Giuseppe Verdi Fulvio Vernizzi Omroeporkest - Nabucco (28 tracks) +Album Reviews

Blistering Vocalism

Neil P Kelly | Ottawa, Ontario Canada | 02/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard this rare pearl over 20 years ago on some faded third-generation cassette. Despite the dim sonics, I was thrilled to hear a diva who could actually negotiate the scorching roulades of Abigaille's music while still sounding like a singer and not some wounded forest creature howling in pain. Apart from Callas' live performance, we've had precious little to celebrate in recorded Abigailles. Sure, Scotto lit a few fires with her EMI pressing, but who wouldn't with a microphone clenched betweeen her teeth and the volume control nailed in place at the top of the control panel? For Heaven's sake, most of the current generation of half-wit dimpled divettes and "sound-enhanced" melody muffins could come off like an Abigaille with the right studio wizards calling the shots.Cerquetti was the REAL thing. Like Margharita Roberti (listen to her in Christoff's ATTILA recording), Caterina Mancini and Fedora Barbieri, she came from a school of barnstormers who could shake the foundations of San Carlo or La Scala with truly schooled, crafted voices that emanated from the viscera and not the top of the larynx. Cerquetti was one of the Queens of Can Belto, and this new release in great sound is one of the treasures among re-releases of the past decade. I cast aside all conservatory terminology and call this type of performance a ripsnorter for the ages. With Callas, Cerquetti, and Dimitrova on disc, and the rare likes of Linda Roark-Strummer performing the role onstage, the other studio bunnies can turn their attention to gentler repertoire and give the rest of us a break."

Glorious Cerquetti in very good Nabucco

Gustavo Demarco | Buenos Aires | 07/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With the exception of the famous Hebrew's choir 'Va pensiero', the number of recordings of 'Nabucco' is notably low. One possible reason is the extraordinary vocal demand of the female leading role, King Nabucco's daughter Abigaille. Very few sopranos have succeeded with this difficult role: Maria Callas, Elena Suliotis, Renata Scotto, Ghena Dimitrova (arguably the best). Now we have a live recording of the great Italian soprano Anita Cerquetti, and she is probably so good as Dimitrova. Cerquetti was one of the greatest sopranos of the century, although she had an astonishingly short carreer (she retired at the age of 30!). Most of her (scarce) recordings are live performances, so having any single piece of recording of her extraordinary voice is a real must. This Nabucco was one of the last documents of her operatic carreer, and here she sounds so splendid that it remains a mystery why she decided to give up singing so soon afterwards. The rest of the cast is very good, especially the bass Ugo Trama as the High Priest Zaccaria. Dino Dondi is a good Nabucco, but his interpretation of the title role is not a reference. The orchestra sounds well, and the choir efficiently provides the necessary support. The quality of sound is good for the time (1960). To Summarize: This incredibly low priced recording has an adequate combination of the elements needed for a good Nabucco: A very good choir, an excellent bass (Trama), a good baritone (Dondi) and a star of stars as princess Abigail: the great soprano Anita Cerquetti. Enjoy it!"

Verdi at the most exciting way!

Felipe de Lima Cunha | Milano, Italia | 01/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You have to buy this recording! Cerquetti is our and Verdi's dreams Abigaille! If you really are an opera fan or have any concern about Verdi you need this recording. Go for it!"

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