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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Old School Magic: Leontyne Price And Carlo Bergonzi Sing Verdi, December 31, 2005
A Kid's Review
This review is from: Verdi: Ernani (Audio CD)
This is an old recording from the early to mid 60's of Verdi's obscure and early opera Ernani based on the Victor Hugo play and novel. Ernani is a very contrived, melodramatic and operatically unsatisfying story but at this stage in his life Verdi was an innovative and experimental composer trying to branch out of the bel canto tradition. However, this is very much influenced by bel canto. A lot of beautiful singing. Stars Leontyne Price, the reigning Verdi soprano of her day, and Italian tenor Carlo Bergonzi. They try to breathe life into their otherwise one-dimensional parts. They offer beautiful tone, romance and elegance to their parts. They sang Ernani at the Met in the 60's and were usually terrific in their performances. It seems to me that often Leontyne Price repeated her "Leonora" persona (from Trovatore especially). The heroine in this opera is a noblewoman who falls for a rogue who kidnaps her but the bandit has a heart and kills himself for love of her and for the respect to her marriage to another man. Leontyne sings with youthful ardor, rich melody, nice chest register and gleaming top. This is her younger voice and you can never find true fault with it. It was her later work that was marred with some vocal problems. Bergonzi is a superb Ernani, with robust and melodic grace even if he lacks in some passion. The rest of the singers are superb. Ezio Flagello was another Met star that sold out as was baritone Mario Serena. A great Ernani but some would say it's not the best. I disagree. I think it's the best sung version. Other versions include Placido Domingo and Mirella Freni and that one is also very good and modern in sound.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
VERDIAN PERFECTION, October 4, 2008
This review is from: Verdi: Ernani (Audio CD)
NO CAVEATS, COMMENTS OR COMPARISONS: THE BEST ERNANI ON RECORDS, PERIOD. WHY? BECAUSE PRICE AND BERGONZI HAVE THE BEST VERDIAN TECHNIQUE OF ALL, AND PRODUCE TRUE BEL CANTO, BEAUTIFUL SINGING. AND BESIDES, THEIR VOICES, LIKE CALLAS, GENCER, VICKERS, GOBBI, BUMBRY, DE LOS ANGELES, DOMINGO, ARE SIMPLY ADDICTIVE. THIS IS ONE OF THE RECORDS I'D TAKE WITH ME TO A DESERTED ISLAND (PROVIDED THERE IS WHERE TO PLAY IT).
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best "Ernani" on CD, September 24, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Verdi: Ernani (Audio CD)
I don't want to talk about Bergonzi and Price - they are solid and always reliable (though Bergonzi's voice may not be as emotional or high-pitched as, for example, Giuseppe Di Stefano's...). Their supporters are great, although you can't find any so called "great names" on the label: Sereni's voice is in fine shape, and he manages his Carlo with elegant brilliance. Ezio Flagello definitly has the vocal power for such an dramatic role like the Don Silva - and he makes use of it in an impressing way! Schippers's conducting is compelling and vivid - early Verdi must be interpreted like this! Recently, a series of great live performances took place at the Vienna State Opera (cast: Shicoff, Guleghina, Alavarez, Scandiuzzi). I was lucky to see several of those - so I can honestly say: this recording is equal to them, if not even better!
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