Verdi: La Forza del Destino

Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), Giuseppe Sinopoli (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra of London (Orchestra), Agnes Baltsa (Performer), Jean Rigby (Performer), John Tomlinson (Performer), José Carreras (Performer), Juan Pons (Performer), Mark Curtis (Performer), Paata Burchuladze (Performer), Petteri Salomaa (Performer), Renato Bruson (Performer), Richard van Allan (Performer), Rosalind Plowright (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Agnes Baltsa, Jean Rigby, John Tomlinson, José Carreras, Juan Pons, et al.
• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra of London
• Conductor: Giuseppe Sinopoli
• Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
• Audio CD (January 10, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000BO0GPO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,482 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars warning: no libretto, February 21, 2007

By 

P. Polzonetti "book eater" (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Verdi: La Forza del Destino (Audio CD)

This is a good recording, no doubt about it, but costumers should be aware of the fact that there is no libretto included, but only a detailed synopsis.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful conducting, but the lead singers are problematic, October 5, 2010

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Verdi: La Forza del Destino (Audio CD)

Sinopoli was a very imaginative Verdi conductor and deserved better here. Of the two leads, Carreras is seriously overparted and Plowright has a squally, irritating tone. In ruth there was no true Verdi dramatic sopranos at the time who could sing Leonora to a high standard, and with Domingo already tied to the Levine set on RCA and Pavarotti not having this role in his repertory (Don Alvaro is almost as heavy as Radames, which also was a strain for Pavarotti), Carreras was the logical choice. He does as good a job as you could want, and Rosalind Plowright has the notes for the part of Leonora, despite having a peculiarly covered timbre with curdled high notes. The rest of the cast, including the very experienced Bruson, is quite good. But one only has to compare Domingo and Leontyne Price in the lead roles to notice what is missing here.

I would still defend this 'La Forza' for the atmospheric sound and Sinopoli's imaginative conducting, but of course that's not enough to make a successful opera overall.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A version with few or no real weaknesses, February 3, 2009

By 

G.D. (Norway) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Verdi: La Forza del Destino (Audio CD)

La forza del destino is probably no one's favorite Verdi opera, but it is still a glorious work. The problem, if it is one, is that - at least compared to some of the later operas - it musically speaking tends to come across as a series of separate (but often glorious) single scenes with no clear overall structure or development. This is something that Sinopoli's flowing but slightly incoherent account cannot remedy, but so could no one else, it seems, and this is still among the very best versions on record as far as I know.

Firstly, there are no genuine weaknesses among the singers here; even the smaller roles are superbly cast (not unexpectedly if you look at the list of names) - and there's a lot of those smaller roles in this opera, where several of them enter in and do their parts at quite crucial moments. This is, then, no minor feat, and it strongly counts in favor of this set as a top choice. In particular, Agnes Baltsa sings gloriously as Preziosilla in one of those marvelous scenes that really reveals Verdi's genius in act 1.

Secondly, there is Rosalind Plowright. Not only is her singing fabulous, but it is so full of character and feeling I can hardly think of any relevant comparison. Carreras pales in comparison, but he is to be honest generally very good as well, even though - especially later in the opera - he comes across as seeming a little disinterested. Bruson is as characterful as ever, even though the voice is not as fresh as it once was.

Now, what about the orchestral contribution? Well, the Philharmonia orchestra plays excellently, of course, and brings forth all the interesting textures and details one could possibly wish for. I generally like Sinopoli's approach as well - and he is superbly able to complement the singers with pacing and color. Sometimes the tempi are a little broad and he allows some juxtapositions of atmosphere and tempo that don't always convince me. Yet, the attention he brings to detail and the surging power he whips up from the Philharmonia players more than compensate, I think - I was a little dismayed when hearing the overture, but my worries were never realized in the opera itself. No qualms about the sound quality either, which is immediate and well-balanced. In short, this is a serious contender that really should be heard.