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Giordano: Andrea Chenier / Levine, Domingo, Scotto, Milnes, National Philharmonic

Giordano / Domingo / National Phil Orch / Levine
Release Date: 03/01/2011 
Label:  Sony   Catalog #: 57615  
Composer:  Umberto Giordano
Performer:  Sherrill Milnes,  Placido Domingo,  Renata Scotto
Conductor:  James Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:  John Alldis Choir,  National Philharmonic Orchestra
Number of Discs: 2 
Recorded in: Stereo 
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Notes and Editorial Reviews

It really is a problem, choosing between these two recordings. (Giordano: Andrea Chénier / Pavarotti, Caballé, Chailly) It might seem sensible to start with the tenor in the title-role, and here my strong inclination would be to plump for RCA and Domingo: he is in splendid voice, with a touch of nobility to his manner that makes for a convincing portrayal of a poet. Pavarotti (for Chailly on Decca) begins with a rather leather-lunged Improvviso, but he later finds poetry in the role as well, especially when responding to his soprano, Caballe who is rather stretched by the more exhausting reaches of her role and sounds audibly grateful for the occasional Read more opportunities he gives her to float rather than belt a high-lying phrase. And besides, Pavarotti is an Italian tenor, and his Italianate sense of line adds 1 per cent or so of elegance to some phrases that even Domingo cannot match. Caballe does many things beautifully, and her fine-spun pianissimos and subtle shadings only occasionally sound mannered, but the role is undeniably half-a-size too big for her. So it is for Scotto, you might say, and a hint of strain is audible once or twice, in her timbre rather than her phrasing. It is her phrasing, indeed, that tips the balance back to RCA: Scotto is as subtle a vocalist as Caballe, but she gives meaning and eloquence to every phrase without ever breaking the long line, which one cannot always say of the Spanish soprano. Matters are about even as far as the baritones are concerned: Milnes acts admirably, but refrains from over-acting, and the voice is rich and characterful. Nucci for Chailly is a bit less compelling dramatically, but the voice strikes me as more integrated, more even, than Milnes's, and thus, again, is more Italianate in its line. Decca field a sumptuous supporting cast (Astrid Varnay, worn of voice but full of character as the Countess, Christa Ludwig, no less, in the ten lines of Madelon's part, Tom Krause as a fine Roucher, Giorgio Tadeo an implacable Mathieu), but RCA's striking Bersi, vividly characterized Irtcredibile, and their Roucher, too, are not outmatched (only their Madelon, both fruity and acid—a grapefruit of a voice—is disappointing). A lot of people will enjoy the huge energy and bustle of Levine's direction. It is vividly characterful, but to my taste a shade exhausting and over-assertive. The flow of the music seems more natural in Chailly's hands, and orchestral detail is clearer. The Decca recording, too, is warmer than the RCA, which has a slight edge to it. Even so, for Scotto's sake and to a slightly lesser extent for Domingo's, I think I would choose RCA, but that would mean rejecting Chailly, Pavarotti and the Decca recording … As I say, it is really a problem.

-- Michael Oliver, Gramophone [9/1989] Reviewing original release
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Works on This Recording

1. Andrea Chénier by Umberto Giordano
Performer:  Sherrill Milnes (Baritone), Placido Domingo (Tenor), Renata Scotto (Soprano)
Conductor:  James Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:  John Alldis Choir,  National Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1896; Italy 

Sound Samples

Act I: Questo azzurro sofà là collochiam
Act I: Compiacente á colloquii
Act I: Son sessant'anni, o vecchio
Act I: Il giorno intorno già s'insera lentamente!
Act I: L'orribile gonnella
Act I: Commososo ... lusingato
Act I: Debole è il Re ...
Act I: O pastorelle, addio!
Act I: Signor Chénier?
Act I: Al mio dire perdono ed al mio ardire!
Act I: Un dì all'azzurro spazio
Act I: La notte il giorno
Act II: Per ex l'inferno!
Act II: Temer? ... Perchè? Perchè temer dovrò?
Act II: No, non m'inganno!
Act II: Credo a una possanza arcana
Act II: Calliagrafia in vero femminil!
Act II: Viva Robespierre! Evviva!
Act II: Ecco l'altare
Act II: Eravate possente
Act II: Ora soave, sublime ora d'amore!
Act II: Maddalena di Coigny!
Act III: Doumouriez traditore e girondino
Act III: Lacrime e sangue dà la Francia!
Act III: Prendi! É un ricordo (Son la vecchia Madelon)
Act III: Amici, ancor cantiam, beviam
Act III: Donnina innamorata
Act III: Nemico della patria?
Act III: Se ancor di me vi sovvenite non so!
Act III: La mamma morta
Act III: Perduto!
Act III: Mamma Cadet
Act III: Si, fui soldato
Act III: Udiamo i testimoni!
Act IV: Cittadino, men duol, ma è tardi assai
Act IV: Come un bel di di maggio
Act IV: Viene a costei concesso
Act IV: Vicino a te s'acqueta
Act IV: La nostra morte

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