Giuseppe Patane, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Montserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras - Verdi: La forza del destino (2011)
Giuseppe Patanè, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras - Verdi: La forza del destino (2011)
NTSC 4:3 (720x480) | Italiano (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | (DTS, 5 ch) | (Dolby AC3, 6 ch) | 192 min | 5,68 Gb+7,16 Gb (2xDVD9)
Classical | Label: Hardy Classic | Sub: English, Francais, Espanol, Italiano | Recorded: 1978
NTSC 4:3 (720x480) | Italiano (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | (DTS, 5 ch) | (Dolby AC3, 6 ch) | 192 min | 5,68 Gb+7,16 Gb (2xDVD9)
Classical | Label: Hardy Classic | Sub: English, Francais, Espanol, Italiano | Recorded: 1978
Montserrat Caballé as Leonora is precisely what one would hope for. The voice is in near-pristine shape–the occasional attack on a loud high note early on can be vicious, but she sings with unusual commitment (not that the role has many nuances), glorious tone, and her entire arsenal of tricks: long-breathed phrases, diminuendos, high, floated pianissimo, grand chest voice. She even sings most of the words, rarely relying on “ah” sounds for high notes. The sound is huge and major-league and her comportment–acting is the wrong word–is regal. She sings the “Vergine degli angeli” with her back to the audience and the sound is as ethereal as you ever wanted it to be.
The 35-year-old José Carreras, looking like a teenager, sings the heck out of Don Alvaro, and now in hindsight it’s clear that he gave too much. But what a performance! Since the opera is given complete, it also includes the “Sleale!” duet, which comes dangerously soon after “Solenne in quest’ora” and is therefore usually cut or moved: it is very close to real dramatic tenor territory. Carreras holds nothing back. His chemistry with Caballé in the first scene is delightful and they sing beautifully together–and he is just as good in the three duets with baritone Piero Cappuccilli, who sings Don Carlo.
Cappuccilli’s gigantic voice, secure top, and generally machismo stance is ideal for this part and the audience adores him as much as they do their soprano and tenor. Nicolai Ghiaurov, wearing a silly beard and wig, intones Padre Guardiano’s music as if it came from heaven; the voice just rolls out of him like the Red Sea. Maria Luisa Nave’s Preziosilla is about as well sung as ever, but those moments still go on too long. Ditto the Fra Melitone scenes, but Sesto Bruscantini is terrific in the part. The rest of the cast is at La Scala’s best, with Giovanni Foiani as a dark, serious Marquis de Calatrava.
Giuseppe Patané leads a wonderful performance, and the orchestra, whom we see playing during the overture, is at its best, as is the chorus.– Robert Levine
Performer:
Marchese di Calatrava – Giovanni Foiani
Donna Leonora sua figlia – Montserrat Caballé
Don Carlo di Vargas suo figlio – Piero Cappuccilli
Don Alvaro – José Carreras
Preziosilla - Maria Luisa Nave
Padre Guardiano – Nicolai Ghiaurov
Fra Melitone – Sesto Bruscantini
Cura cameriera di Leonora – Mila Zanlari
Un alcade – Giuseppe Morresi
Mastro Trabuco mulattiere – Piero de Palma
Un chirurgo – Carlo Meliciani
Un rivendugliolo – Franco Ricciardi
Tre soldati – Regolo Romani, Saverio Porzano, Aronne Cerone
Quattro ordinanze – Alfredo Pistone, Alfonso Marchica, Teodoro Rovetta, Angelo Nosotti
Una popolana – Maria Grazia Allegri
Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala
Direttore – Giuseppe Patanè
Giuseppe Patane, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Montserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras - Verdi: La forza del destino (2011)
Giuseppe Patane, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Montserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras - Verdi: La forza del destino (2011)
Giuseppe Patane, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Montserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras - Verdi: La forza del destino (2011)
Giuseppe Patane, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Montserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras - Verdi: La forza del destino (2011)
Giuseppe Patane, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Montserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras - Verdi: La forza del destino (2011)
