Verdi: Macbeth -
Everyone who hears it loves this recording of Verdi's early masterpiece. Small wonder. A
... more
first-rate ensemble from La Scala triumphantly charge through the murderous tale with unbounded confidence after a long-running production, and with a gut feeling for the true Verdian character and spirit. For Verdi himself, Macbeth was a hard birth. Struggling to revise shoddy rehearsal practice in a complacent mid-19th-century opera industry, he conducted long nightmarish rehearsals enforcing attention to his demands for strong stage characters. An indication of Verdi's success, and of the importance of his characterisation, is that Shirley Verrett, although audibly stretched in the higher register, still reigns as the ultimate Lady M. As in Shakespeare's original, the intense and tangible plight of the female part nearly outshines that of the principal anti-hero (Capucilli).With Lady Macbeth Verdi created his first real female star role of which he was to supply so many. Abbado is a master in observing detail and from both orchestra and soloists gets glittering performances and discipline in one go.Being cautious with his tempi, the conductor achieves deserved climaxes and a chillingly effective eerie throughline. Leave the lights on when listening to this. --Yngvil V.G.
Verdi: Macbeth -
Everyone who hears it loves this recording of Verdi's early masterpiece. Small wonder. A
... more
first-rate ensemble from La Scala triumphantly charge through the murderous tale with unbounded confidence after a long-running production, and with a gut feeling for the true Verdian character and spirit. For Verdi himself,Macbethwas a hard birth. Struggling to revise shoddy rehearsal practice in a complacent mid-19th-century opera industry, he conducted long nightmarish rehearsals enforcing attention to his demands for strong stage characters. An indication of Verdi's success, and of the importance of his characterisation, is that Shirley Verrett, although audibly stretched in the higher register, still reigns as the ultimate Lady M. As in Shakespeare's original, the intense and tangible plight of the female part nearly outshines that of the principal anti-hero (Capucilli).With Lady Macbeth Verdi created his first real female star role of which he was to supply so many. Abbado is a master in observing detail and from both orchestra and soloists gets glittering performances and discipline in one go.Being cautious with his tempi, the conductor achieves deserved climaxes and a chillingly effective eerie throughline. Leave the lights on when listening to this.--Yngvil V.G.
Advantages: A Verdi masterpiece Disadvantages: none
...When asking Ciao to add some more items, particularly operas, to the classical music section, I was wary of specifying particular recordings for a very good reason. Unlike other music genres, classical music in the recording age is generally about interpretation rather than specifically about the music itself. I’m hoping to add many more opera opinions over the coming weeks and months, and in each case, I’m going to select a favourite recording to deal with in detail, and list a few alternatives that you might be interested in for comparison.
This opinion deals with Verdi’sMacbeth, released by EMI in 1976, and remastered in 1999.
Cast:
Macbeth – Sherrill Milnes
Lady Macbeth – Fiorenza Cossotto
Banquo – Ruggero Raimondi
Macduff – Jose Carreras
Malcolm – Giuliano Bernardi
Una dama – Maria Borgato
Other small roles taken by: Carlo...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Classic recordings from a master of his trade. Disadvantages: Mono recordings, Crackly in parts.
...Verdi
La forza del destino: Solenne in quest' ora by Giuseppe Verdi
La forza del destino: O, tu che in seno agli angeli by Giuseppe Verdi
La traviata: Libiamo ne' lieti calici "Brindisi" by Giuseppe VerdiMacbeth: Ah, la paterna mano by Giuseppe Verdi
Requiem Mass: Ingemisco by Giuseppe Verdi
Otello: Ora e per sempre addio by Giuseppe Verdi
Otello: Si, pel ciel marmoreo giuro! by Giuseppe Verdi
Rigoletto: Questa o quella by Giuseppe Verdi
Rigoletto: La donna è mobile by Giuseppe Verdi
Rigoletto: Parmi veder le lagrime...Possente amor mi chiama by Giuseppe Verdi
Rigoletto: Bella figlia dell' amore [Quartet] by Giuseppe Verdi
Un ballo in maschera: Di' tu se fedele by Giuseppe Verdi
I Pagliacci: Recitar!...Vesti la giubba by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Stabat mater: Cujus animam by Gioachino Rossini
Petite Messe solennelle: Crucifixus...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Composer: Giuseppe (Fortunino Francesco) Verdi (1813 - 1901)
Main Performer: Christian du Plessis (Baritone); John Tomlinson (Bass); Kenneth Collins (Tenor); Ludmilla Andrew (Soprano); Michael George (Baritone)
Orchestra / Ensemble(s): BBC Singers Choir; BBC Concert Orchestra
Date of Release: 03/11/2003
Recomended Retail Price: 29.99 GBP
Label / Distributor: Opera Rara / Select
Pieces in Set: 2
Running Time: 2 hours 12 minutes
Genre(s): Stage works
Stereo: Stereo
SPAR Code: DDD
EAN: 792938030128
Work 1
Work Title: Macbeth
Excerpt(s): 1. Prelude 2. ACT 1 - Che faceste? dite su! 3. Giorno non vidi mai; Due vaticini compiuto or sono 4. S'allontanarono! 5. Nel dì della vittoria; Vieni! t'affretta!; Ambizioso spirito tu sei; Or tutti sorgete 6. Oh donna mia! 7. Sappia la sposa mia; Regna il sonno; Fatal mia donna! 8. Di destarlo per tempo; Schiudi, inferno, la bocca 9. ACT 2 - Perchè mi sfuggi; La luce langue 10. Chi osò mandarvi a noi? 11. Studia il passo; Come dal ciel precipita 12. Salve, o Re!; Si colmi il calice; Va', spirto d'abisso! 13. ACT 3 - Tre volte miagola 14. Ballet Music 15. Finchè appelli; Fuggi, regal fantasima 16. Ondine e Silfidi 17. Ove son io?; Ora di morte 18. ACT 4 - Patria oppressa! 19. Sangue a me quell' ombra chiede 20. O figli, o figli miei!; Ah, la paterna mano 21. Dove siam? che bosco è quello? 22. Vegliammo invan due notti; Una macchia è qui tuttora 23. Perfidi! All'angelo contra me v'unite!; Pietà, rispetto, amore 24. Ella è morta! 25. Vittoria! (Finale) 26. SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBERS ACT 2 - Trionfai! 27. ACT 3 - Vada in fiamme e in polve cada 28. ACT 4 - Mal per me che m'affidai (Death of Macbeth). 29. Gran Scena del Sonnambulismo
Composer: Giuseppe (Fortunino Francesco) Verdi (1813 - 1901)
Genre: Stage works
Date Written: 1847
Conductor: John Matheson
Orchestra / Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra
Orchestra / Ensemble: BBC Singers Choir
Main Performer: Christian du Plessis (Baritone), John Tomlinson (Bass), Kenneth Collins (Tenor), Ludmilla Andrew (Soprano), Michael George (Baritone), Peter Glossop (Baritone), Richard Greager (Tenor), Rita Hunter (Soprano), Roger Heath (Bass)
Opera Part(s): Christian du Plessis (Doctor), John Tomlinson (Banquo), Kenneth Collins (Macduff), Ludmilla Andrew (Lady-in-Waiting), Michael George (Servant), Peter Glossop (Macbeth), Richard Greager (Malcolm), Rita Hunter (Lady Macbeth), Roger Heath (Assassin)
Work 2
Work Title: Macbeth
Excerpt(s): 2. Prelude 3. ACT 1 - Che faceste? dite su! 4. Giorno non vidi mai; Due vaticini compiuto or sono 5. S'allontanarono! 6. Nel dì della vittoria; Vieni! t'affretta!; Ambizioso spirito tu sei; Or tutti sorgete 7. Oh donna mia! 8. Sappia la sposa mia; Regna il sonno; Fatal mia donna! 9. Di destarlo per tempo; Schiudi, inferno, la bocca 10. ACT 2 - Perchè mi sfuggi; La luce langue 11. Chi osò mandarvi a noi? 12. Studia il passo; Come dal ciel precipita 13. Salve, o Re!; Si colmi il calice; Va', spirto d'abisso! 14. ACT 3 - Tre volte miagola 15. Ballet Music 16. Finchè appelli; Fuggi, regal fantasima 17. Ondine e Silfidi 18. Ove son io?; Ora di morte 19. ACT 4 - Patria oppressa! 20. Sangue a me quell' ombra chiede 21. O figli, o figli miei!; Ah, la paterna mano 22. Dove siam? che bosco è quello? 23. Vegliammo invan due notti; Una macchia è qui tuttora 24. Perfidi! All'angelo contra me v'unite!; Pietà, rispetto, amore 25. Ella è morta! 26. Vittoria! (Finale) 27. SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBERS ACT 2 - Trionfai! 28. ACT 3 - Vada in fiamme e in polve cada 29. ACT 4 - Mal per me che m'affidai (Death of Macbeth). 30. Gran Scena del Sonnambulismo
Composer: Giuseppe (Fortunino Francesco) Verdi (1813 - 1901)
Advantages: A Verdi masterpiece Disadvantages: none
...When asking Ciao to add some more items, particularly operas, to the classical music section, I was wary of specifying particular recordings for a very good reason. Unlike other music genres, classical music in the recording age is generally about interpretation rather than specifically about the music itself. I’m hoping to add many more opera opinions over the coming weeks and months, and in each case, I’m going to select a favourite recording to deal with in detail, and list a few alternatives that you might be interested in for comparison.
This opinion deals with Verdi’sMacbeth, released by EMI in 1976, and remastered in 1999.
Cast:
Macbeth – Sherrill Milnes
Lady Macbeth – Fiorenza Cossotto
Banquo – Ruggero Raimondi
Macduff – Jose Carreras
Malcolm – Giuliano Bernardi
Una dama – Maria Borgato
Other small roles taken by: Carlo...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Classic recordings from a master of his trade. Disadvantages: Mono recordings, Crackly in parts.
...Verdi
La forza del destino: Solenne in quest' ora by Giuseppe Verdi
La forza del destino: O, tu che in seno agli angeli by Giuseppe Verdi
La traviata: Libiamo ne' lieti calici "Brindisi" by Giuseppe VerdiMacbeth: Ah, la paterna mano by Giuseppe Verdi
Requiem Mass: Ingemisco by Giuseppe Verdi
Otello: Ora e per sempre addio by Giuseppe Verdi
Otello: Si, pel ciel marmoreo giuro! by Giuseppe Verdi
Rigoletto: Questa o quella by Giuseppe Verdi
Rigoletto: La donna è mobile by Giuseppe Verdi
Rigoletto: Parmi veder le lagrime...Possente amor mi chiama by Giuseppe Verdi
Rigoletto: Bella figlia dell' amore [Quartet] by Giuseppe Verdi
Un ballo in maschera: Di' tu se fedele by Giuseppe Verdi
I Pagliacci: Recitar!...Vesti la giubba by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Stabat mater: Cujus animam by Gioachino Rossini
Petite Messe solennelle: Crucifixus...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Glorious recorded sound, a fine group of soloists Disadvantages: Some fans may not like Sutherland in this music
...This version of Verdi's Requiem sounds absolutely terrific. The chorus has lots of presence -so important in the famous Dies Irae and the soloists are miked beautifully. The 'Hostias' and 'Ingemisco' are some of the finest recordings of Luciano Pavarotti available. Arguably he had more character by the time of his later recording from the late 80s with Riccardo Muti but he is caught here at his finest vocally with the hushed ingemisco amongst the best of that much recorded aria. Joan Sutherland's performance has been criticised quite a lot by critics that think she should not have recorded Verdi roles (similar complaints surround her Traviatas, her Leonora in Il Trovatore and her Elvira in Ernani). I really like her in this music. She is certainly preferable in my opiion to Schwarzkopf (Giulini/EMI and De Sabata (Naxos)) or Nelli...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
This product has not yet been reviewed. 
11.11.2003
29.02.2008
04.04.2008
