Ferruccio Tagliavini In Opera

1. L' amico Fritz, opera in 3 acts Cherry Duet: Suzel, buon di
Composed by Pietro Mascagni
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

2. L' amico Fritz, opera in 3 acts Ed anchè Beppe amo... O Amore
Composed by Pietro Mascagni
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

3. L'Arlesiana, opera Lamento di Federico: È la solita storia
Composed by Francesco Cilea
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

4. Rigoletto, opera Ella mi fu rapita... Parmi veder le lagrime
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

5. Falstaff, opera Dal labbro il canto
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

6. I Lombardi alla prima Crociata, opera La mia letizia infondere
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

7. Il barbière di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), opera Ecco ridente in cielo
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

8. L'elisir d'amore, opera Una furtiva lagrima
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

9. La Sonnambula, opera Prendi, l'anel ti dono
Composed by Vincenzo Bellini
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

10. La bohème, opera Che gelida manina
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

11. La bohème, opera Dunque proprio finita... Addio, dolce svegliari
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
with Maria Huder , Enzo Mascherini , Ferruccio Tagliavini , Pia Tassinari
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

12. Mignon, opera in 3 acts Addio Mignon
Composed by Ambroise Thomas
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

13. Manon, opera Il sogno: O dolce incanto
Composed by Jules Massenet
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

14. Tosca, opera Recondita armonia
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

15. Tosca, opera E lucevan le stelle
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

16. Tosca, opera O dolci mani
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

17. I quattro rusteghi, opera Lucieta xe un bel nome
Composed by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari
with Ferruccio Tagliavini
Conducted by Ugo Tansini

Ferruccio Tagliavini In Opera,Vincenzo Bellini,Francesco Cilea,Gaetano Donizetti,Pietro Mascagni,Jules Massenet,Giacomo Puccini,Gioachino Rossini,Ambroise Thomas,Giuseppe Verdi,Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari,Ugo Tansini,Enzo Mascherini,Ferruccio Tagliavini,Maria Huder,Pia Tassinari,Memoir Classics,Classical,Classical Music,Classical Vocals,French Romantic Opera,Italian Romantic Opera,Opera

Average customer rating: A Truly Special Singer I love this! Incredible Artistry

Lebendige Vergangenheit: Magda Olivero Manufacturer: Preiser Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Boito, Arrigo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Franck, César | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00068XH7E Release Date: 2005-02-22

Customer Reviews:

A Truly Special Singer.......2006-07-08

Magda Olivero began her career in the early 1930s and gradually built up a reputation in Italy as an outstanding lyric soprano before her retirement in 1941 due to marriage. The verisimo composer Cilea considered her to be the ideal interpreter of his operatic heroine Adriana Lecouvreur and tried hard to persuade her to come back to the stage after the War. She did make a come back in 1951. As a unique and highly distinguished interpreter of the verisimo roles, she managed to hold her ground despite the dominance of Renata Tebaldi and Maria Callas in the Italian operatic scene. Her secure, durable technique as well as the long interval of rest enabled her to enjoy a long career of almost 60 years, singing well into her 80s and outlasting both her more famous colleagues [She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1975 as Tosca when she was 65 years old!].

The selections on this CD demonstrate why she has been so much cherished and prized by cognoscenti of vocal art. Indeed she deserves to be known as one of the truly great sopranos of the Twentieth Century. She possesses a voice capable of a wide range of colours and a great variety of expression, but most importantly, she is a stunning vocal actress owning an arsenal of crescendos and decrescendos of the most incredible intensity. Apart from the verisimo heroines of Puccini, Mascagni, Cilea, Catalani and Alfano, she makes a marvelous Violetta, with fantastic colouratura and heart-wrenching expressions in the Act I Scena from Verdi's La Traviata.

The Preiser issue of Olivero's records, made during her vocal prime between 1939 and 1953, is a wonderful souvenir of her special and inimitable artistry and musicianship. It's one that all fans of Italian operas should not be without.

I love this!.......2005-06-28

This disc leavs no doubt: If Magda Olivero had made more records, she would have been as famus and loved as Callas and Tebaldi. Olivero has everything: A beautifull voice, great technique and first class vocal acting. She is simply one of the most exciting sopranos ever recorded.

Incredible Artistry.......2005-04-21

Magda Olivero is an artist to her finger tips. Truly one of the finest soprano's of the twentieth century, she should be a role model for students of singing. Perfect legato, eveness of tone, superb control of dynamics at all levels are combined with passion, intensity and tenderness. These recordings range from 1939 to 1953 during the earlier phase of her career. The tone is lilting, heightened by a fast vibrato, which adds a luster and shine to the voice. Treat yourself to this recital. It is simply enchanting.

Average customer rating:

Maria Callas and the Great Verdi Voices Manufacturer: Enterprise ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00005K9PW Release Date: 2001-06-05

Tracks:

1. Aida: Celeste Aida - Jussi Bjorling
2. Aida: Ritorna Vincitor...I Sacri Nomi - Renata Tebaldi
3. Un Ballo In Maschera: Eri Tu Che Macchiavi - Titta Ruffo
4. Un Ballo In Maschera: Forse La Soglia...Ma Se M'e Forza Perderti - Beniamino Gigli
5. Don Carlo: Ella Giammai M'amo - Tancredi Pasero
6. Ernani: Infelice E Tuo Credevi - Feodor Chaliapin
7. La Forza Del Destino: Pace, Pace Mio Dio - Rosa Ponselle
8. Macbeth: Oh Figli Miei...Ah, La Paterna Mano - Enrico Caruso
9. Aida: O Cieli Azzurri - Maria Callas
10. Otello: Ave Maria - Nellie Melba
11. Otello: Niun Mi Tema - Franceso Tamagno
12. Rigoletto: Questa O Quella, Per Me Pari Sono - Tito Schipa
13. Rigoletto: Ella Mi Fu Rapita...Parmi Veder Le Lagrime - Ferruccio Tagliavini
14. Rigoletto: Cortigiani, Vil Razza Dannata - Giuseppe De Luca
15. Rigoletto: Tutte Le Feste Al Tempio - Lily Pons
16. Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile - Giuseppe Di Stefano
17. Simon Boccanegra: Il Lacerato Spirito - Ezio Pinza
18. La Traviata: Follie, Follie...Sempre Libera - Luisa Tetrazzini
19. La Traviata: Teneste La Promessa...Addio Del Passato - Claudia Muzio
20. Il Trovatore: Di Quella Pira - Aureliano Pertile

Average customer rating:

Ferruccio Tagliavini Manufacturer: Bongiovanni ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00005KA20 Release Date: 2001-05-29

Average customer rating:

Lebendige Vergangenheit: Ferrucio Tagliavini, Vol. 2 Manufacturer: Preiser Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Flotow | Flotow, Friedrich von | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Very Best of Nicolai Gedda ASIN: B00004UFG2 Release Date: 2001-02-27

Tracks:

1. L'Elisir D'Amore: Quanto E Bella
2. Lucia Di Lammermoor: Tombe Degl' avi Miei - Ferruccio Tagliavini/Italo Tajo
3. Don Pasquale: Sogno Soave E Casto
4. Luisa Miller: Quando Le Sere Al Placido
5. La Traviata: Parigi O Cara - Ferruccio Tagliavini II/Pia Tassinari
6. I Pescatori Di Perle: Mi Par D'udir Ancor
7. Manon: Chiudi Gli Occhi
8. Werther: Dividerci Dobbiam - Ferruccio Tagliavini/Pia Tassinari
9. Werther: Ah Non Mi Ridestar
10. Marta: M'appari Tutt'amor
11. Tosca: Recondita Armonia
12. Tosca: Or Lasciami Al Lavoro - Ferruccio Tagliavini/Pia Tassinari
13. Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle
14. Andrea Chenier: Come Un Bel Di Di Maggio
15. La Faniculla Del West: Ch'ella Mi Creda
16. L'Amico Fritz: Suzel, Buon Di - Ferruccio Tagliavini/Pia Tassinari

Average customer rating:

Ferruccio Tagliavini - Lebendige Vergangenheit Manufacturer: Preiser Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bellini, Vincenzo | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolf-Ferrari | Wolf-Ferrari, Ermanno | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000C3QG Release Date: 1998-07-04

Tracks:

1. Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Ecco ridente in cielo
2. La Sonnambula: Prendi l'anel ti dono
3. L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
4. Rigoletto: Ella mi fu rapita
5. I lombardi: La mia letizia infondere
6. Falstaff: Dal labbro il canto
7. Mignon: Addio Mignon!
8. L'africana: Mi batte il cor... O Paradiso!
9. Manon: En fermant les yeux
10. Werther: Pourquoi me reveiller?
11. L'amico Fritz: Suzel, buon di
12. L'amico Fritz: Ed anche Beppe amo
13. La Boheme: Che gelida manina
14. La Boheme: Addio, dolce svegliare
15. TOSCA: Recondita armonia
16. TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
17. TOSCA: O dolci mani
18. L' Arlesiana: E la solita storia
19. I Quattro Rusteghi: Lucieta xe un bel nome

Average customer rating: A Big One for Preiser!

Viva Verdi! Manufacturer: Preiser Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000056O60 Release Date: 2001-04-24

Customer Reviews:

A Big One for Preiser!.......2004-11-11

This is a fantastic collection of Verdi performances. Preiser scores a big one! I am impressed with their recent findings: The rare Guerrini Traviata and Forza, Stella Roman's colorful Trovatore Leonora, and now this truly wonderful collection featuring great performances from all voice categories

Higlights are:
Ernani Involami: Souez (Beautiful Rendition)
Forza trio: Martinelli is a god, etc...
Graveyard Aria from Ballo: Spani
O partia mia: the unforgettable Arangi-Lombardi


The Revelation is Grandi's Un macchia from Macbeth. It is the most imaginative ever. Simply spellbinding and with a stunning pianissimo high Dflat crowning the ending.

Preiser's engineers get better and better. I am duly impressed!

Average customer rating:

Lucia Di Lammermoor-Highlights-1947: W. Lily Pons, Tagliavini; Cellini - Mexico City/1947 Manufacturer: Grand Tier ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000001ZRS Release Date: 2002-03-19

Tracks:

1. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act One: Cruda, Funesta Smania - Ivan Petroff
2. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act One: Regnava Nel Silenzio - Lily Pons
3. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act One: Quando, Rapito In Estasi - Lily Pons
4. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act One: Sulla Tomba Che Rinserra - Ferruccio Tagliavini/Lily Pons
5. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act One: Qui Di Sposa Eterna Fede - Ferruccio Tagliavini/Lily Pons
6. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act Two: Appressati, Lucia; Il Pallor Funesto - Ferruccio Tagliavini/Lily Pons
7. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act Two: Che Fia? - Suonar Di Giubilo/Se Tradirmi Tu Potrai - Ferruccio Tagliavini/Lily Pons
8. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act Two: Che Mi Frena In Tal Momento?/Sxt - Ferruccio Tagliavini/Lily Pons/Ivan Petrof/Roberto Silva/Anna Maria Feuss
9. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act Two: T'Allontana, Sciagurato - Ferruccio Tagliavini/Lily Pons/Roberto Silva/Ivan Petroff/Chor/Renato Cellini
10. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act Three: Il Dolce Suono - Lily Pons
11. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act Three: Ardon Gl'Incensi/S'Avanza Enrico! - Lily Pons
12. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act Three: Spargi D'Amaro Pianto - Lily Pons
13. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act Three: Tombe Degli Avi Miei - Ferruccio Tagliavini
14. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act Three: Oh, Meschina! Oh, Fato Orrendo! - Ferruccio Tagliavini/Chor/Renato Cellini
15. Lucia Di Lammermoor, Act Three: Tu Che Dio Spiegasti L'Ali - Ferruccio Tagliavini/Roberto Silva/Chor/Renato Cellini

Average customer rating:

Verdi: Va Pensiero Manufacturer: Opera Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000JRM1 Release Date: 1999-10-26

Average customer rating: Good Italian language version in spotty sound Lyrical and Italianate Fine performance, bad recording

Massenet: Werther Manufacturer: Opera D'oro ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00004KD5B Release Date: 2000-03-14

Tracks:

1. Act One: Ma No, Non Va - Vito Susca
2. Act One: Natal! Oggi Cristo E Nato - Chor Of The Verdi Theater, Trieste
3. Act One: Oh Come Cantan Ben - Eno Mocchiutti
4. Act One: Allor Sta Proprio Qua - Ferruccio Tagliavini
5. Act One: Oh Immagine Ideal - Ferruccio Tagliavini
6. Act One: Ella M'ama - Mario Borriello
7. Act One: Claire De Lune - Orch Of The Verdi Theater, Trieste/Carlo Felice Cillario
8. Act One: Dividerci Dobbiam - Leyla Gencer
9. Act One: Tu Sei L'anima Gemella - Ferruccio Tagliavini
10. Act One: Ahime, Si, Mamma Son - Leyla Gencer
11. Act One: Sogno, Incanto, Piacer! - Ferruccio Tagliavini
12. Act Two: Prld - Orch Of The Verdi Theater, Trieste/Carlo Felice Cillario
13. Act Two: Evviva Bacco, Bacco Evohe! - Eno Mocchiutti/Raimondo Botteghelli
14. Act Two: Cosi Tre Mesi - Mario Borriello
15. Act Two: Un Altro Ella Sposo! - Ferruccio Tagliavini
16. Act Two: Ti Conosco Forte E Nobile - Mario Borriello
17. Act Two: Fratello Mio, V'e Mira Il Mazzolino - Giuliana Tavolaccini
18. Act Two: Goder! Potro Goder Ancora? - Ferruccio Tagliavini
19. Act Two: Oh! Quel Soave Di Dove Mai Se N'ando - Ferruccio Tagliavini
20. Act Two: Quando Un Figliol Lontano Ritorna D'improvviso - Ferruccio Tagliavini

Tracks:

1. Act Three: Prld - Orch Of The Verdi Theater, Trieste/Carlo Felice Cillario
2. Act Three: Oh Werther! Mio Werther! - Leyla Gencer
3. Act Three: M'ha Scritto Che M'ama - Leyla Gencer
4. Act Three: Carlotta, Buon Di - Giuliana Tabolaccini
5. Act Three: Ah! Che Il Riso E Gentil - Giuliana Tabolaccini
6. Act Three: Va... Non E Mal Se Piango - Leyla Gencer
7. Act Three: Ah! Che Il Coraggio Mi Abbandona - Leyla Gencer
8. Act Three: Si, Son Io! - Ferruccio Tagliavini
9. Act Three: Ah! Non Mi Ridestar - Ferruccio Tagliavini
10. Act Three: Ciel! Capito Ho Bene? - Ferruccio Tagliavini
11. Act Three: Pieta! - Leyla Gencer
12. Act Three: Ebbene, Me N'andro - Ferruccio Tagliavini
13. Act Three: Werther E Stato Qui, L'han Veduto Tornar - Mario Borriello
14. Act Three: Sym - Orch Of The Verdi Theater, Trieste/Carlo Felice Cillario
15. Act Three: Mio Werther - Leyla Gencer
16. Act Three: Ed Io, Oh Werther! - Leyla Gencer
17. Act Three: No, Carlotta...M'ascolta Ben - Ferruccio Tagliavini
18. Act Three: Oggi Cristo E Nato - Chor Of The Verdi Theater, Trieste

Customer Reviews:

Good Italian language version in spotty sound .......2005-09-20

Source: Live performance at Teatro Verdi, Trieste, January 20, 1959.

Sound: Variable and sometimes exasperating. An earlier Amazon reviewer has stated that the "orchestra sounds like they're playing in a cardboard box somewhere." With regard to the overture, I entirely agree. I very nearly turned off my player at that point and consigned this set to my (too large, alas) box of total losers. Once the singers appear, however, they are captured in an entirely more satisfactory manner, not perfectly, but certainly adequately. As the piece progresses, the pick-up of the orchestra seems to improve. Nowhere else does the pit band sound quite so awful as in those initial bars of the overture.

This is a live performance with its full share of extraneous noises. The audience is not as bad as it might be. There are relatively few mood-spoiling coughers and the bravi-yahoos are fairly circumspect. It is pretty clear that the audience is not familiar with "Werther." They really don't know where to clap and often their applause is well-intended but sadly anemic. (It makes one long for the good old days of the claques. Those horny-handed professionals knew exactly when to applaud and they could fake sincerity with the best!) Occasionally, the microphones pick up what sounds like hundreds of people engaged in quiet conversation at some considerable distance; at other times there is perfect silence except for the performers and the odd booming footstep on the resonant stage floor.

Cast: Werther - Ferruccio Tagliavini; Charlotte - Leyla Gencer; Sophie - Giuliana Tavolaccini; Albert - Mario Borriello; The Bailiff - Vito Susca; Schmidt - Raimondo Botteghelli; Johann - Eno Mocchiutti. Orchestra and chorus of Teatro Verdi, Trieste; Carlo Felice Cillario, conductor.

Text: Three act format presented in Italian translation.

Format: Disk 1, Acts I and II. Disk 2, Act III. Playing time, two hours.

Documentation: No libretto. Short summary of plot. Nothing on the cast or the circumstances of the performance or recording. Track list shows only Italian tags. Singers are not identified beyond the name of one character per track. No timings are provided.

I find this performance more difficult than most when it comes to forming an opinion. If I were not familiar with "Werther" in its true French form, and that particularly in the ancient but magnificent recording with Georges Thill, I think that I would hold this Italian version in much higher regard.

Considered solely on its own, this is a lively and entertaining little opera full of bumptious, Italianate passion. Cillario's conducting is lively and full of forward propulsion. The two lead singers, Tagliavini and Gencer, are top-quality performers now largely and unjustly forgotten. If the Ferruccio Tagliavini of 1959 was no longer quite the silvery-voiced phenomenon he once had been, he was, nevertheless, a singer of surpassing elegance who could easily hold his own against any tenor today. Much the same is true of Leyla Gencer. The rest of the cast is good. Mario Borriello is a particularly pleasing surprise as the third side of the fatal triangle, Charlotte's husband, Albert. Giuliana Tavolaccini's vocal control is a little dubious, but she characterizes Charlotte's silly little sister, Sophie, very effectively. This performance, then, makes a very appealing Italian statement, but it singularly fails to communicate the peculiar Franco-Weltschmerz extracted by Massenet from Goethe that is so clearly present in the Georges Thill and other French language versions.

Going strictly by what I find on this set, and without consideration of other performances and performing styles, I would normally assign it four stars and then withdraw one for spotty sound quality. But, hey, it's got to be better than that thing with Bocelli, so . . . four stars.

Lyrical and Italianate.......2000-08-31

A warm and passionate account of Massenet's opera, not very French but in this case it's a bonus -- the characters are gutsy and full of life. Tagliavini's very light voice creates the illusion of fragile youth, and the "Pourquoi me reveiller" is for once not bawled out as a hit tune; it sounds an organic part of the scene. Gencer's heart-on-sleeve style may sound over the top for some but I love it: this is a Charlotte who indeed might drive a man to suicide. The lighter color of the soprano voice adds a touch of vulnerability to the character, and her full throbbing low notes are sinfully rich. The sound is decent in-house though the orchestra is distant and unresonant.

Fine performance, bad recording.......2000-05-29

This is a recording of a live show from 1959. The singers sound fine, but the placement of the mics is such that the orchestra sounds like they're playing in a cardboard box somewhere. Sure it's a 2cd set for under ten bucks, but I'd have to recommend looking somewhere else for your copy of this opera.

Average customer rating: "Falstaff" of historic interest only; interesting Tassinari recital Wonderful performance, amazing sound for its time

Verdi: Falstaff Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Mascagni | Mascagni, Pietro | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B00006B1K9 Release Date: 2002-09-17

Customer Reviews:

"Falstaff" of historic interest only; interesting Tassinari recital.......2005-06-13

The performance here is OK, no mean praise for such a sophisticated opera, but it is no more than just OK.

I have no doubt that the Naxos wizards have markedly improved the sound from the original 78s, but the sound is still wretchedly inadequate to represent this most subtle and ingenious of all Verdi's scores.

If you have a taste for a historic performance that is truly extraordinary, seek out either the Toscanini version with Valdengo or the Karajan version with Gobbi. Both are better performances in every aspect and offer vastly better sound reproduction.

"Falstaff" is not very long, so Disk 2 of this set is filled out with 35 minutes devoted to soprano Pia Tassinari. Tassinari was one of the brightest of the generation of Italian singers whose careers centered on the years of World War II. In 1941 she married tenor Feruccio Tagliavini, with whom she made many recordings. She was always a fine, heavy-voiced soprano. At the end of her peforming career she shifted to mezzo roles, including a recording of Ulrica in "Ballo in maschera."

She sings items from Mozart, Wagner, Massenet, Mascagni and Puccini. That she sings the latter three very well is no surprise at all. That she even attempted the first two is unexpected. That she did it so well is astounding. Pia Tassinari: the unanticipated Compleat Prima Donna.

Wonderful performance, amazing sound for its time.......2002-09-21

This is a reissue of the very first complete recording of Verdi's Falstaff, made in 1932 at La Scala and featuring some of the finest Verdian singers of the time, all melded into a brilliant ensemble by veteran La Scala conductor, Lorenzo Molajoli. The performance is lively and touching. The second disc is filled out by an additional 35 minutes of aria recordings by soprano Pia Tassinari, made mostly in the early 1940s. They, too, are in quite good sound.

Be warned that there is no libretto with this issue. Obviously for this reason this should not be anyone's only recording of this comic masterpiece. There is a very thorough synopsis with index numbers for the discs and this makes it fairly easy to follow developments in the story-line.

This performance has been issued on various labels over the years, but this issue has the best sound and is, in a word, amazing. The sound restoration was done by that engineering wizard, Ward Marston, whose work has been a boon to all lovers of historic recordings.

Track Listings:

1. Forbidden Games
2. Franz Joseph Haydn: Les Sept Dernières Paroles de Notre Rédempteur sur la Croix (The Seven Last Words of Our Savior on the Cross), Hob. III, 50-56 - Quatuor Mosaïques
3. French Suites for Organ
4. Geistliche Musik
5. Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue/An American in Paris/Concerto in F
6. Giacomo Puccini: La Bohéme
7. Gioachino Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle
8. Gluck: Overtures and Ballet Music
9. Great Baroque Masters
10. Guitars du Bresil

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Mongoose [Import]

Musical Stories [Enhanced]

The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books [Box set]

Music: Poco

Rock to Mach One

Super Hits

Take Hold of Christ

Piano Festival

Sing The Hits of Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson (karaoke)

Que Lo Bailen Bien

Static Patterns and Souvenirs

Ritualism [Import]

Real Classics of Chicago House

Fancy Free/On the Town

Interstellar Space