From: vnguyen@husc8.harvard.edu (Vinh Nguyen)
Newsgroups: rec.music.classical
Subject: Re: Which forza/carlos/ballo to buy?
Date: 28 Sep 92 23:53:45 GMT
Reply-To: vnguyen@husc8.harvard.edu
Distribution: usa
Originator: vnguyen@husc8.harvard.edu

In article <1a7m6uINN3uk@cauchy.usc.edu>,
 splin@cauchy.usc.edu (Sen-Pin Lin) writes:
> 
> Hi,
> 	I am planning to purchase CDs for these three Verdi's operas. Can
> anyone recommend a recording for each of them? I enjoyed L.Price's forza on
> video tape from a Met performance. Is the RCA (or EMI? I am confused)
> recording with her equally
> good? I have heard the DG carlos with Domingo as the title role, and don't
> like it very much. 
> 	Thanks in advance.
> 
> Ben

I agree that the MET 1983 (?) telecast of Forza with Leontyne Price is
quite magnificent, even though her voice has shown sign of age.  The
rest of the cast is more than good but not quite to studio standard
(in any case, I must make a snipe at Leo Nucci here because I find 
his blustery manner rather empty when he doesn't quite have the heft
in the voice to make a good Carlos).  I have 2 Forzas on CDs, and the
one of choice is the RCA recording with Levine/Price/Domingo/Milnes/
Cosotto/Gaiotti/Bacquier with a cast that has yet to be matched.  
(Of course Price was in marginally fresher voice in the 60s RCA 
recording with Schippers/Price/Tucker/?/Verett, and for good reason
Mr. Conrad has shown his preference for this one, but I still think
that I am more than willing to trade for a slightly mure "mature" Price
and a better supporting cast.)  The Sinopoli Forza has the advantage
of digital sound and some fussy conducting (which tries to draw out
the lyricism of the score at the expense of much of its drama).  The
cast is excellent, with the exception of Leo Nucci, whom I can't
stand either on stage or on records anyway.  Carreras sings beautifully
but he is a bit short on the heroic nobility of Domingo (who has a
rather dry voice even in the 70s).  Plowright is an excellent Leonora
but she hasn't persuaded me away from the smoky-toned conception of
the role by Price.  Baltsa turns in a surprisingly vivid (and yet not
quite off the rail) Prisciozilla (sp. ?).  The DG sound is much more
atmospheric (and has a warm glow to it) compared to the rather dry
RCA sound -- but then the different sound qualities suits the different
dramatic conceptions of the work in these two cases.

I have given up on Don Carlo(s) is earlier threads.  The only reason
that I hang on to the DG one is solely for its French text.  But the
singing is rather dull, with Domingo turning in a production-line 
performance in atrocious French, Riciarelli in somewhat tattered vocal
conditions, Valentini-Terrani a smoky-toned but sleepy Eboli, and the
ubiquitous Leo Nucci in yet another undistinguished performance.  
Mr. Conrad and many others have raved about the Giulini/Domingo/Caballe
set which I confess to not having heard.

I am quite happy with my Ballo with Solti/Pavarotti/M. Price/Bruson/
Ludwig on Decca.  Pavarotti might exaggerate things a bit, but he is
a charming and vigorous Gustavo.  M. Price sails through the role of
Amelia in glorious voice, and she could more than hold her own with 
the best past and present (well, Aprile Millo has yet to match this
even though she did give an excellent run with Pavarotti at it two
years ago at the MET).  Ludwig is an odd choice for Ulrica, but very
mystifying indeed, more sympathetic than usual.  Bruson is excellent
as Renato, his voice a bit on the weary side but used to great dramatic
effect.  Battle is too chirpy as Oscar, but highly witty nonetheless.
Solti can be a bit unyeilding at times but he brings out the pathos
and grandeur of the score quite well.  There are many other excellent 
Ballos around, but I'm not into collecting them since I can't afford
to do that.  :-(

Vinh Nguyen