Search - Giuseppe Verdi, Erich Kleiber, Maria Callas :: Verdi: I Vespri Siciliani

Verdi: I Vespri Siciliani
Giuseppe Verdi, Erich Kleiber, Maria Callas
Verdi: I Vespri Siciliani
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (9) - Disc #2
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #3


     

CD Details

All Artists: Giuseppe Verdi, Erich Kleiber, Maria Callas, Boris Christoff, Enzo Mascherini, Gino Sarri, Lido Pettini, Mafalda Masini
Title: Verdi: I Vespri Siciliani
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Archipel
Original Release Date: 1/1/1951
Re-Release Date: 3/27/2001
Album Type: Box set, Import, Original recording remastered
Genre: Classical
Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Historical Periods, Modern, 20th, & 21st Century
Number of Discs: 3
SwapaCD Credits: 3
UPCs: 675754349820, 7640104000167
 

CD Reviews

A memorable evening with Christoff standing out!
Armindo | Greece | 05/12/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Even though my attraction to this live Vespri was the young Callas as Elena, it was Boris Christoff who finally impressed me the most. Even without a genuinely Italian accent, his massive voice and fine legato do wonders to Verdi's tunes. He's a rare artist who delivers the drama without sacrificing the singing.



As for Maria Callas, I admired her fearsome singing and controlled attention to the drama. The voice this early in her career was in firm shape and the top was pure excitement. She is defeated by Elena's two greatest challenges though. In the three octave leap she gets a frog in her throat when she goes for the bottom note. It must be said however that Callas is one of the few sopranos who don't opt for the also written shorter aternative. She also conveys Elena's suffering successfully. Then in the Bolero there is bad coordination between her and Kleiber and she saves the final top note from completely cracking just in the nick of time. This disappointed me because it was one bit I believe only the young Callas could make it shine with her exciting top.



Mascherini is a fine, if a bit routine, baritone who performs well. Kokolios is very eager to do his best as Arrigo but doesn't quite have the means for it. The top is often wild so he doesn't stick to it much.



Apart from a couple of odd tempo decisions, Kleiber makes it an interesting evening. I'm very pleased with the Archipel sound considering this is a 1951 recording.



Certainly recommended but also try to find the 70s MET production with Caballe in the lead.









"