Notes and Editorial Reviews
On 21 January 2011 Placido Domingo turned seventy and he was
hailed and celebrated around the world. Having recorded extensively
for most of the big companies there was a rich treasure trove
to choose from for various retrospective discs and boxes. Deutsche
Grammophon, with whom he was closely associated very early on,
probably has the most comprehensive catalogue and the Decca
and Philips inventories were also available. There was a jumbo
box with his ‘best’ complete operas and people can safely invest
in it and acquire at relatively modest cost standard operas
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in recordings that in most cases can stand comparison with the
finest offerings from competing companies. Those who prefer
bits and pieces can without qualms buy the 3 CD set here under
review.
Having collected Domingo recordings for more than forty years
I was familiar with the majority of these arias and songs and
re-acquaintance with them was uplifting. The first two discs
follow his operatic recording career chronologically, from his
debut LP, issued in 1968 by Telefunken, as it was then. I remember
finding a sampler LP from that company with many of my old favourite
singers like Herrmann Prey and Anneliese Rothenberger. Among
them was a young good-looking guy, holding a sword in front
of him and dressed as Radames, the male hero in Aida.
When I put down the needle and started listening, leisurely
slumped back in my worn armchair, a marvellous voice flowed
out of my loudspeakers, singing with such beauty and intensity
that I had to sit upright and just inhale the sounds. The LP-cover
told me his name was Placido Domingo. I’ll remember that name,
I recall thinking. He might be something! And he certainly was
– and is. With more than 3,500 opera performances of more than
130 roles he must be one of the busiest singers ever. Add to
this his conducting activities, and, just incidentally he is
director of two American opera houses and runs his Operalia
competition. In the midst of this he has also found time to
record probably more than any other singer, Fischer-Dieskau
and Gedda possibly excepted. This compilation can, for obvious
reasons, only cover a fraction of what he has done in the recording
studio, but it is a good and representative fraction and most
of his signature roles are here.
CD 1 finds him at his freshest with sappy voice and easy high
notes. He is truly impressive in the aria from Oberon,
which was his first recording with Deutsche Grammophon in 1970.
This was also the only time he recorded – under studio conditions
– with Birgit Nilsson. Almost forty years later he was the first
to receive the Birgit Nilsson Prize. His German has been criticized
but as compensation he invests the singing with a Mediterranean
glow and roundness of tone that few German tenors have been
able to muster. The Don Carlo excerpt is neither from
the classic Giulini set (EMI) nor the DG traversal under Abbado
(which is in French) but a previously unreleased recording from
Vienna’s Sofiensaal under Karajan, made in 1975. One can wonder
why it has been tucked away in the DG archives for so long.
The Flower Song from Carmen is sung in his usual
heart-on-sleeve manner – Don José was one of his favourite roles.
This is from the Decca recording under Solti. I prefer the DG
version with Abbado, made a few years later, but the Solti is
excellent and as a bonus we also get the heated duet that follows,
with Tatiana Troyanos a dark-hued Carmen.
His Walther von Stolzing in Wagner’s Meistersinger is
another gem. Only Sandor Konya has surpassed him among modern
singers, and that only with by hair’s breadth. The Aida
aria is from a 1981 recital with Giulini conducting the Los
Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and while it can’t erase my
early memory of the Telefunken recording it is still among the
best. The Pagliacci and Cavalleria arias are from
Philips soundtracks for Zeffirelli’s TV-productions of the operas
with Georges Prêtre conducting.
On CD 2 the Graal narration from Lohengrin is again only
surpassed by Sandor Konya and the Rome epsiode from Tannhäuser
is impressive – with a Latin tinge. This Tannhäuser
wasn’t unaffected by his visit to Rome! Rodolfo’s aria from
Luisa Miller is a live recording from Paris in 1988 with
Maazel conducting. Here Domingo shows his detractors, who state
that he sings everything mezzo-forte, that he can spin
a magic pianissimo filament of tone. Listen to the end of the
aria! Cavaradossi’s Recondita armonia, well sung as always
– this is the role that Domingo has sung most frequently – is
not faded out after the tenor’s last phrase but lets us hear
the Sacristan’s final mutterings as well, which brings the scene
to a more satisfying end.
The aria from L’Africaine is another live recording,
this time from Florence 1990 with Zubin Mehta in the pit. The
longest excerpt in this box is the scene from Die Frau ohne
Schatten, which begins with an orchestral interlude that
is one of Strauss’s most beautiful melodies. The singing is
heroic and utterly satisfying and there are few or no signs
of an ageing singer. He was already fifty when this recording
was made.
There has been quite a stir about his taking on baritone roles
lately, first Simon Boccanegra and then Rigoletto,
but as early as 1991 he sang Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia
and this barber is a real charmer!
A retrospective without at least something from Otello
was inconceivable and here we get two chunks. In company with
Mario Del Monaco – whose recording of the opera with Karajan
is still in the front rank – and Giuseppe Giacomini – whose
complete recording I haven’t heard but I have heard him in the
flesh – Domingo has also been the supreme exponent of this role.
There is a special thrill to hear Sergei Leiferkus’ sinister
and oily Iago as well.
Mozart’s Idomeneo was a fairly late addition to Domingo’s list
of complete roles, but he recorded a full CD with Mozart arias
for EMI several years earlier and though not the most idiomatic
of Mozart singers he has his own way with the music that is
brilliant and vital.
On the three final tracks from the last few years he can’t quite
conceal that he is approaching seventy but the voice is still
miraculously well preserved, and the little song by Leoncavallo,
sensitively accompanied by Lang Lang, is scaled down to a lovely
pianissimo.
On CD 3 we get a hotch-potch of various popular songs: Spanish
and Italian, a couple by Carlos Gardel, but also Dein ist
mein ganzes Herz, live from Florence, Hosanna from
Lloyd Webber’s Requiem, composed for and premiered by
Domingo, and Franck’s Panis angelicus, which he sang
at the funeral mass of Ted Kennedy in Boston in 2009. There
are also two compositions by his son Placido Domingo Jr and,
going back to his roots, several arias from zarzuelas, that
Spanish brand of operetta. Both his parents were zarzuela singers
and Placido was steeped in their tradition.
This box presents a wide-ranging portrait of an exceptional
and multi-talented musician. It should be an ideal gift to someone
who has just started to get an interest in opera, but in fact
to anyone who admires strong, beautiful and well-focused singing
of – mostly – standard repertoire. Browsing through the discography
one soon realizes that one needs to rob a bank to afford buying
his complete recorded oeuvre – and then there is just as much
in the EMI and Sony catalogues.
-- Göran Forsling, MusicWeb International Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Fedora: Amor ti vieta by Umberto Giordano
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Nello Santi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Berlin Deutsche Oper Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1898; Italy
2.
Oberon, J 306: Vater! hör mich flehn zu Dir by Carl Maria von Weber
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Rafael Kubelik
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1825-1826; Dresden, Germany
3.
I lombardi: Come poteva un angelo by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor),
Monserrat Aparici (Soprano)
Conductor:
Lamberto Gardelli
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1843; Italy
4.
Les contes d'Hoffmann: Il était une fois "Kleinzach Legend" by Jacques Offenbach
Performer:
Pedro Di Proenza (Tenor),
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Richard Bonynge
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Suisse Romande Orchestra,
Pro Arte Chorus,
Suisse Romande Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1881; Paris, France
5.
Don Carlos: Io la vidi by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1867/1884; Italy
6.
Carmen: Non, tu ne m'aimes pas by Georges Bizet
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor),
Tatiana Troyanos (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1875; France
7.
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Morgenlich leuchtend by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Gerd Feldhoff (Baritone),
Catarina Ligendza (Soprano),
Placido Domingo (Tenor),
Peter Maus (Tenor),
Roberto Banuelas (Baritone),
Peter Lagger (Bass)
Conductor:
Eugen Jochum
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Berlin Deutsche Oper Orchestra,
Berlin Deutsche Oper Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1867; Germany
8.
Samson et Dalila, Op. 47: Arretez, o mes frères by Camille Saint-Saëns
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Daniel Barenboim
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestre de Paris,
Orchestre de Paris Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1877; France
9.
Werther: Pourquoi me réveiller? by Jules Massenet
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor),
Elena Obraztsova (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Riccardo Chailly
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1892; France
10.
Rigoletto: La donna è mobile by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Piero Cappuccilli (Baritone),
Placido Domingo (Tenor),
Nicolai Ghiaurov (Bass)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1851; Italy
11.
Aida: Celeste Aida by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Carlo Maria Giulini
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1871; Italy
12.
Turandot: Nessun dorma! by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
Vienna State Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1926; Italy
13.
I Pagliacci: Recitar!...Vesti la giubba by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Georges Prêtre
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra,
Milan Teatro alla Scala Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1892; Italy
14.
Cavalleria Rusticana: O Lola, ch'ai di latti la cammisa by Pietro Mascagni
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Georges Prêtre
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1890; Italy
15.
Il trovatore: Di quella pira by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Rosalind Plowright (Soprano),
Placido Domingo (Tenor),
Walter Gullino (Tenor)
Conductor:
Carlo Maria Giulini
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Santa Cecilia Academy Rome Chorus,
Santa Cecilia Academy Rome Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1853; Italy
16.
Lohengrin: In fernem Land by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor),
Hans Sotin (Bass)
Conductor:
Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
Vienna State Opera Chorus Konzertvereinigung
Period: Romantic
Written: 1846-1847; Germany
17.
Luisa Miller: Quando le sere al placido by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Lorin Maazel
Orchestra/Ensemble:
French National Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1849; Italy
18.
Tannhäuser: Inbrunst im Herzen "Rome Narrative" by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Giuseppe Sinopoli
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Philharmonia Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1845/1861; Germany
19.
Tosca: Dammi I colori...Recondita armonia by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor),
Angelo Veccia (Baritone)
Conductor:
Giuseppe Sinopoli
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Philharmonia Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1893; Italy
20.
L'Africaine: O paradis sorti de l'onde by Giacomo Meyerbeer
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Zubin Mehta
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Florence Maggio Musicale Orchestra,
Rome Opera House Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1865; Germany
21.
Die Frau ohne Schatten, Op. 65: Falke, du Wiedergefundener by Richard Strauss
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1914-1918; Germany
22.
Il barbiere di Siviglia: Largo al factotum by Gioachino Rossini
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Claudio Abbado
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Period: Romantic
Written: 1816; Italy
23.
Otello: Esultate! by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Myung-Whun Chung
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Bastille Opera Orchestra,
Bastille Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1887; Italy
24.
Otello: Dio, mi potevi scagliar tutti i mali by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor),
Sergei Leiferkus (Baritone)
Conductor:
Myung-Whun Chung
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Bastille Opera Orchestra,
Bastille Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1887; Italy
25.
Idomeneo, K 366: Fuor del mar by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
James Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1781; Munich, Germany
26.
Edgar: Orgia, chimera dall'occhio vitreo by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Alberto Veronesi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Santa Cecilia Academy Rome Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1889; Italy
27.
I Medici: No, de l'antica Grecia by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Alberto Veronesi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Florence Maggio Musicale Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1893
28.
Granada by Agustín Lara
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Marcel Peeters
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1932; Mexico
29.
Non ti scordar di me by Ernesto De Curtis
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Karl-Heinz Loges
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: Italy
30.
El día que me quieras by Carlos Gardel
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Roberto Pansera
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Studio Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1935; Argentina
31.
Mi Buenos Aires querido by Carlos Gardel
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Roberto Pansera
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Studio Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1934; Argentina
32.
Requiem: Hosanna in Excelsis by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Performer:
Sarah Brightman (Soprano),
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Lorin Maazel
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Chamber Orchestra,
Winchester Cathedral Choir
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1984
33.
Das Land des Lächelns: Dein ist mein ganzes Herz by Franz Lehár
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Zubin Mehta
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Florence Maggio Musicale Orchestra,
Rome Opera House Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1929; Vienna, Austria
34.
El gato montés: Hasta cuando? by Manuel Penella
Performer:
Carlos Alvarez (Baritone),
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Miguel Roa
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Madrid Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1916; Spain
35.
El gato montés: Senó, q'e no me farte er való by Manuel Penella
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Miguel Roa
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Madrid Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1916; Spain
36.
La del soto del parral: Quiero desterrar de tu pecho by Reveriano Soutullo
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
James Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestre de Paris
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1927; Spain
37.
Panis angelicus by César Franck
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Marcello Viotti
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Verdi Grand Symphonic Orchestra Milan
Period: Romantic
Written: 1872; France
38.
Pepita Jiménez: Love moves by night! by Isaac Albeniz
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
José De Eusebio
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Madrid Community Orchestra
39.
Quarant'anni by Domingo, Placido, Jr.
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Eugene Kohn
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 2005
40.
Catari by Salvatore Cardillo
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Eugene Kohn
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: Italy
41.
Luisa Fernanda: Luché la fe por el triunfo by Federico Moreno-Torroba
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Jesús Lopez-Cobos
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Madrid Teatro Real Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1932; Spain
42.
Falsa moneda by Juan Mostazo Morales
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor),
Jose Maria Gallardo Del Rey (Guitar)
Conductor:
Miguel Roa
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Madrid Community Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
43.
La coscienza by Domingo, Placido, Jr.
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Nick Ingman
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: circa 2008
44.
La Calesera: Agua que río abajo by Francisco Alonso
Conductor:
Placido Domingo
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Madrid Community Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1925; Spain
45.
C'è nel tuo sguardo by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Performer:
Placido Domingo (Tenor),
Lang Lang (Piano)
Period: Romantic
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