Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia [Original recording reissued]

Gioachino Rossini (Composer), James Levine (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Nicolai Gedda (Performer), Beverly Sills (Performer), Sherrill Milnes (Performer), Renato Capecchi (Performer), Ruggero Raimondi (Performer), Fedora Barbieri (Performer), John Alldis Choir (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Nicolai Gedda, Beverly Sills, Sherrill Milnes, Renato Capecchi, Ruggero Raimondi, et al.
• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: James Levine
• Composer: Gioachino Rossini
• Audio CD (June 1, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B0000CE7FU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,391 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #64 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Historical Periods > Romantic (c.1820-1910)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Overture

2. Piano, Pianissimo, Senza Parlar

3. Ecco Ridente In Cielo

4. Ehi, Fiorello

5. Mille Grazie, Mio Signore

6. Gente Indiscreta!

7. La Ran La Le Ra...Largo Al Factotum

8. Ah, Che Bella Vita!

9. Non E Venuto Ancora

10. Le Vostre Assidue Premure

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Finora In Questa Camera

2. Ehi, Di Casa, Buona Gente

3. Che Cosa Accadde, Signori Miei

4. Fredda Ed Immobile

5. Ma Signor...Ma Un Dottor

6. Ma Vedi Il Mio Destino!

7. Pace E Gioia Sia Con Voi

8. Insomma, Mio Signore, Chi E Lei?

9. Venite, Signorina

10. Contro Un Cor Che Accende Amore

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lively, Idomatic Performance at a Bargain Price!, March 18, 2005

By 

Robert Sorrentino "Classical Music-Loving Lib... (Cherry Hill, N.J.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia (Audio CD)

Recorded in 1975 and recently re-issued at a bargain price, this recording of "Barbiere" is hard to beat for sheer, sportive fun, with everyone involved sounding like they're enjoying themselves. Here you have Sills, Milnes, Gedda, Renato Capecchi, and Ruggiero Raimondi, all at the height of their respective powers, and the young James Levine, all bounce and go with the first flush of success, conducting. How to pick highlights from highlights? Well, how about Milnes with a "Largo al Factotum" to rival Merrill and Ruffo's recordings for sheer abandon? And then there's Gedda, with the most feather-light "Ecco, Ridente" I have ever heard. Alas, the recording includes a synopsis, but no libretto. No real loss, though, when you consider what you're getting for the price: A vibrant performance full of fun and great music-making.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Recorded too late, July 6, 2007

By 

Otello1901 (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia (Audio CD)

I wish that I could speak more highly of this performance, as it was made by some of my favorite singers (and conductor). Alas, I can not. Milnes is a fine Figaro. Sills (I love her) should have recorded this role about 10 years earlier. Really unfortunately, I found Gedda's work painful. A fine, stylish tenor in his prime, he is well past it here.

Sometimes great talents come together and misfire. But, if you are a Sills fan...

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Misfire, October 8, 2005

By 

Ted Zoldan (Los Angeles, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia (Audio CD)

On paper, this looks like a dream cast, but the reality proves unfortunate. BVeverly Sills, Nicolai Gedda and Sherril Milnes are some of my favorite singers, but here, Sills sounds fatigued (though her "Un Vene Poco fa" is charming and winsome), Milnes misses the finese of Figaro, and Gedda, sad to say, sounds old and tired. Renato Cappecchi is a miscast Bartolo, but Raimondi is an imposing Bartolo, if without the nuances that Zaccaria brings to the role or the sheer glee Ramey and Montarsolo do. Levine's tempi are plodding, and Fedora Barbieri shows up in a cameo as Bertha, compleatly ill-equiped. If it were not for Sill (who can do no real wrong) and Raimondi, I wouldn't even bother looking at it. 2/5