance, live or in studio, has such a strong cast. But is it just the cast? Mitropoulos' superb conducting makes me proud to be Greek! I can't understand why he wasn't chosen for studio recordings.The sound quality is unusually good, considering it's an ODO set; even better than some sets recorded in the 70s! The ODO booklet, as usual poor, without even indicating the time of each track...but for what I'm getting, I couldn't care less! IF you are looking for a studio recording go for the RCA with the stylish Carlo Bergonzi in the title role (the exact opposite of Del Monaco). As a second option, the Phillips recording with the outstanding Sylvia Sass is also recommendable. HOWEVER, this live set is unsurpassed!!"
Brava Cerquetti
William S. Levison | Valdosta, GA United States | 01/31/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)

"The cast of this live recording of Verdi's early success probably will never be surpassed, but the rarely recorded Cerquetti is downright dynamite. Del Monaco is appropriately and characteristically stentorian, but he actually sings softly at appropriate moments. Mitropoulos' conducting is dynamic. The 1957-live-mono sound will probably bother many, but none of the commercial recordings even approaches the level of this performance."
Bravissima!
W. Parr | San Diego, Ca USA | 04/02/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Why quibble about lack of track timings & libretto? That's why some pay three times this set's list price for a ho-hum studio recording. This is a priceless issue: sonics are clean & dynamic - it's LIVE 06/25/57 in Florence - YOU ARE THERE! Performances are stupendous throughout. BUY IT!!!"