Giuseppe Verdi: Macbeth

Leonie Rysanek (Performer), Leonard Warren (Performer), Giuseppe Verdi (Performer), Erich Leinsdorf (Performer), Mildred Allen (Performer), Carlo Bergonzi (Performer), Emilia Cundari (Performer), Osie Hawkins (Performer), Jerome Hines (Artist), Calvin Marsh (Artist), William Olvis (Artist), Carlotta Ordassy (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Leonie Rysanek, Leonard Warren, Giuseppe Verdi, Erich Leinsdorf, Mildred Allen, et al.
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003ENG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,108 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Macbeth, opera: Prelude

2. Macbeth, opera: Act I, Scene 1: Che faceste? Dite su!

3. Macbeth, opera: Act I, Scene 1: Giorno non vidi mai sě fiero e bello!

4. Macbeth, opera: Act I, Scene 1: Due vaticini compiuti or sono

5. Macbeth, opera: Act I, Scene 1: S' allontanarono!

6. Macbeth, opera: Act I, Scene 2: 'Nel dě della vittoria io le incontrai...'

7. Macbeth, opera: Act I, Scene 2: Vieni! t'affretta! accendre

8. Macbeth, opera: Act I, Scene 2: Oh donna mia!

9. Macbeth, opera: Act I, Scene 2: Sappia la sposa mia

10. Macbeth, opera: Act I, Scene 2: Fatal mia donna!

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Macbeth, opera: Act II, Scene 3: Voi siete demente!

2. Macbeth, opera: Act II, Scene 3: Spirto d'abisso!

3. Macbeth, opera: Act III: Tre volte miagola la gatta

4. Macbeth, opera: Act III: Che fate voi, misteriose donne?

5. Macbeth, opera: Act III: Fuggi, regal fatasima

6. Macbeth, opera: Act III: Ove son io?

7. Macbeth, opera: Act III: Ora di morte e di vendetta

8. Macbeth, opera: Act IV, Scene 1: Patria oppressa!

9. Macbeth, opera: Act IV, Scene 1: O figli; Ah, la paterna mano

10. Macbeth, opera: Act IV, Scene 1: Dove siam? che bosco č quello?

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Macbeth, June 23, 2001

By 

Michel (Montreal, Quebec) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Giuseppe Verdi: Macbeth (Audio CD)

This is a great recording of a great opera with great singers. It was recorded in New York in 1959 between reprensentations at the Met. It was the first staging of the opera there. Leonard Warren and Leonie Rysanek are terrific in the leads. Warren is a tormented Macbeth, his voice of rolling grandeur and character ideal for the role. Rysanek is a mysterious Lady, her beautiful voice soaring in her two great arias and the sleep-walking scene. This is perhaps not perfect vocalism but what voices these singers had. Carlo Bergonzi and Jerome Hines offer excellent support. Chorus (especially the witches) and orchestra are excellent and Leinsdorf's conducting is energetic. The sound is clear but strangely balanced, voices are either very close or very far, but this is a minor distraction. The are cuts but the final death aria for Macbeth (stunningly sung by Warren) from the original 1847 version is inserted before the revised finale of 1865. A very fine set of historical value.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ALL TIME BEST, February 3, 2005

By 

L E WILLIS (Salt Lake City, ut United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Giuseppe Verdi: Macbeth (Audio CD)

This recording, in my opinion, is the overall ALL TIME BEST recording of this opera. I think this is an under rated Verdi opera. The music is very dramatic and listenable. It follows the story quite well also. The musical direction is perfect especially for the age of the recording. The direction is clear and energetic. Now, for singing. There are no words to describe Leonard Warren. I have not heard this recording since I was a teenager. I finally found the CD and listened to it the other day. Leonard Warren still sends chills. His large dramatic voice lends itself well to Macbeth. He gives power to the role where most other baritones just gives weakness. His voice is glorious. No other can match his incredible voice. As a far as Leonie Rysanek, I absolutely love this singer. I saw her in her "declining" years at the Met years ago in Electra and her voice was very youthful and beautiful. She is the finest Lady Macbeth ever. Her voice is even, her high notes are not pushed and over produced. She uses her beautiful voice well and I don't find myself cringing like I do with so many of today's voices. This truely is an era where singers took time to really learn to sing and you can hear it in this recording. Leonie is dramatic without sacrificing her voice. She uses many different colors, again without sacrificing her voice to do so. In addition, Lady Macbeth is a soprano role and should be sung by a soprano and not a mezzo no matter how high a mezzo can screatch up to the high notes. Jerome Hines is dark, musical, strong, and, well, perfect. You just couldn't get any better than that. If you are looking for a recording that is completely perfect, this is it. Yes, it has the slightly older sound that is quickly forgotten within seconds. They did a very good job in transferring this to CD. This is the second recording I have of this opera. The first is with Birgit Nilsson, another incredible recording with Nilsson and the orchestra as the stars. The Macbeth is okay and from there it goes down hill. But it is worth the price just for Nilsson. However, this recording of Warren and Reysanek is the best. I will never get tired of listening to these great artists. I wish we had them today.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!!, September 26, 2003

By 

"heidi123456789" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Giuseppe Verdi: Macbeth (Audio CD)

This is a superb recording!! All the principal singers are in peak form. You will find it hard to surpass Leonard Warren as Macbeth. His voice is deep and powerful. His characterization appropriate. Rysanek is highly dramatic as Lady Macbeth. And she sings her high D flat full-throated. No screechy singing - just a full, glorious shimmering voice at a high D flat!! Jerome Hines is marvellous as Banquo. His voice is deep and powerful too, sounds a bit like Warren's voice. Conducting is excellent and sound is great. In wonderful stereo and no tape hiss. Very highly recommended.