Verdi - Rigoletto / Chernov · Studer · Pavarotti · Scandiuzzi · D. Graves · D. Croft · MET · Levine

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This is a fine performance of Verdi's great middle-period tragedy. James Levine whips his orchestra into a frenzy when need be, is amazingly tender during the Rigoletto-Gilda duets, and comments spectacularly on the action when Rigoletto is taunting Monterone in Act One. In fact, the orchestra makes up for Vladimir Chernov's undercharacterization in that scene. Later, Chernov livens up, using his smallish, but wonderfully phonogenic voice with great expressivity; indeed, his "Cortigiani..." is heartbreaking. As the Duke, The Big One (Luciano, that is) is in superb voice and turns in a wildly aggressive, go-get-her performance, but please don't be fooled into thinking that he still sounds this good--this set was recorded in '93. Cheryl Studer's Gilda is not always in tune, and some of her high notes barely squeak by, but she's very moving and sings off the words in a really informed manner. This set may not be your primary Rigoletto--who can live without the Callas recording? But it's an excellent and even important release, and it's recommended highly. --Robert Levine

Verdi - Rigoletto / Chernov · Studer · Pavarotti · Scandiuzzi · D. Graves · D. Croft · MET · Levine, Music, Giuseppe Verdi, Vladimir Chernov, Luciano Pavarotti, James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus, Cheryl Studer, Roberto Scandiuzzi, Denyce Graves, Dwayne Croft, Classical, Classical Music, Italian Romantic Opera, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Opera/Operetta

Verdi - Rigoletto / Chernov · Studer · Pavarotti · Scandiuzzi · D. Graves · D. Croft · MET · Levine
Average customer rating:

Enjoyable and important

Good version, but it isn't the best.

One of the best CD's I have ever heard!

A very good version

Not brilliant

Verdi - Rigoletto / Chernov · Studer · Pavarotti · Scandiuzzi · D. Graves · D. Croft · MET · Levine
Giuseppe Verdi , Vladimir Chernov , Luciano Pavarotti , James Levine , The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus , Cheryl Studer , Roberto Scandiuzzi , Denyce Graves , and Dwayne Croft
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Verdi: La Traviata

ASIN: B00000DBUY
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Rigoletto: Act I: Preludio
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 1: 'Della Mia Bella Incognita Borghese' (Duca, Borsa)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 1: 'Questa O Quella' (Duca)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 1: 'Partite?... Crudele!' (Duca, Contessa Di Ceprano, Rigoletto, Borsa, Coro)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 1: 'Gran Nuova! Gran Nuova!' (Marullo, Borsa, Coro)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 1: 'Ah, Piu Di Ceprano' (Duca, Rigoletto, Ceprano, Borsa, Marullo, Coro)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 1: 'Ch'io Gli, Parli' (Monterone, Duca, Borsa, Rigoletto, Marullo, Ceprano, Coro)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 2: 'Quel Vecchio Maledivami!' (Rigoletto, Sparafucile)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 2: 'Pari Siamo!... Io La Lingua' (Rigoletto)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 2: 'Figlia!' - 'Mio Padre!' (Rigoletto, Gilda)
Rigoletto: 'Dia Da Tre Lune Son Qui Venuta' (Gilda, Rigoletto, Giovanna)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 2: 'Ah, Veglia, O Donna, Questo Fiore' (Rigoletto, Gilda, Giovanna, Duca)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 2: 'Giovanna, Ho Dei Rimorsi' (Gilda, Giovanna, Duca)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 2: 'E Il Sol Dell'anima' (Duca, Gilda)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 2: 'Che M'ami, Deh, Ripetimi' (Duca, Gilda, Ceprano, Borsa, Giovanna)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 2: 'Gualtier Malde... Caro Nome Che Il Mo Cor' (Gilda, Borsa, Ceprano, Marullo, Coro)
Rigoletto: 'Riedo!... Perche?' - ' Silenzio... All'opra' (Rigoletto, Borsa, Ceprano, Marullo)
Rigoletto: Act I, Scene 2: 'Zitti, Zitti, Moviamo A Vendetta' (Borsa, Marullo, Ceprano, Gilda, Rigoletto, Coro)

Tracks:

Rigoletto: Act II: 'Ella Mi Fu Rapita!' (Duca)
Rigoletto: Act II: 'Parmi Veder Le Lagrime' (Duca)
Rigoletto: Act II: 'Duca, Duca!' - 'Ebben?'
Rigoletto: Act II: 'Possente Amor Mi CHima' (Duca, Borsa, Marullo, Ceprano, Coro)
Rigoletto: Act II: 'Povero Rigoletto!' (Marullo, Rigoletto, Borsa, Ceprano, Paggio, Coro)
Rigoletto: Act II: 'Cortigiani, Vil Razza Dannata' (Rigoletto)
Rigoletto: Act II: 'Mio Padre!' - ' Dio! Mia Gilda!' (Gilda, Rigoletto, Borsa, Marullo, Ceprano, Coro)
Rigoletto: Act II: 'Tutte Le Feste Al Tempio' (Gilda)
Rigoletto: Act II: 'Ah! Solo Per Me L'infamie' (Rigoletto)
Rigoletto: Act II: 'Ah! Piangi, Fanciulla' - 'Padre, In Voi Parla Un Angiol' (Rigoletto, Gilda)
Rigoletto: Act II: 'Schiudete! Ire Al Carcere' (Usciere, Monterone, Rigoletto)
Rigoletto: Act II: 'Si, Vendetta' - 'O Mio Padre' (Rigoletto, Gilda)
Rigoletto: Act III: 'E L'ami?' - 'Sempre' (Rigoletto, Gilda, Duca, Sprafucile)
Rigoletto: Act III: 'La Donna E Mobile' (Duca, Sparafucile, Rigoletto)
Rigoletto: Act III: 'Un Di, Se Ben Rammentomi' (Duca, Maddalena, Gilda, Rigoletto)
Rigoletto: Act III: 'Bella Figlia Dell'amore' (Duca, Maddalena, Gilda, Rigoletto)
Rigoletto: Act III: 'M'odi! Ritorna A Casa' (Rigoletto Sparafucile)
Rigoletto: Act III: 'Maddalena?' - 'Aspettate' (Duca, Maddalena, Sparafucile)
Rigoletto: Act III: 'E Amabile Invero Cotal Giovinotto' (Maddalena, Sparafucile, Gilda)
Rigoletto: Act III: 'Della Vendetta Alfin Giunge L'istante!' (Rigoletto, Sparafucile, Duca)
Rigoletto: Act III: 'Chi E Mai, Chi E Qui In Sua Vece?' (Rigoletto, Gilda)
Rigoletto: Act III: 'V'ho Ingannato... Colpevole Fui' (Gilda, Rigoletto)

Amazon.com

This is a fine performance of Verdi's great middle-period tragedy. James Levine whips his orchestra into a frenzy when need be, is amazingly tender during the Rigoletto-Gilda duets, and comments spectacularly on the action when Rigoletto is taunting Monterone in Act One. In fact, the orchestra makes up for Vladimir Chernov's undercharacterization in that scene. Later, Chernov livens up, using his smallish, but wonderfully phonogenic voice with great expressivity; indeed, his "Cortigiani..." is heartbreaking. As the Duke, The Big One (Luciano, that is) is in superb voice and turns in a wildly aggressive, go-get-her performance, but please don't be fooled into thinking that he still sounds this good--this set was recorded in '93. Cheryl Studer's Gilda is not always in tune, and some of her high notes barely squeak by, but she's very moving and sings off the words in a really informed manner. This set may not be your primary Rigoletto--who can live without the Callas recording? But it's an excellent and even important release, and it's recommended highly. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable and important.......2005-11-19

This recording received a lot of flak when it was finally released in '98 after some five years in DG's vault. But it has aged well, thanks to Levine at his inspirational best, a sensible balance between tragedy and excitement, reference class recorded orchestral and vocal sound, and Chernov as a very bright Rigoletto. Not everything works - Chernov does not make the most of some of the more dramatic moments which come out a bit flat as a result. But often, moments later he sings with breathtaking beauty.

A word about Studer's controversial Gilda and Pavarotti's controversial duke. Studer does not sound entirely comfortable with the high notes but she turns in an overall very moving performance. Her soprano matches very well with Chernov's baritone, and their duets belong to the highlights of this recording. Pavarotti was in good voice at the time of this recording, and does not have a problem with his high notes at all. By this time late in his career, his voice had acquired a mellow lower register which sounds very pleasant, if recorded well as in this recording. He sounds fresh, very committed and integrates well with the rest of the cast.

Uncharacteristic for modern recordings of Verdi, most of Verdi's unwritten high notes are in here, and then some. Not to be missed as a first or second Rigoletto!

Good version, but it isn't the best........2003-08-15

This is a good version of 'Rigoleto', but I think that there are lots of versions better than this. Vladimir Chernov is the sourprise of the recording: he offers a really good Rigoletto, with a beautiful voice and a good psicologyc perfomance. Cheryl Studer as Gilda has a dramatical and beautiful voice, but she has also a very bad vibratto here. She's the worst singers of the version. Luciano Pavarotti knows the role of "Ducca" perfect, and he is an autentic classic singin it. Very very well all the little roles, specially Denyce Graves and Roberto Scandiuzzi as Maddalena and Sparafucile. The cast is full of famous names, as Ilberando D' Arcangelo, Dwayne Croft, Paul Groves, Heidi Grant Murphy... The orchestra and chorus of the MET directed by James Levine are simply well. But I think that they can do it better.

One of the best CD's I have ever heard!.......2003-01-14

I had not heard "Rigoletto" until two days ago, and after listening through the 1st act, I knew that this was going to be one of my favorite CD's!

As I said, I'm new to Rigoletto, and can't compare the CD with any other recording.
When it comes to the singers, I can't find anything to complain about!
Pavarotti is Major, and has an inexhaustible voice.
It's pretty amazing that a man actually can sing a 2nd C# in full voice! And his 2nd D sounds like it's full voice, even if it's falsetto.

I also like Chernov as Rigoletto, I just love his baryton voice.

When it comes to the other singers, I don't have much to say; there is not much special to say about them.

I would like to hear other recordings for comparition, and I prefer recordings with good sound quality.
And I think I need Pavarotti on the recording, too, don't think it will be the same without him after listening to this...

A very good version.......2002-02-06

This CD might not be the first choise for some opera snobs but if you enjoy great modern crystal clear sound, A VERY GOOD Pavarotti... a Studer doing well and a Chernov and a Scandiuzzi quit allright... this is for you. By the way... Levine treat this opera as it should be, by giving the music in it a chance too. Its excellent. This is a copy for your stereosystem and its quite good. If you dont care about sound you have an older version you also could have, as an alternative, mentioned by amazons ed as "essential". This is a "modern" Rigoletto speaking in terms of sound but its a classical one in its performance -underated by some so called experts here. You wont be dissapointed with this one.

Not brilliant.......2001-11-22

Sorry, I simply couldn't listen to Studer as Gilda. I got an impression that she had to struggle with each high note, using a lot of force. In my opinion, Caro nome aria was a disaster - instead of a light flow of voice and gentle coloraturas there was a succession of cries, as if sung in a great deal pain.
Apart from that, I enjoyed the recording.

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