"Muti provides a powerful, though controversial reading of this early Verdi opera, with some deliberately chosen tempo speeds (all on the fast side) especially in the big, massive 'tutti' places. Since orchestration is pretty loud, with only hints at later Verdi masterpieces, this makes for some really brisk and noisy passages. Muti is nonetheless subtler in solo numbers, sensitive enough to realise that operatic characters have to be built through arias and cavatinas, thus giving some leeway to the singers at hand.Abigaille has a murderous tessitura, with two-octave leaps up and down, and as such it had never been a natural to Scotto, smart enough to take it on only for the purposes of this recording, and she had yet to fabricate an Abigaille-like voice. The account is nevertheless thrilling, sincere and dramatically riveting, as always with Scotto, on the same scale like Decca's Turandot featuring Joan Sutherland in the title-role, equally taken on just for the recording. In places Scotto does sound a little strained, but the cutting edge of her voice just adds to the character.Ghiaurov (Zaccaria) gives a commanding performance, his vocal acting being brighter than usual just to keep in line with the story, and it is a joy to listen to his famous bass contrasting with other voices. Nabucco is splendidly sung by Matteo Manuguerra, who provides a deeply felt performance, and he complies well with Muti's demands. But his voice lacks a kind of a luster, starry-like quality in the mould of Cappuccilli or Gobbi. The supporting cast sings well, with the exception of Obraztsova, the only real snag in this recording, for her singing is coarse and steely, but fortunately the part is not at all long. The Ambrosian Opera Chorus contribution is outstanding.Though no digital recording, the sound is first-rate, beautifully rounded with no protagonist sticking out like this and the other one sticking out like that, and mixing of the orchestra and the soloists is equally well balanced."
Buy it for Scotto's performance
nicngu | 07/01/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I have to disagree with Joe McLellan's opinion on Scotto's performance as Abigaille. Everyone knows the price that Scotto had to pay for tackling roles like Norma, Gioconda, etc...in the 70's. Her essentially lyric instrument was not naturally made to sing those roles, however, aren't we glad she did ! By her artistry and her intelligence, she always brought life to those roles. Abigaille is one of these "unwisely chosen roles" (I don't think so !): Scotto does not naturally have the voice of a Dimitrova (DG) or a Souliotis (Decca), but her interpretation is so much subtler and she does so much more with the character than those two singers. Her "Anch'io dischiuso..." is a gem, even with the unpleasantly high notes in the caballetta "Salgo gia del trono". Only Callas in her recording of arias with Rescigno (EMI) does it better. Buy this set for Scotto and Ghiaurov : for them only, this set is worth it. Otherwise, Manuguerra is a boring Nabucco and Obraztsova a very unlikely Fenena."
Scotto is not to be missed
Gerardo Cabrera Munoz | México | 04/01/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I agree with those who find Manuguerra just a little boring, it's not a bad performance, but pales next to Scotto's magnificent Abigaile. Muti conducts very well, and he makes more of the Va Pensiero than Gardelli or Sinopoli. Forced to choose I would opt for this recording over the DECCA and the DG, it's just a pity that Renato Bruson was not chosen for the title role."
Still the best Nabucco available
Jiri Zika | Prague, Czech rep. | 12/10/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In my opinion Nabucco is really difficult work for singers especially the three of main roles / King Nabuccodonosor, hight priest Zacharia and of course Abigail/. Furthermore it must be difficult / it is not a digital recording !/ to coop such amount of music and choruses in the recording / - the similar problem as Aida, Turandot etc.
All these difficult aspects are mastered here excellently.
The worst of the soloist is Ghiaurov, his voice really sounds tired here, but still is well acceptable. Manuguerra and Scotto perform the best recorded Nabucco and Abigail available. Both
their solo and duets are vivid, dramatic and real.
Muti conducts very well and choruses and orchestra sound absolutely perfect.
A lot of beauty for a very low price !
The four stars only ? Yes, Ghiaurov and Obraztsova would have been casted better, I think we had more eligible meyyo and bass at that time.
"
Still fine, though no way the best.
Abel | Hong Kong | 11/05/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The best portrayals of Abigaille, assumed daughter of Nabucco, came from two great Greek sopranos, Maria Callas and Elena Souliotis.
Callas recorded a live Nabucco in 1949 in Naples with Bechi, but the sound quality is outright horrific. Souliotis, however, did leave a wonderful recording with Tito Gobbi in the title role.
The present one, under a young Riccardo Muti starring Manuguerra in title role could have fared much better had Ghiaurov and Scotto been in better voices at the time of recording. As it is, both sounded underpowered and at times pale.
Manuguerra is perhaps the best performer in this recording.
And the conducting of Muti is only somewhere in the middle road. The great chorus of the Hebrews did not own the wonderful sound that it should have. The score should have much more drama and force than that realised by Muti."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1
