Product: Verdi: Otello (1962)
Rating: 4.0
The wonderful Renata Tebaldi
This is a recording of the historic occasion in 1962 when the Deutsche Opera Berlin changed their programming to persuade Renata Tebaldi to sing in an opera for them. "Otello" wasn't even in their repertoire at the time, but they were desperate to present the great diva in a fully-staged opera, and this is the one she chose.The video is clear and the sound vintage - but I have to say that the performance in general is pretty uninspiring and there are numerous places where conductor and stage part company. Hans Beirer is a reasonable Otello (he ain't no Vickers or Domingo), but his intonation is rather suspect at times. William Dooley has a fine baritone sound, but not much character, and the other soloists are distinctly average. But the whole point of this release is so that we can see as well as hear the magnificent Renata Tebaldi in one of her greatest parts. And she is truly wonderful!! OK! - so the voice wasn't at it's absolute freshest in 1962, and vocal problems (that would result in her withdrawing from the stage for a year to retrain) were on the horizon, but in this performance she sings with such beautiful tone and her stage persona is so sincere - womanly and graceful. She is also completely within the role at every stage of the proceedings.Yes! - of course I wish this had been recorded a few years earlier when the voice was undoubtedly the most beautiful spinto voice in the world - but I'm just so glad to have this video as a memento of a great artist.