Customer Reviews

Verdi: Otello

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's difficult to imagine getting more for your opera dollar than with this 2 disc set. A 1971 live recording with the great Jon Vickers, a sumptuous Mirella Freni in fine voice, Peter Glossop as a convincing Iago and von Karajan at the helm conducting the Vienna Philharmonic & the Vienna State State Opera Chorus. I was hesitant to purchase this, thinking the sound quality would be third-rate. Well, surprise, surprise, the sonics are quite good and the performances of the highest quality! If you have the 1960 studio recording w/Vickers et al., you will be thrilled to hear how Jon Vickers's understanding of the role has grown. For the Verdi lover, this is a must-have addition to your collection.

For now, a very short review...

Wow! Jon Vickers will astound you, this is better than his classic performance under Serafin. Freni is sympathetic as Desdemona... and Glossop turns in one of the finest performances of Iago I've ever heard. This man is one dangerous [person], and don't ever forget it! He has the voice for it, reminding me very much of Apollo Granforte's incredible performance. Glossop is by turns hateful, friendly, scheming, and concerned- all this at the drop of a hat.

This is an Opera-D'Oro disk and preserves a live performance. The sound is very good and gives us the ambience of a live performance, from the perspectives of the performers. Most everything comes through clearly, though the sound is not quite up to studio standards. Audience noise seems to be minimal. Very highly recommended!

What a wonderful recording! A must-have for any Verdi or Otello fan.

Karajan's conducting is superb- probably the best I've heard. Vickers is in great voice- he sounds more 'secure' than in the studio recordings, and his interpretation is excellent- more mature than the studio recordings. Freni, as always, gives an impeccable performance. Although I personally I prefer the more subtle approach of Gobbi, Glossop is a fine Iago.

The sound quality for a live performance is very good. A winner.

This recording is worth it alone just to hear Vickers sing "sangue, Sangue, SANGUE!!" The fist time I heard it I was driving on the highway and was literally bouncing up and down in my seat with excitement. Thank goodness it was the middle of the night and no one was around :)

Vickers amazes me through the entire recording, and since he has always been a favorite of mine I may be a little bit biased. I do know his short comings when it comes to his technique, specifically his high notes. He is a very dramatic performer and sometimes that intensity gets in the way of his high notes (something I as a singer have been known to do many times). But, Vickers really shines thru the whole role, the only real "flub" I have noticed so far is at the very end when he says "Desdemona" his voice cracks, but with what is going on in the story at that time this "mistake" really works and is very emotional. Plus a few seconds later Vickers rips a Ab that will part your hair.

To be honest I haven't really listened to the other singers enough to give a detailed review, but Freni seems to be in excellent voice. Glossop to me is a huge let down, his Italian is terrible and he cracks on more than one occasion and it does not work.

If only I could have been in the audience for this one I could probably die a happy man. I would have been sucking on my thumb and in diapers, but you get the gist... :)

If Otello is one of your favorite operas, you must buy this recording. The performances are superb, and the recording quality is one of the finest live recordings I have ever heard. The person who gave it one star and criticized the recording quality doesn't know what he's talking about. I almost thought it was a studio recording until I heard the stage noises and applause. I only ever got to hear Vickers live once before he retired and he was an astounding artist. Add to that Freni in her prime and you have a sublime listening experience.

Yes, this performance is astounding, wonderful, incredible - Vickers and Glossop striking sparks off each other in Act Two, Karajan encouraging amazing sounds from the orchestra, Freni a perfect Desdemona...BUT BE WARNED...

...THERE'S A DREADFUL, STRUCTURE-DESTROYING CUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ACT THREE ENSEMBLE...and yes, as (together with that in Act 2 Scene 2 of Falstaff) this is without question Verdi's most perfect ensemble, IT DOES MATTER! Karajan, along with some other conductors who think it smart to tamper with what the Master wanted, totally decimates the structure of the piece and -by inference- the entire act, which Verdi has so carefully built up towards this divine culmination of the drama.

So, despite my major grumble, enjoy this performance...but steel yourself as you begin to be absorbed into the ensembel; there's a terrible shock coming!

After listening to this set I was able see why Jon Vickers is considered the greatest Otello ever. This could have been the Otello to live with if it had not been presented in recording that sounds like being captured by a personal recording device (possibly portable). Voices come across as tolerable but orchestra and chorus sound unbearably dry and distorted all over.
The only credit I can give to this set is that it led me to look for another set with Karajan, Vickers, and Freni in it, and I found one. It's from EMI. Now you have the recording of a deeply moving psychological drama completed with professinal engineering.