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Verdi: Otello / Vickers, Serafin, Rome Opera Orchestra


Release Date: 04/29/2016 
Label:  Rca   Catalog #: 88875196362   Spars Code: DDD 
Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:  Tito Gobbi,  Jon Vickers,  Leonie Rysanek,  Florindo Andreolli,   ... 
Conductor:  Tullio Serafin
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Rome Opera House Orchestra,  Rome Opera House Chorus
Number of Discs: 2 
In Stock: Usually ships in 24 hours.  

Notes and Editorial Reviews

Italian opera conductor Tullio Serafin enjoyed a long career and an extensive repertoire. He became particularly known for his revival of 19th century bel canto operas, as well as being an authority on composers such as Bellini, Donizetti, and, as this recording proves, Verdi. This release is a 1960 recording of Serafin conducting Verdis Otello in Rome. Based on Shakespeares play Othello, this work was Verdis penultimate opera. The four act work is set to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito. This particular recording by RCA was deemed by BBC Music Magazine as the preferred version and benchmark recording of the work. No conductor is more understanding of Verdian pacing than Serafin. (The Penguin Guide) Italian opera conductor Tullio Serafin enjoyed a long career and an extensive repertoire. He became particularly known for his revival of 19th century bel canto operas, as well as being an authority on composers such as Bellini, Donizetti, and, as this recording proves, Verdi. This release is a 1960 recording of Serafin conducting Verdis Otello in Rome. Based on Shakespeares play Othello, this work was Verdis penultimate opera. The four act work is set to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito. This particular recording by RCA was deemed by BBC Music Magazine as the preferred version and benchmark recording of the work. No conductor is more understanding of Verdian pacing than Serafin. (The Penguin Guide) Read less

Works on This Recording

1.
Otello by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:  Tito Gobbi (Baritone), Jon Vickers (Tenor), Leonie Rysanek (Soprano),
Florindo Andreolli (Tenor), Mario Carlin (Tenor), Ferruccio Mazzoli (Bass),
Franco Calabrese (Bass)
Conductor:  Tullio Serafin
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Rome Opera House Orchestra,  Rome Opera House Chorus
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1887; Italy 
 Language: Italian 

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 3 Customer Reviews )
 Singing Actors October 21, 2016 By Robert Resnikoff (Stamford, CT) See All My Reviews "For me, what sets this recording apart from other great musical performances of Otello is the brilliant theatrical talent of Tito Gobbi and Jon Vickers. Both men were, in my view, among the greatest singing actors of their generation, able to put the myriad colors of their voices to the service of the drama. The power of Shakespeare's great tragedy and of Verdi's musical genius are brought together in a complete musical theater experience." Report Abuse
 The Best September 22, 2016 By Howard H. (Houston, TX) See All My Reviews "I've enjoyed this superlative recording countless times since I bought the CD in 1990. A young, virile Jon Vickers as the Moor, the seasoned actor-singer Tito Gobbi as the cunning Iago, led by Maestro Serafin who exposes the sumptuous chords and melodies of Verdi's late style -- I don't know of a better recording. Only Rysanek's voice is captured less than ideally by the 1960s RCA engineers, but is still stunning. She's hardly the demure Desdemona, her tower of sound is almost Valkyrian. What I especially love about this set is how arias that I might gloss over, such as "Dio mi potevi", are raised to Great Moments by Vickers, Gobbi, and Serafin. Something seems wrong to offer this tremendous opera set for a mere $7.99." Report Abuse
 Serafin's Otello still a first choice! August 3, 2016 By Richard Hooper (West Haven, CT) See All My Reviews "I first bought this recording on LP back when I was in high school, and it has been my favorite ever since. I don't think Vickers, Gobbi, and Serafin himself can be bettered. The one reservation in all reviews has been Rysanek as Desdemona, but having listened to the LP's for years I can honestly say that this digital issue opens up her voice at the top, making her performance much more exciting and vital. She can't replace Tebaldi for beauty of tone, but her rather "white" voice fits the virginal character of Desdemona perfectly. My only complaint is that this reissue doesn't include the ballet music, which I always thought was a major advantage of the recording. I don't know if it was removed so that the whole opera could fit onto two CD's, or if he new editors listened to the complaints (I think unjustified) that the ballet held up the tension of the third act .I also miss the libretto and essays that were included in the LP version along with beautiful, original water color costume and set designs from the first production. Here you get only a cued summary. Nonetheless, at this price I think the recording is a must." Report Abuse
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