Evening With Cesare Valletti

Vincenzo Bellini (Composer), Gaetano Donizetti (Composer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), Cesare Valetti (Performer), Cesare Valletti (Performer), Bruna Rizzoli (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Cesare Valetti, Cesare Valletti, Bruna Rizzoli
• Composer: Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giuseppe Verdi
• Audio CD (April 20, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Opera D'oro
• ASIN: B00000IO9E
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #314,760 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. L'elisir d'amore, opera: Quanto è bella, quanto è cara

2. L'elisir d'amore, opera: Adina, credimi

3. L'elisir d'amore, opera: Una furtiva lagrima

4. La fille du régiment, opera: Eccomi finalmento

5. La fille du régiment, opera: Amici miei...A voi mi volgo

6. La fille du régiment, opera: Qual destino

7. Don Pasquale, opera: Povero Ernest...Cercherò lontana terra

8. Don Pasquale, opera: Com'è gentil

9. La sonnambula, opera: Prendi, l'anel ti dono

10. La Traviata, opera: Lunge da lei...De' miei bollenti spiriti

11. La Betulia liberata, oratorio, K. 118 (K. 74c): Pietà se irato sei

12. La Betulia liberata, oratorio, K. 118 (K. 74c): Se Dio veder tu vuoi

13. Don Giovanni, opera, K. 527: Dalla sua pace

14. Don Giovanni, opera, K. 527: Il mio tesoro, intanto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful tenore di grazie, February 3, 2004

By 

Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Evening With Cesare Valletti (Audio CD)

Cesare Valletti (1921-2000) was known for his lyric tenor roles, and in these recordings was in his prime; unfortunately this CD could use remastering, especially in tracks 9 and 10 which were recorded from live performances in '55 and '58, but for me, the "old" sound becomes irrelevant when compared to the beauty of his voice and the artistry of his interpretations, or it could be ingrained, as opera was my music of choice as a child, and this is how it sounded way back then.
The earliest recordings are from 1950 (tracks 4-6) and the latest 1960 (tracks 13-14).

Highlights for me are Donizetti's "Una furtiva lagrima" from "L'Elisir d'Amore" (recorded in 1952), with a final phrase that is sublime, the sad and lovely "Povero Ernesto...cerchero lontana terra" from Donizetti's "Don Pasquale" (1952), and an aria I was not familiar with before hearing this CD, "Pieta se irato sei" from Mozart's "La Betulia Liberata (a 1955 live performance).
Don Ottavio was a frequent role for Valletti, and his "Dalla sua pace" and "Il mio tesoro, intanto" from Mozart's "Don Giovanni" are lovely (a 1960 live performance).
If you do not mind the antiquated sound, this is a marvelous tenor from a golden era for opera. Total playing time is 63'02.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant talent, bad recording..., November 14, 2001

By 

"stretchyface" (Utah, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Evening With Cesare Valletti (Audio CD)

Cesare Valletti has to be one of my favorite tenors ever to be recorded, but this recording doesn't do him the least bit of justice. All of the songs sound scratchy, muffled, quiet, and most frustrating of all, difficult to understand. I would still recommend this CD, but I was extremely disappointed that the sound quality was so poor. I do realize it is an old recording (Late 1950's-Early 1960's), but I've seen things come out of the 30's and 40's that sound worlds better than this. All in all, go for it. Just listen VERY carefully.