Search - Gioachino Rossini, Mário Rossi, Turin Radio Symphony Orchestra & Chorus :: Rossini: Guglielmo Tell

Guglielmo, not Guillaume, but who cares! Fantastic!

Alan Montgomery | Oberlin, Oh USA | 09/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the mid-1950s this was my first complete opera recording! It is the epitome of dramatic and musical singing. Mario Rossi leads a tight ship, although he cuts a lot of stuff (roughly 30 minutes, including major portions of the tenor/soprano duet in act two and the whole second duet in act three). There is still plenty of music left - roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes!

Mario Filipeschi fearlessly tosses off high C after high C, capping the whole performance with a stellar rendition of "O muto asil del pianto" and the cabaletta. Rosanna Carteri sings an incredibly warm and beautiful "Selva opaca". fernando Corena uses his voice for sarcasm and evil, none of his usually funny stuff here. His is the most polished Gessler I've heard. Young Giorgio Tozzi sings Walter Furst quite well, even if one top note goes very wooly on him. Even the fisherman is well sung (and he also has high Cs). Plinio Clabassi (an Italian stalwart basso) plays a warm and sympathetic Melchtal.

It is Giuseppe Taddei (Tell) who is the glue to keep the piece together. His first notes are brooding and filled with discontent, and his duet with Arnoldo is first rate. And when he finally gets his aria, it is obvious that he is emotionally into the scene. Then, right after that, he has the voice and manner to launch the tirade that ends the act with his fearful "Anathema, Gessler."

I will always cherish this performance. It isn't as complete as the Gedda/Bacchier, nor is it in French, but with this kind of artistry let loose to create drama, I'll take this recording and listen any times, cuts not withstanding."