Forza Del Destino [Import]

Verdi (Artist), Maddalena (Artist), Suliotis (Artist), De Angelis Et Al (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 18, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Import
• Label: Hardy Classic
• ASIN: B00000I7K3
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,280,990 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Sinf - Orch Del Teatro Di San Carlo Napoli/Pasquale De Angelis

2. Atto 1: Buonanotte, Mia Figlia

3. Atto 1: Temea Restasse Qui Fino A Domani

4. Atto 1: Me, Pellegrina Ed Orfana

5. Atto 1: M' Aiuti, Signorina, Piu' Presto Andrem

6. Atto 1: Ah, Per Sempre, O Mio Bell' Angiol

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Atto 2: Il Santo Nome Di Dio Signore Sia Benedetto

2. Atto 2: La Vergine Degli Angeli

3. Atto 3: Attenti Al Gioco

4. Atto 3: La Vita E' Inferno All' Infelice

5. Atto 3: O Tu Che In Seno Agli Angeli

6. Atto 3: Al Tradimento!

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Atto 4: Fate La Carita'

2. Atto 4: Auf! Pazienza Non V' Ha Che Basti!

3. Atto 4: Del Mondo I Disinganni

4. Atto 4: Giunge Qualcuno, Aprite

5. Atto 4: Invano Alvaro Ti Celasti Al Mondo

6. Atto 4: Le Minacce, I Fieri Accenti

See all 9 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Suliotis shines in 1966 Forza, March 21, 2001

By 

Mike Leone (Houston, TX, United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

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

I have long been a fan of Elena Suliotis, the soprano who made her debut back in the mid-1960s, sang most of the big Italian dramatic soprano roles within the space of a few years, and burned herself out early but continues to sing occasional character parts. While she recorded five complete operas for Decca/London back in the late 60s and early 70s and returned to record one character role for them in the early 90s, a number of her live performances have long circulated in the tape underground. Among those performances is this February 16, 1966, Forza from Naples, a portion of which I first remember hearing back in the mid-70s; to my knowledge, this is its first incarnation on LP or CD.

The raison d'etre for the issuance of this recording is of course Elena Suliotis' Leonora. She could be wildly erratic in her live stuff, but here she is captured at the very top of her all-too-brief prime. Those who like her recording of Nabucco will love her here, as she is in similar vocal estate: the top gleams, the chest tones have all the familiar metal, and she really throws herself into the role (for example, listen to her "Voi mi scacciate! Voi" in the Act II duet with Guardiano). She is slightly uncomfortable at the beginning of "Pace, pace mio Dio," but aside from that she is thoroughly satisfying throughout. As Conrad L. Osborne pointed out in his review of the Nabucco in High Fidelity back when it was originally issued, she is unable to shed herself of the metal in her voice for the soft passages that require it, but that is a small price to pay for all the excitement she provides. For those who care about such things, there is a very nice posed photo of Elena, presumably in the Act I costume and set, on the cover of the album.

Franca Mattiucci is the Preziosilla. She has a very few pitch problems and loses her place in the score at one point in Act II, but brings a lot of spirit and good singing to this very difficult role. It is also, I presume, her photo in action as Preziosilla that graces the CDs themselves.

The tenor, Carlo Menippo, is probably the weak link in the cast. His whiny tenor is somewhat reminiscent of Gianni Poggi on a bad day. Nonetheless, except for one or two unfortunate moments in the Act IV duet, he is for the most part listenable. However, if you find you cannot stomach Gianni Poggi on a *good* day, then you may have trouble sitting still through Menippo's performance.

Mario Sereni brings his reliable baritone to Don Carlo. His is not a distinctive voice, but he sings well throughout.

Ivo Vinco, the Guardiano, aside from not being quite with the orchestra during his solo before "La vergine degli angeli," does a very good job. He teams up with Suliotis for an excellent rendition of the Act II duet, always one of the high points of the opera for me. They do not quite reach the heights of Price and Tozzi in the Schippers set on RCA, but then again I have yet to find anyone who does. The photo of Vinco in the album is probably as King Philip II in Verdi's Don Carlo; it's certainly not as the monk Guardiano!

Alfredo Mariotti has as least as much fun with Melitone as do most buffos. He is slightly uncomfortable on top, but the role does not call for many top tones.

The conductor, Pasquale de Angelis, is a new name to me. He doesn't bring any new insights to the score but makes all the right points.

The opera is presented with the standard cut of the "Sleale" duet in Act III. It also preserves a few of those niggardly cuts, similar to the ones in the EMI/Angel set with Callas, that were and still may be standard, but that don't really save any time and only serve to disfigure the score.

As a whole I found the recording really excellent. In fact, the opera seemed much shorter than usual, and not because of the cuts.

The recorded sound is also quite good. Given that on the back of the album are the words "Prodotto da Hardy Trading Co. srl in collaborazione con il Teatro di San Carlo Napoli," the recording may derive from the house's archives.

No notes or text, but highly recommended as a second recording of Forza. Certainly a necessity for Suliotis fans.