Rossini: The Barber of Seville

Gioachino Rossini (Composer), Silvio Varviso (Conductor), Rossini Orchestra & Chorus (Orchestra), Dino Mantovani (Performer), Fernando Corena (Performer), Manuel Ausensi (Performer), Nicolai Ghiaurov (Performer), Stefania Malagu (Performer), Teresa Berganza (Performer), Ugo Benelli (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Dino Mantovani, Fernando Corena, Manuel Ausensi, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Stefania Malagu, et al.
• Orchestra: Rossini Orchestra & Chorus
• Conductor: Silvio Varviso
• Composer: Gioachino Rossini
• Audio CD (March 9, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: London / Decca Record Company Limited
• ASIN: B00000I932
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,037 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful recording of Il Barbiere di Sviglia!, February 28, 2000

By 

Rod Tierman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rossini: The Barber of Seville (Audio CD)

The biggest reason I can give for puchasing this set of Barber of Seville is the Almaviva of Ugo Benelli. Benelli handles this, one of the most challenging roles in the Tenor di grazia repertoire, with great ease and elan. His "Ecco ridente" is one of the best I've ever heard, rivaling Schipa and Valletti. Plus Benelli also sings the oft cut "Cessa Di Piu Resistere" masterfully, handling the vocal pyro-techniques flawlessly. If one wants to hear the original concept Rossini had for the role of Rossina (to be sung by a Mezzo-soprano), then one need go no further than Teresa Berganza. Berganza handles her role with a lyricism and ease, and yet a richness to the voice, one rarely hears from Mezzos these days. Her "Una Voce poco Fa" is simply flawless. This set also brags the Don Basilio of the great Bulgarian Basso Nicolai Ghiaurov in his glorious prime (his "La Calunnia E Un Venticello" is a real show stopper)and the Dottore Bartolo of Ferrando Corena is a real joy to listen to. Manuel Ausensi performs the lead role of Figaro with the appropriate amount of abandon. The tempos Silvio Varviso uses here are excellent! All the ensemble pieces are done very well. The recorded sound is excellent. Even if one already owns a good recording of "Barbiere", they should also have this one. This recording has all the elements going for it. This performance is everything a recording of Barber of Seville should be! It really seems as though all the performers are enjoying themselves here and if there is one thing a performance of Barber of Seville should be, it should be FUN! And this performance really has that going for it. Treat yourself and buy this recording of Barbiere di Sviglia! You won't regret it and at this bargain price, how can you lose? . A pure delight from the Overture to the finale!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Berganza! Berganza! Berganza!, April 16, 2000

By 

J. Luis Juarez Echenique "pepechenique" (Mexico City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rossini: The Barber of Seville (Audio CD)

The are many good reason for buying this delicious Barbiere, but the best of all is the glorious singing of the then very young Teresa Berganza. Her rich magnificent voice has no equal, not Bartoli, not von Stade, not Horne, not no one. Berganza was born to sing Rosina and Angelina she is funny, sexy and just plain adorable. Her compatriot Manuel Ausensi is a good rather than a great Figaro (I will never understand why Rolando Panerai was not preferred), but Ghiaurov has to be heard to be believed. Varviso was a marvelous Rossini conductor and this is certainly an essential Barbiere.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The more convincent cast, June 20, 2002

By 

Reynaldo Pulido "reynaldus" (Caracas, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rossini: The Barber of Seville (Audio CD)

I couldn't lose the chance of buying this double cd set, because this Barber have the best cast in a single recording. Varviso and the Rossini Naples Orchestra have a good sense of what is the Barber, the overture sounds espectacular, using the crescendos with accuracy and brightness. Benelli, because this recording only cuts the recitatives, had the hardest work: He sings "Ecco ridente" entirely and without problems, the final Rond? does it with energy and brio. Berganza is the best Rosina, no innecessary ornaments in her arias. Ausensi is not the best F?garo -this award goes to Gobbi- but he has the colour and the power to sing it (Hagegaard and Prey sound too light). Corena is the equilibrated Don Bartolo, because he exagerates some parts, but he has the musical sense to sing the aria and duets like a bass he is, not like a clown. Ghiaurov has a silver medal in the Basilio's championship (Ramey has the golden one, who sings it in the original D key), with a touch of humorism in his recitatives and a powerful Calunnia's aria, as good as the Ramey's one. There are several cuts in the recitative, but the musical parts, the arias and ensembles are entirely played: Ecco ridente, All'idea di quel metallo, the stretta and its appendice before its end, the lesson aria of Rosina, the quintetto, the whole rond? of the Count, the terzetto, all number are complete. If the recitatives had been restored and Gobbi sang F?garo here, i could say this recording was the definitive.