Verdi: Rigoletto

Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), Tullio Serafin (Conductor), Orchestra e coro del Teatro alla Scala (Orchestra), Maria Callas (Performer), Tito Gobbi (Performer), Giuseppe di Stefano (Performer), Nicola Zaccaria (Performer), Adriana Lazzarini (Performer), Giuse Gerbino (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi, Giuseppe di Stefano, Nicola Zaccaria, Adriana Lazzarini, et al.
• Orchestra: Orchestra e coro del Teatro alla Scala
• Conductor: Tullio Serafin
• Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
• Audio CD (August 19, 1997)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002RY6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,257 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #5 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Callas, Maria
  • #58 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Languages > Italian

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars questa o quella?, March 19, 2002

By 

Steve Bell (Manchester UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Verdi: Rigoletto (Audio CD)

This one? That one? Which 'Rigoletto'? One review sites power of high notes with Bastianini, another grumbles about the sound, a third hates all the principals.
Callas inspired both love and contempt and this perform won't help.To the devoted fan they will hear her incredible artistry, to her detractors she will seem ungainly and far from the virginal creature Verdi intended. But as is usual with the great Diva..if you have ears to hear, then hear her fall from innocence into guilt and shame and finally feel her inspired to self sacrifice. Wonderful.
There is much, much more to the role of Rigoletto than a rich voice and a brilliant top.Gobbi's vocal colouring is staggeringly versatile. Only possible criticism is that he may wear his heart too much on his sleeve..and if you really believe that then go to Merrill or Bastianini and good luck to you. Gobbi is superb.
Di Stefano? Listen to his 'Questa o Quella' and you know the Duke inside out. Dangerous, predatory, shallow. La Donna goes less well with an ungainly cadenza and a flatconclusion. Forgivable after his glorious tones in the love duet and elswhere. The man has voice, 'face' and glorious tone.
Serafin loved this score though the quartet seems to slow dangerously at one point. Only 4 stars? Well its not perfect!
It's simply the best!

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Emotionally Involving, July 19, 2004

By 

Jeffrey Lipscomb (Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Verdi: Rigoletto (Audio CD)

Few complete recordings "Rigoletto" have the same intense level of emotional involvement as this one. Gobbi gives one of the great dramatic performances of any title role in opera. Sure, there are others who brought more resplendent voices to the role (i.e., Taddei and the 55 year old but magnificent Ricardo Stracciari), but neither of them gives a portrayal that is anywhere near as moving as Gobbi's. As for Callas: what is it about the quality of her voice that so causes your heart to go out to her immediately in sympathy? There is something so vulnerable, genuine and three-dimensional about her Gilda - it's hard to put into words. As for di Stefano, has anyone else so perfectly captured the Duke's mixture of charm and cruelty? And if that were not enough, Serafin provides us with one of the finest-conducted Rigoletto out there.

As far as I'm concerned, this is a top candidate if you are choosing a sole version of this Verdi masterpiece.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A simply marvelous recording!!!!, October 27, 1999

By 

Rod Tierman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Verdi: Rigoletto (Audio CD)

This has GOT to be the perfect cast for Rigoletto. Callas, Di Stefano, and Gobbi all in their wonderful primes. La Divina sounds so young, fresh, and innocent here (I don't know where someone got that they thought she sounded like a 70 year old lady!!). I have usually found Callas' diction quite exceptional, unlike Dame Joan, and that is once again evident on this recording. Her coloratura soaring tones sound efortless here! And Gobbi!! What incredible voice he is in here!! I agree with our friend from Milano when he states that Gobbi has to be second only to Ruffo for Italian baritones. Di Stefano had to be the perfect voice for the Duke (along with Nicolai Gedda, the late Alfredo Kraus, and Mario Lanza, even though we were never fortunate enough for Lanza to perform the entire role). It must have been this type of voice Verdi had in mind when he wrote the Duke of Mantua. Di Stefano shows a neccessary abandon and rakeishness that so many other Tenors lack on recordings. This recording has a real Italian edge to it. Not plastic and pristine sounding like most modern recordings of this role. Serafin's conducting is flawless!!!! Quite possibly one of the greatest recordings of all time. A must have!!!