Verdi Heroines [Import]

Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), Riccardo Chailly (Conductor), Laura Polverelli (Performer), Tizana Tramonti (Performer), Milan Giuseppe Verdi Orchestra (Orchestra), Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra of Milan (Orchestra), Angela Gheorghiu (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Laura Polverelli, Tizana Tramonti, Angela Gheorghiu
• Orchestra: Milan Giuseppe Verdi Orchestra, Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra of Milan
• Conductor: Riccardo Chailly
• Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
• Audio CD (June 13, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Decca Import
• ASIN: B00004DTQV
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,252 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #58 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Featured Performers, A-Z > C to G

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu is at a significant crossroads for a singer: past the heady days of her sudden, youthful stardom in the mid-1990s initiated by her legendary Covent Garden La Traviata, but still forging a mature identity, both vocally and interpretively. The results of this in-betweenness can be frustrating, as Gheorghiu at this point clearly doesn't seem light enough for Gilda's "Caro nome" in Rigoletto (the weakest cut on this recital), but still needs to develop the heavier sound and heft needed for such Verdi heroines as Aida. That said, Gheorghiu's attempt to position herself at the head of the new generation of Verdi sopranos has a lot going for it--most important, the mesmerizing quality of her uniquely dusky timbre and the conviction of her vocal acting (it's even able to come across on CD). Just listen to how she can encode unhappiness in her phrasing--a prerequisite for a Verdi heroine--as Aida, or transient but intensely sought peace as Leonora, or, in the longest scèna here, as an appealingly multilayered Desdemona (quite possibly the recital's best cut). There's also the exciting polarity of Gheorghiu's leaps from chest voice to a high perch (at the end of the lengthy Don Carlo scèna) to signify the traversal of as many emotions, though she practically throws away what should be a killer moment with her disappointing attack on the high pianissimo at the end of "Morro, Ma Prima in Grazia.". The chemistry between Gheorghiu and conductor Riccardo Chailly that was so remarkable on their Bohème is even more powerful here, and Chailly's ear for detail enables the arias to unfold against a canvas of vibrant colors; the symphonic dimension he gives to the orchestral prologues (especially in the Don Carlo and Otello scenes) adds depth and perspective. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Verdi sung by a true heroine, August 10, 2000

By 

Joy Fleisig (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Verdi Heroines (Audio CD)

Like others who have reviewed this disc, I was initially skeptical of Angela Gheorghiu's plans to add the heavier Verdi roles to her repertory. I thought that the soprano roles in Otello, Don Carlo, and Simon Boccanegra, and possibly I Vespri Siciliani would be ideal for her, with the Trovatore serving as a stretch. Certainly her contributions to these roles in the 'Verdi Per Due' disc she recorded with her husband Roberto Alagna were magnificent. But I also thought that tackling Aida and La Forza del Destino were probably not such good ideas. Then I heard her perform 'Pace, pace mio Dio' at the 1999 Richard Tucker Gala. Her voice, though leaner than the likes of traditional Verdi soprano (i.e Milanov, Price and Ponselle), is hardly small, and she had no trouble filling the hall despite very singer-unfriendly acoustics. Indeed, her final cry of 'Maledizione!' soared over the orchestra easily. More importantly, she did a beautiful messa di voce on the first 'Pace' and the three 'Fatalita!'cries expressed entirely different feelings. With that, I was willing to approach this disc with a more open mind.

I should have known better from the beginning. Anytime I think that something is beyond this woman's capacity, she ALWAYS proves me wrong.

Whatever reservations I may have had about her choice of repertory, I would never deny that Gheorghiu is probably the greatest soprano in the world now-her only real competition is Renee Fleming. I am a collector of opera recordings with some 60 other sopranos in my collection, so this isn't something I would say lightly. To badly paraphrase Lord Byron, all that's best of dark and bright meet in her aspect and her voice. Listening to her sing is like looking at a nebula through a telescope and seeing the glowing of new stars cradled in the interstellar dust that gave them birth. Her voice has power in addition to sweetness, and most important of all, it has soul.

Gheorghiu's technique and musicianship are superb. 'Merce, dillette amiche' and 'Caro nome' show excellent coloratura combined with a beautiful trill. More important is her superb sense of line, her beautiful control of dynamics (all the way down to heavenly pianissimi), her intelligence, her instinctively right feelings regarding musical expression. I have heard many recent sopranos who sing these roles who have little if any of these qualities, even if they have more of what would be considered the 'right voice' (i.e huge, heavy, and loud) than Gheorghiu. Certainly very few of these sopranos know the meaning of the words 'vocal acting'.

With Gheorghiu, like with Callas, it is the music first and foremost which dictates her emotions. As many others have noted, she finds the right individual voice and personality for every character and situation, and not only that, she makes each individual word mean something. This is perfectly illustrated in what is undoubtedly the triumph of this disc: the scene from Il Trovatore. Aided by the equally committed and passionate Inez of mezzo-soprano Tiziana Tramonti, Gheorghiu lets the drama just build and build. She brings out all of Leonora's longing and ecstasy, indeed she is almost giddy in the cabaletta. Particularly masterful touches are the frission in her voice at the reprise of 'Al cor' and her heroic and defiant cry of 'Obliarlo!' when Inez suggests forgetting Manrico. Her Elisabetta di Valois isn't weary, introspective and resigned to her fate the way most other sopranos interpret it, but someone exploding with all the passion and sorrow that she had to keep hidden until this moment. And I think that a Gheorghiu Desdemona on stage will be something really special- here she is terrified, vulnerable, and very deeply human, unlike Renee Fleming, whose version is equally moving and magnificent, but more the totally innocent angel descended from heaven. Again, Gheorghiu is supported by a fine mezzo, Laura Polverelli as Emilia.

As for the heaviest roles, from Un Ballo in Maschera, Forza del Destino and Aida, I am now convinced that she should record them in their entirety, if not sing them on stage (but only very small theatres). She is very intelligent, very organized, and will proceed very slowly and carefully. Her next staged Verdi is Luisa Miller (not included on this disc because it is too difficult to take out of context of the entire opera) and she says she will not consider Trovatore for another 5 years or so. There will be undoubtedly those who think her voice is a bit too mature for Gilda, but those who had no trouble with Callas or Milanov in the role will find much to admire. However, I think 'Tutte le feste al tempio' would have suited her better.

Riccardo Chailly has a wonderful rapport with Gheorghiu, and brings out luxurious sounds from the young and enthusiastic orchestra, who I definitely want to hear more from. His tempi are a trifle fast, which add to the urgency and drama, but they hamper expression slightly in a few places-in 'Tu che le vanita' Gheorghiu is prevented from making the pianissimo phrase 's'ancor si piange in cielo' spin out quite as much as it should. However, there is wonderful playing throughout, particularly in the prelude to this aria and the one from Simon Boccanegra. The solo players are also excellent.

Other minor, even picky complaints - while Gheorghiu's formerly mushy diction has vastly improved, there are a few lapses - 'Ah, si', becomes 'Oh, si' and a few 'eh' sounds become 'ee'. Also, it would have been really nice if there had been a couple of extra tracking points in the longer scenes, particularly Otello. And I could have lived without the dull, gray cover...

Still, Gheorghiu is a rarity, a singer of true individuality and genius. Think of how much she has already accomplished, and she isn't even 35 yet! May she continue to astonish us.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Spinto? Probably not, a Verdian? Maybe., June 20, 2000

By 

James Walters (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Verdi Heroines (Audio CD)

As I listened to this collection of arias I found myself thinking on Leontyne Price, and Renata Tebaldi. Gheorghiu brought back rememberances of their perfomances of these pieces. I don't believe that Gheorghiu is a true Spinto soprano like Price, but the richness in her voice leads one to believe she is more than just a Lyric Soprano. Like Tebaldi who also started her carrer singing the basic lyric repetoire, and I'm happy to hear her voice develop into a larger Full Lyric sound. While I don't think she would make the best Aida today, I hear in her voice that she can mature into this role, as Tebaldi did. I would welcome any Verdi roles she decides to take on. From the recorded evidence on this disc I believe that "Il Trovatore, and Don Carlo should be her next Verdi operas, I Vespri would also be welcome. I'm glad that in Gheorghiu we have another soprano dedicated to Verdi (and who can pull it off), now if we can just get a tenor whos up to it, and can take the mantle from Domingo.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Controversial And Undeniably Breathtaking, June 27, 2000

By 

Aurora Vronsky (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Verdi Heroines (Audio CD)

Angela Gheorghiu possesses one of the most exquisite operatic voices of today. Her unique dusky to sugary timbre represents one of the most individual as well as most breathtakingly beautiful of sopranos. Not only does she have a prolific voice, but also an electrifying stage presence. Being a conservatory-bound opera major (and a lyric soprano) myself, I am a big fan of Angela and anticipated the release of this disc very much. At first I was somewhat skeptical of a full lyric soprano such as Angela Gheorghiu attempting such heavyweight roles.However,when I listened to this CD, I was pleasantly surprised. Ms. Gheorghiu handles the massive challenge of aquiring the ultimate in Verdian style extremely well. While her voice may not possess the heft that previous exponents of this repertoire have traditionally had; she certainly possesses a sensual duskiness which transends Verdi's superhuman phrases quite effectively. And the sheer drama, the passion is there. Angela brings to life each individual heroine and makes them truly feel like a living person. While each portrayal is unique and special, I feel the strongest tracks on the CD are "Merce, Dilette Amiche" I VESPRI SICILIANI, "Che Piu T'arresti...Tacea la Notte Placida....Di Tale Amor" IL TROVATORE, and "Pace, Pace Mio Dio!" LA FORZA DEL DESTINO, (the piece which she performed at the Tucker gala) . These are most prominently reminiscent of her Violetta-----rich in flawless techinal brilliance and exceptional passionate in complete genius of interpretation. I look for here Leonora of IL TROVATORE, particularly, to be the next role which she makes her own and takes the world by storm with. A truly remarkable and surprising performance. We must not be too quick to catorgorize this exceptional artist before we witness her astouding versatility and artistry. Afterall, look what Maria Callas, a heavy dramatic did for the role of Lucia. And did not not Verdi declare the light coloratura of Adelina Patti to be one of his favorite Aidas? One must not limit the possibilities of what an accomplished artist can bring to a masterpiece. An amazing recording----you are in for a treat.