Verdi - Falstaff / G. Evans · Freni · Simionato · R. Merrill · Kraus · RCA IOO · Solti

Giuseppe Verdi (Artist), Sir Georg Solti (Artist), Geraint Evans (Artist), Mirella Freni (Artist), RCA Italiana Opera Orchestra & Chorus (Artist), John Lanigan (Artist), Alfredo Kraus (Artist), Robert Merrill (Artist), Rosalind Elias (Artist), Giovanni Foiani Piero de Palma (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 11, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00000E383
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,941 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Act I, Part 1: Falstaff! - John Lanigan

2. Act I, Part 1: Sei Polli: Sei Scellini - Geraint Evans

3. Act I, Part 1: Ehi! Paggio! Andate A Impendervi - Geraint Evans

4. Act I, Part 2: Alice - Rosalind Elias

5. Act I, Part 2: Fulgida Alice! Amor T'offro - Rosalind Elias

6. Act I, Part 2: E' Un Ribaldo, Un Furbo, Un Ladro - John Lanigan

7. Act I, Part 2: Pst, Pst, Nannetta - Alfredo Kraus

8. Act I, Part 2: Falstaff M'ha Canzonata - Ilva Ligabue

9. Act I, Part 2: Torno All'assalto - Alfredo Kraus

10. Act I, Part 2: Udrai Quanta Egli Sfoggia - Piero De Palma

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Act III, Part 1: Ehi! Taverniere! - Geraint Evans

2. Act III, Part 1: Reverenza. La Bella Alice - Giulietta Simionato

3. Act III, Part 1: Non Dubitar, Tu Sposerai Mia Figlia - Robert Merrill

4. Act III, Part 2: Dal Labbro Il Canto - Alfredo Kraus

5. Act III, Part 2: Una, Due, Tre, Quattro - Geraint Evans

6. Act III, Part 2: Ninfe! Elfi! Silfi! Doridi! Sirene! - Mirella Freni

7. Act III, Part 2: Alto La! - Piero De Palma

8. Act III, Part 2: Ogni Sorta Di Gente Dozzinale - Geraint Evans

9. Act III, Part 2: Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! - Geraint Evans/Giulietta Simionato/Ilva Ligabue/Robert Merrill/Mirella Freni/Alfredo Kraus...

10. Act III, Part 2: Tutto Nel Mondo E Burla - Geraint Evans

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS is Falstaff, December 2, 2002

By 

Roger W. Davenport "neurologyroger" (Brooklyn, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Verdi - Falstaff / G. Evans · Freni · Simionato · R. Merrill · Kraus · RCA IOO · Solti (Audio CD)

I have read the other review of this work and I take great exception. This is the recording by which others should be judged. Solti captures the raucousness of Falstaff, using and emphasizing the horns like great comedic guffaws. Geraint Evans oozes unctiousness and Freni sweetly takes on the only aria in the whole opera. When you digest this version of Falstaff everything else is so lady-like and almost effeminate. Falstaff is a drunk, he smells and he is dishonest. Strings cannot bring home this earthy opera the way Solti and the horns do and Solti keeps the opera moving in a wild, continuous manner--like a ball well dented rolling downhill and he finesses the fugue at the end. This opera, in my opinion Verdi's masterpiece, is in continous motion the way Gianni Schicci is. It is not a stop, stand and sing opera like Don Carlos and others make that mistake--not Solti.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very good, but......, June 8, 2002

By 

R. J. Claster "rjclaster" (Van Nuys, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Verdi - Falstaff / G. Evans · Freni · Simionato · R. Merrill · Kraus · RCA IOO · Solti (Audio CD)

Although this appears to be a very fine recording, I prefer both Karajan-EMI and Toscanini-RCA. First, in spite of the fact that Solti conducts with his customary energy and dynamism, he lacks, I feel, just a little bit of Karajan's deftly pointed touch, and his Rome ensemble, though it plays with discipline and commitment, is not quite in the same league of virtuosity and refinement of sound as Karajan's vintage 1950s Philharmonia. Moreover, neither he nor Karajan project the explosive eruption of earthy, rollicking spirits as Toscanini uniquely does (and who also boasts a fine cast, though many people think that Karajan's is even finer). Secondly, Evans as Falstaff, though strongly characterized, may lack a bit of Gobbi's subtlety. However, the singing overall seems to be quite good, and Freni's Nanetta in particular has a very sweet, lovely tone.
In short, this is certainly worth the under eight dollar price that it can currently be had for from this site (and therefore, for those not familiar with this work, a good introduction), but there are, in my opinion, at least two superior overall recordings.