Boito - Mefistofele (Great Scenes)
£9.98
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Label: Australian Eloquence
Cat No: ELQ4824757
Format: CD
Number of Discs: 1
Genre: Opera
Release Date: 6th April 2018
Contents
Artists
Cesare SiepiRenata Tebaldi
Giuseppe di Stefano
Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia do Santa Cecilia, Roma
Conductor
Tullio SerafinWorks
Mefistofele (highlights)Artists
Cesare SiepiRenata Tebaldi
Giuseppe di Stefano
Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia do Santa Cecilia, Roma
Conductor
Tullio SerafinAbout
As Conrad Osborne observed in an extended review in High Fidelity magazine, here is a work laden with stunning dramatic effects, and of course blessed with a libretto (Boito’s own) of great poetic strength - and yet overshadowed, unfairly so, by Gounod’s looser stage treatment of the same story. Decca cast the new set from strength. In the pit, the unpredictable genius of Tullio Serafin and in the title role, the superbly intelligent baritone of Cesare Siepi leading what Osborne recognised as ‘the best sung Mefistofele since the days’ of the Cetra recording led by Lorenzo Molajoli.
Particular praise was reserved at the time for Renata Tebaldi, singing the role of Margherita which was never within the ambit of Callas. In the role of Faust, Giuseppe di Stefano recorded his parts between June and July 1958, but later, for reasons not confirmed, the part was re-recorded by Mario Del Monaco later the same year for the first issue of the set in April 1959. Harold Rosenthal observed in Opera that ‘with Siepi offering a well-sung and individual portrayal ... and Tebaldi at her very best, this could have been an outstanding set’ - but for the presence of Del Monaco.
Perhaps in recognition of its error, fifteen years later Decca issued generous excerpts from the opera featuring Di Stefano, thereby eventually publishing the passages he sang. This is the recording reissued here.
‘Tebaldi is perfection as Margherita, and sings with the most glorious and opulent tones I have heard from her for a long time.’ - Opera, June 1959
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