Search - Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Richard [Classical] Wagner :: Mario Del Monaco - Opera Arias 1948-1958

A Unique Voice in its Early Glory

J. Ricciardelli | 05/12/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mario del Monaco was a dramatic tenor primarily associated with Otello ( he was buried in the costume from this opera ). His detractors claimed that he rarely sang below forte but this generalization is not always true as one can hear in the opening passage of "O Paradiso" as well as in other instances of his recorded legacy. The baritonal quality and innate power of his voice were extremely effective in the various dramatic roles he portrayed but at the expense of vocal flexibility. His singing is always committed with excellent diction and sound legato.

The selections on this disc primarily cover the early recordings. We hear a voice with a brilliance and squillo that is striking. They have been remastered in 24 bit and 96 kHz which adds an immediacy lacking in prior releases. It is highly recommended.

The track list is as follows:

1.Otello "Esultate"

2.Otello "Ora per sempre addio"

3.Otello "Dio mi potevi"

4.Otello "Niun mi tema"

5.Aida "Celeste Aida"

6.L'Africana "O Paradiso"

7.Lohengrin "Da vai lontan"

8.Martha "M'appari"

9.Carmen "Il fior che avevi a me tu dato"

10.Werther "Ah! non mi ridestar"

11.Manon Lescaut "Donna non vidi mai"

12.Turandot "Nessun dorma"

13.Pagliacci "Vesti la giubba"

14.Pagliacci "No, Pagliaccio non son"

15.La Boheme "Testa adorata"

16.Cavalleria Rusticana "Mamma, quel vino e generoso"

17.Andrea Chenier "Un di all'azzurro spazio"

18.Andrea Chenier "Come un bel di di maggio"

19.Adriana Lecouvreur "La dolcissima effigie"

20.Ernani "Merce, diletti amici..."

21.Un ballo in maschera "Forse la soglia attinse"

22.Madama Butterfly "Addio,fiorito asil"





"