Search - Ponchielli, Rysanek, Patane :: La Gioconda (Berlin, 1974 Live)

A must for Rysanek fans and verismo lovers

06/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rysanek's debut as Gioconda is captured here in excellent sound from what appears to be an in-house recording which seems to be mono, but has loads of impact and is clearly focussed. Her performance may not be wholly Italianate and idiomatic, but her generous, soaring vocalising and burning intensity are well captured; as always, Rysanek lives the role. She is well matched in Franco Tagliavini's virile, ardent and stylish Enzo (he's the only Italian in the cast!) and Eva Randova's plangent Laura. Rightly, the Gioconda-Laura duet is one of the dramatic highlights of the performance. Paskalis has been in steadier voice, nonetheless his villainous Barnaba is committed and rich-toned.Patane's conducting is majestic, the Berlin orchestra playing not only with passion but an accuracy one wouldn't always find in an Italian orchestra.One quibble. Why have Myto put Tagliavini's picture on the box rather than that of Rysanek, who is, after all, singing the title role?"

Butchery

Kenneth Wolman | Sea Bright, New Jersey United States | 06/04/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I own this on Myto. The copy I got was edited to death. Maybe that's why Tower was willing to unload it for nine bucks. There is no orchestral prelude and no Dance of the Hours. Why? Maybe they ran out of tape.



Randova and Paskalis are superb but you don't buy La Gioconda for Laura and Barnaba.



I loved Leonie Rysanek--she was among the most exciting dramatic sopranos I ever saw--but she was not a Gioconda. All her vocal flaws were set off in relief. And that day, Franco Tagliavini couldn't have won a hog-calling contest."