Search - Gioachino Rossini, Carl Maria von Weber, Giacomo Meyerbeer :: Lebendige Vergangenheit: Nazzareno De Angelis

Amazing CD.

W. N. Hay | Princeton, NJ United States | 12/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nazzareno De Angelis was contemporary with Ezio Pinza and Tancredi Pasero. De Angelis had a trumpet like timbre which was a bass voice but with an amazing upper range. The extraordinary power of his voice and his mezza di voce really made him unique. There was a unique sensitivity in his singing. He made every word he sang mean something. Lebendige Vergangenheit did a wonderful job preserving this great voice.

The first two tracks are from Mose. They are both amazing in terms of the singing, diction and mezza di voce. His soft voice is gorgeous. His rendition of La Calunia is beautifully sung and comical. He throws in a great high G at the end. There are two excerpts from Nabucco. De Angelis was a high bass so the role of Zaccaria fit his voice perfectly. The breath support and sense of line are wonderful in the prayer. La Juive is a role that De Angelis did not do on stage. Luckily he recorded this excerpt because it again shows the unbelievable power of the voice. The rendition of "Ella giammi m'amo" may be my favorite of all time. I really love the soft beginning and the nuances throughout. Wotan's farewell is so well sung that I almost forget that it is not done in the original language. The performance is so sensitive. The other excerpts are from Faust and Mefistofole, two roles that fit De Angelis like a glove. I think he is the greatest singer to ever sing the Boito version. I highly recommend this singer and this compilation."