Search - Verdi, Kozlovsky, Ivanov :: Rigoletto (Moscow 1949)

Sunny Italy in Moscow

Igor Sutherland | Great Britain | 04/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a collectables' item and will be interesting to people buying 1950s unusual versions of popular works in some bizarre languages. Having said that, the recording is VERY good - despite some cruel cuts here and there,it conveys a wonderful atmosphere of authenticity - bel canto as I understand it (i.e. refined and beautiful, but without conductor's totalirism in vocal department). The cast is absolutely first-class (all stars of the Bolshoi) and do well to promote a positive image of the theatre. Because Melodiya made studio recordings so rearly, it made sure that when it did record, it employed only the best vocalists and instrumentalists Russia could offer.Thus we have Kozlovsky (Duca) who is in excellent voice and has an astonishingly easy top (which he displays often enough to satisfy any audience hungry for top notes). Maslennikova (Gilda) is his equal in the control she has over her beautifully even voice; and Ivanov's Rigeletto is also worthy of an honorary place in any leading theatre of the world . The voices are recorded close to microphones, so every word is heard clearly (if you speak Russian you will not need translation). Strongly recommended."