Search - Cesare Siepi, Mario del Monaco, Renata Tebaldi :: Boito: Mefistofele

Arrigo Boitos Mefistofele is an opera in a prologue, four acts, and an epilogue, and is the only completed opera by the composer. While the opera wasnt initially considered a success, the present recording aimed to bring the masterwork to the twentieth century listener. This production was recorded in 1957 in Rome with the Orchestra e Coro dellAccademia di Santa Cecilia and several stars of the twentieth century opera stage, including Cesare Siepi, Mario Del Monaco, Lucia Danieli, and more. Italian conductor Tullio Serafins numerous recordings testify consistently to his remarkable skills as an operatic conductor. Without exception they display a satisfying synthesis of the dramatic and lyrical, as well as respect for the singers involved. He recorded extensively in the studio with Maria Callas for Walter Legge and EMI; these recordings have stood the test of time well. Notable among these performances are those of Bellinis I puritani and Norma, Puccinis Manon Lescaut and Turandot, Verdis Aida and La forza del destino, and the popular as well as powerful double bill of Mascagnis Cavalleria rusticana and Leoncavallos Pagliacci.