Catalani: La Wally / Tebaldi, del Monaco, Cappuccilli; Cleva

Alfredo Catalani (Artist), Renata Tebaldi (Artist), Mario del Monaco (Artist), Fausto Cleva (Artist), Piero Cappuccilli (Artist), Justino Diaz (Artist), Alfredo Mariotti (Artist), Stefania Malagu (Artist), Monte Carlo National Opera Orchestra (Artist), Lidia Marimpietri (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 13, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000041VK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,930 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT TEBALDI RECORDING OF AN INTERESTING OPERA, July 5, 1999

By 

"lesismore26" (Chicago, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Catalani: La Wally / Tebaldi, del Monaco, Cappuccilli; Cleva (Audio CD)

Catalani's "La Wally" is a turn-of-the-century "verismo" opera, and one that Tebaldi began singing fairly early in her career. She opened the 1953 La Scala season in it (along with Mario del Monaco), and continued to sing it on various occasions throughout her distinguished career. "La Wally" is not a great opera, but it has many beautiful and engaging things in it, not least of which is the celebrated aria (featured in the film "Diva) "Ebben? n'andro lontano", which is heard near the beginning of the opera. There is also a highly dramatic soprano/tenor duet at the finale, and some really attractive music in between. This wonderful London recording was made rather late in Tebaldi's career (1969), but she is in outstanding vocal form here. Her voice is large, ripe, powerful, and beautiful enough for one to think that this recording represents prime Tebaldi, which in this instance, it really does. This was an operatic role that suited her Italian temperment like a glove. Mario del Monaco is also caught in late-career form, and while he shows more vocal wear and tear than Tebaldi, he still is in good enough shape to use his still-powerful voice to good effect. He is a formidable presence here, and an ideal partner for Tebaldi (they recorded many operas together, this being the last). All of the supporting singers do a good job here, and Cleva conducts a warm and compelling performance. If one is interested in exploring this very interesting opera, this is the recording to get.For Tebaldi fans, it's a must.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5stars but not their best performance!, February 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Catalani: La Wally / Tebaldi, del Monaco, Cappuccilli; Cleva (Audio CD)

La Wally is a fine, less known opera also because of its wonderful libretto, written by a true expert Luigi Illica! He also was the librettist of Tosca, La Boheme, Andrea Chenier and other grand operas. No wonder the words in La Wally are so moving.

Conductor Fausto Cleva (and not Capuana as mentioned on another review) chooses the well-tried formula of Renata Tebaldi and Mario del Monaco. Renata Tebaldi is enchanting enough with a voice less spinto, more lyrical thus ideal for the melancholic atmosphere of this opera. Her "Ebben?..ne andro lontana" is deeply moving, full of sorrow! Mario del Monaco, on the other hand, though quite powerful on the upper register is annoying when singing lower notes. This is their last recording together and del Monaco was already over 50 so he deserves some respect. Last but certainly not least Piero Capuccili is outstanding as the father of Wally! His aria in the first act is a marvel to listen to.

Concluding, this is probably the best studio La Wally but if I had to compare it with other Tebaldi- del Monaco recordings it would get less stars. Strongly recommended is also Tebaldi's earlier, in fresher voice, live recording of La Wally.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You betcha!, July 24, 2000

By 

Mark McCue (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Catalani: La Wally / Tebaldi, del Monaco, Cappuccilli; Cleva (Audio CD)

The previous reviewer stole most of my thunder, but I'll rumble a way just a bit because this is an exceptional reissue. Wally is such an affecting opera that you forgive its weaknesses of structure and its slightly scant story. And having two distinguished singers giving their farewells in it is a most appropriate and heartfelt gesture on the part of the producers. We listen around Wally as we do around Tebaldi. It's a remarkable assumption of a role that is too often snubbed.

Maestro Capuana was rounding up his distinguished career, too, and the Paul Paray trained Monte Carlo Orchestra gives him a performance that's a salutory and a salutation.

While there are some felicities missing here that come to the fore in some of the RAI tapings of Tebaldi in this part, this is a "must have" for Italianists of all ages and stripes.