I vespri siciliani
- TV Special
- 1974
YOUR RATING
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Featured review
Terrific Met broadcast
I Vespri Siciliani as I have said quite a few times is an uneven opera. It is overlong and overwrought with characters that aren't as memorable as other characters in other Verdi operas, but it does have one of Verdi's best overtures, a lengthy but interesting ballet sequence and highlights such Merce Dilette Amiche, Quando Al Mio Sen, Giorno Di Pianto and In Braccio Alle Douvzie.
This 1974 Met broadcast(which you can find on audio CD) is every bit as good as the outstanding 1989 La Scala production and the 1973 RCA performance, if not better. It has many virtues, starting with the superb orchestra playing particularly in In Braccio Alle Douvzie, the quartet between Elena, Procida, Arrigo and Montforte and Merce Dilette Amiche. James Levine to me is a great conductor, and he does a fine job keeping the orchestra and singers at bay, though Quando Al Mio Sen is not quite as electrifying as the one for the 1973 live performance.
When it comes to the singing, it is very good a vast majority of the time, but if I said there was a weak link it is Nicolai Gedda's Arrigo. I like Gedda a lot, he was an intelligent, musical and aristocratic artist, but apart from a lovely Giorno Di Pianto with superb high notes and technique I feel Arrigo is a little too heavy for him as there are times where he is underpowered particularly in the ensembles.
Montserrat Caballe fares much better though. While Renata Scotto is the most musical of the Elenas, and Susan Dunn the most agile, Caballe is the most fiery. She is great with Gedda, and sings Coraggio Su Coraggio excellently, but apart from the somewhat slow tempo she manages to nail Merce Dilette Amiche.
Justino Diaz is a silky/richly voiced and quite dark Procida, and he sings O Tu Palermo splendidly. Robert Goodloe is a solid Bethune. But my favourite of the broadcast was Sherrill Milnes as Montforte. Alongside Giorgio Zancanaro he is one of the most powerful baritones in this role, his In Braccio Alle Douvzie is superb and while as I've said Quando Al Mio Sen wasn't as electrifying as it can be, his vocal expression and musicality ensures that it is interesting enough.
Overall, a terrific Met broadcast. 9/10 Bethany Cox
This 1974 Met broadcast(which you can find on audio CD) is every bit as good as the outstanding 1989 La Scala production and the 1973 RCA performance, if not better. It has many virtues, starting with the superb orchestra playing particularly in In Braccio Alle Douvzie, the quartet between Elena, Procida, Arrigo and Montforte and Merce Dilette Amiche. James Levine to me is a great conductor, and he does a fine job keeping the orchestra and singers at bay, though Quando Al Mio Sen is not quite as electrifying as the one for the 1973 live performance.
When it comes to the singing, it is very good a vast majority of the time, but if I said there was a weak link it is Nicolai Gedda's Arrigo. I like Gedda a lot, he was an intelligent, musical and aristocratic artist, but apart from a lovely Giorno Di Pianto with superb high notes and technique I feel Arrigo is a little too heavy for him as there are times where he is underpowered particularly in the ensembles.
Montserrat Caballe fares much better though. While Renata Scotto is the most musical of the Elenas, and Susan Dunn the most agile, Caballe is the most fiery. She is great with Gedda, and sings Coraggio Su Coraggio excellently, but apart from the somewhat slow tempo she manages to nail Merce Dilette Amiche.
Justino Diaz is a silky/richly voiced and quite dark Procida, and he sings O Tu Palermo splendidly. Robert Goodloe is a solid Bethune. But my favourite of the broadcast was Sherrill Milnes as Montforte. Alongside Giorgio Zancanaro he is one of the most powerful baritones in this role, his In Braccio Alle Douvzie is superb and while as I've said Quando Al Mio Sen wasn't as electrifying as it can be, his vocal expression and musicality ensures that it is interesting enough.
Overall, a terrific Met broadcast. 9/10 Bethany Cox
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Jul 18, 2011
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- Οι σικελικοί εσπερινοί
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