Forza Del Destino

Verdi (Artist), Slatinaru (Artist), Spiess (Artist), Herlea (Artist), Litvin (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 24, 1998)
• Label: Gz Classics (Cze)
• ASIN: B00000DHXJ
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,848,857 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. La forza del destino, opera: Overture

2. La forza del destino, opera: Act 1. Buona notte, mia figlia

3. La forza del destino, opera: Act 1. Ah! per sempre, o mio bell'angiol

4. La forza del destino, opera: Act 1. Vil seddutor! Infame figlia!

5. La forza del destino, opera: Act 2. Holà! Holà! Holà!

6. La forza del destino, opera: Act 2. Viva la guerra!

7. La forza del destino, opera: Act 2. Padre Eterno, Signor

8. La forza del destino, opera: Act 2. Poich'è imbere l'incognito

9. La forza del destino, opera: Act 2. Son giunta! Grazie, o Dio!

10. La forza del destino, opera: Act 2. Chi siete? Chiedo il Superiore

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. La forza del destino, opera: Act 3. Attenti al gioco, attenti

2. La forza del destino, opera: Act 3. Intermezzo / La vita e inferno all'infelice

3. La forza del destino, opera: Act 3. O tu che in seno agli angeli

4. La forza del destino, opera: Act 3. Al tradimento! Muoia!

5. La forza del destino, opera: Act 3. Solenne in quest'ora

6. La forza del destino, opera: Act 3. Morir! tremenda cosa!

7. La forza del destino, opera: Act 3. Urna fatale del mio destino

8. La forza del destino, opera: Act 3. Lorché pifferi e tamburi

9. La forza del destino, opera: Act 3. Quo vivandiere, un sorso

10. La forza del destino, opera: Act 3. A buon mercato chi vuol comprare

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth it for Herlea alone - but there's much more on offer, October 11, 2011

By 

Ralph Moore "Ralph operaphile" (Bishop's Stortford, UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Forza Del Destino (Audio CD)

Given that this set is available on Marketplace very cheaply indeed, it's worth buying even if you are merely curious. Please take my word for it that it's worth it for the glorious baritone of Nicolae Herlea alone but also as an engaging performance of the opera as a whole, presenting the Romanian State Opera as a compnay with strength in depth at the time of the recording of this studio broadcast in 1970. The sound is excellent ADD. Neither the orchestra nor the conducting is of the finest quality, Litvin being really rather leisurely and deliberate, but he is clearly in sympathy with the music and the drama doesn't drag. The chorus is lusty and the soloists often outstanding - and I am not just talking about Herlea, who must surely have possessed one of the most beautiful post-war baritones. Ludovic Spiess had a hefty, slightly strenuous spinto tenor and despite a tendency to gulp was good enough to attract Karajan's attention to sing at Salzburg, serve as principal tenor in Zurich and enjoy an international career in the major opera houses. He sings an impassioned, stentorian Alvaro but is not without subtlety. His fifteen year international career was cut short by damage to his vocal cords. Soprano Maria Nistor-Slatinaru had a major voice very reminiscent of that of Sylvia Sass; she had a smoky timbre, intensity of utterance, evenness throughout her range and the ability to sustain a considerable breadth of phrase even though the voice spreads on top notes. The rest of the cast is excellent, including two first rate basses and a characterful baritone as Melitone; the only dubious singing comes from a rather laboured, matronly Preziosilla - a role I never much enjoy in any case.

I have many versions of this epic opera but will still find room for this one on my shelves as it is a good ensemble recording featuring some major voices headed by Herlea.