Search - Tebaldi, Del Monaco, De Sabata :: Unreleased Documents

A MUST Have for ALL TEBALDI LOVERS!

F. Barton | Newport, WA USA | 05/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD, comprised of live recordings, is essential for any Renata Tebaldi fan. First of all, it contains the lengthy excerpts from the Andrea Chenier, with Del Monaco, with De Sabata at La Scala, in 1949!! Although these performances have been released on many lp issues, and even a few CDs, they have never sounded better than here. PURE immortality, as, during the love duet, De Sabata was blowing kisses to Renata, and she and MdM hold the final notes beyond forever!!!There is a great excerpt from a De Sabata OTELLO, with Tebaldi holding the final note in "Ave Maria" longer than I have ever heard.Also contained here is the Martini and Rossi Concert with Giulini, from '51, AND the concert in Rio de Janeiro, '51.But it is the last two selections that make this CD stand out from all others. The FAUST, from Naples, '50, which only stands to prove once again how well she sang this role, tremendously exciting to hear.The best IS for last. Renata Tebaldi's DEBUT performance in her signature role of Desdemona in OTELLO, from Trieste, December, 30, 1945!!! Who would have ever thought that this existed?? The first act duet is included in it's entirety, and clearly shows that at 23 years of age, Renata already had the shimmering tones, the chest voice, and total command of the stage. These arias were broadcast on RAI on Feb. 1, 2002, which was Tebaldi's 80th birthday. However they did a GREAT job in cleaning up the sound on all of the tracks. This entire CD is a treasure trove for fans of the great Tebaldi.ALSO, as in all releases on this label, there are literally tons of photographs, reviews, and documentation. In fact, the booklet is SO fat, it's rather hard to fit back in the case. A truly immortal release for ALL fans of great operatic singing. This is only one of four new FONO releases, but surely the best and most important. ALL tracks are live, and highly listenable as well. An absolute MUST for your collection.Just to have her DEBUT as Desdemona, her signature role is worth the price of the entire disc. If it were not for allied troops in Trieste at the time, this performance would not exist. I can heartily recommend it, and suggest you buy a few copies for your friends as well. It really is a compilation for ANY opera library collection.Thanks to FONO, and I hope there are many more releases to come."