Search - Robert Kerns, Robert Merrill, Giuseppe Verdi :: Verdi: Rigoletto

The perfect Rigoletto.

Matt Grey | NYC | 03/23/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are so many recordings of this PERFECT opera. There's the Gobbi/Callas/Di Stefano, the Milnes/Sutherland/Pavarotti, the Cappuccilli/Cotrubas/Domingo, the Merrill/Peters/Bjorling, there are so many, but almost all of them have a weak link. The Gobbi/Callas/Di Stefano has a miscast Callas as Gilda and all three struggle with their roles vocally. The Milnes/Sutherland/Pavarotti has the old sounding Sutherland who completely ruins the set for me. The Merrill/Peters/Bjorling has Peters being overdramatic and ridiculous. The Cappuccilli/Cotrubas/Domingo comes close, but lacks vocal flair and energy.



This set, in my VERY humble opinion, is the best. Not only do you get Merrill, who is fabulous on pretty much anything he does, but you get Anna Moffo and Alfredo Kraus, along with a solid supporting cast and wonderful, dramatic conducting by Solti.



Many people I know have issues with Anna Moffo, who recently died. Now that she's gone and I'm done mourning, and trust me, I did, I have been making a point to toot her horn to everyone I know. Yes, she had her vocal problems towards the end of her career, but there ARE legitimate reasons for that. Anna Moffo is STUPENDOUS on this recording and brings a legitimate sensitivity and dramatic art to this character. Not only that, but she sings it BEAUTIFULLY and is consistent throughout.



Alfredo Kraus is PERFECT. He's romantic, charming, and has KILLER high notes. Robert Merrill is perfect in this role, maybe not as fresh sounding as he was on the earlier recording with Roberta Peters and Jussi Bjorling, and of course, more mannerisms, but who cares. He's one of the greatest Verdi Baritones of the century.



This Rigoletto is so well cast that it'd be a mistake to go for any of the other sets. Also, this set is SO cheap and is great for first timers to the opera and those who want to try out another recording. This was my first and favorite. I did listen to MANY others just to make sure I wasn't missing out on anything...and I wasn't."

My favorite all-round Rigoletto

Michel | Montreal, Quebec | 01/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This version of Rigoletto is by far my favorite - it combines

plenty of vocal beauty, characterful singing and dramatic

tension. Robert Merrill has the perfect voice for the title-

role - dark, powerful, biting - and conveys the old jester's

bitterness and heartbreak superbly. Anna Moffo is a lovely and

touching Gilda - she brings considerable warmth and tenderness

to the role and sings an exquisite "Caro nome". Alfredo Kraus

is an electrifying Duca - charming and manipulative all at on-

ce - he is here caught in his youthful prime and sings with

splendid aplomb. Rosalind Elias and Ezio Flagello offer strong

support. Georg Solti is perhaps a bit hard-driven but the end

result is undeniably exciting. A very welcome reissue of a

great opera sung by great singers.

"

A fizzy Rigoletto with stellar casting from the old Met

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 10/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This classic Rigoletto dates from RCA's golden era at the old Met, and it has come up sounding gorgeous--far better than its age--in this bargain remastering. Every aspect is strong vocally. Alfredo Kraus can't stand up to Bjorling''s mesmerizing tenor, but he sings more precisely and with greater refinement--this is one Duke who doesn't bawl out a single phrase. His only flaw is a streak of mildness that makes lechery and treachery fairly unbelievable. Merrill possessed the best dark baritone of his generation (and to think the Met also had Leonard Warren until his untimely death), and Anna Moffo is far more warm and feminine than the usual canary bird Gilda.



Aside from the impeccable soloists, there's Solti's fizzy conducting, which renders excitement without driving too hard (a reputation he deserves far more in the Aida to come). He makes the then lackluster Met orchestra sound world-class, and the Met chorus is just as good. In all, there have only been a handful of Rigolettos to match this one, and probably none in the nearly five decades since it appeared on LP."