Search - Arrigo Boito, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI Radiotelevisione :: Boito: Nerone

THE BEST RECORDING OF A MALIGNED OPERA

Alfredo R. Villanueva | New York, NY United States | 04/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was there at the 1982 Eve Queler performance of Boito's "Nerone" with a cast that included Hungarian, Croatian, American, Puerto Rican and Portuguese singers. Donal Henahan, in the NYT's review, called it "pure Mussolini music"(what?) and found it more full of "flatulence and empty rethoric" than even Wagner's Rienzi! All of which goes to prove that the worst enemy of any music is the tone-deaf and non-literate music critic.



This 1975 live performance from RAI Torino features Ilva Ligabue, Ruza Baldani, Nino Prevedi, Agostino Ferrin and Alessandro Cassis under the baton of none other than Gianandrea Gavazzeni (it seems have of my collection of Italian opera has been conducted by him). In other words, a dream cast and a dream conductor, interpreting a difficult and melodically rich piece of musical drama with all the respect and professionalism it deserves. The results are impressive. I particularly love Baldani and Ligabue, both in magnificent voice.



Much has been done of the fact Boito never allowed a performance of "Nerone" while he was alive, and never wrote the music for an intended fifth act. It's not the only opera that has been finished by other hands (Turandot, anyone?). So, pay no attention to detractors and malicious critics, and judge by yourself. As far as I am concerned, this is a must-have recording of a much and unjustly maligned opera."