Search - Giuseppe Verdi, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Wiener Staatsopernorchester :: Verdi: Attila

Sinopoli's Thrilling Attila

Mark Haxthausen | Williamstown, MA | 05/25/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had never heard Attila until a few months ago, when the Met aired Riccardo Muti's performance on their Saturday broadcast. I immediately set out to find a recording, and did the obvious thing, buying the Muti CD on EMI with the La Scala orchestra, with Cheryl Studer as Odabella, Samuel Ramey as Attila, Neil Shicoff as Foresto, and Giorgio Zancanaro as Ezio. The recording dates from 1989 and was all round better musically than the Met broadcast. No complaints!



It was my learning that there was a live recording with Mara Zampieri conducted by Sinopoli that led me to buy this second recording. A few years ago I had never heard of her, but because I admired Sinopoli's Strauss and Mahler I thought I would try out his Verdi, and bought his Macbeth. And that's how I discovered this great singer. The voice of Zampieri is so distinctive and thrilling --almost vibratoless--I was surprised that there is almost nothing by her on CD. Apart from Macbeth, there is currently not a single complete recording by her on a major label. Hearing Muti's recording with Studer, as good as she is, I just had to hear Zampieri in this role. It arrived today and I have heard it twice. Vocally I would give it the edge over Muti. Zampieri doesn't disappoint--there's nothing wrong with Studer, but there is no substitute for Zampieri's unique sound. Cappucilli is in great form as Ezio--so good that he placates the wildly appreciative aidience by repeating his second act aria, "è gettata la mie sorte.". I also slightly prefer Visconti's voice over Shicoff's. Sinopoli's conducting is thrilling and intense from start to finish. It was his debut at the Vienna State Opera; he was only 34 at the time, and it made him a star overnight. The audience is wildly enthusiastic, and with good reason. This recording has a sense of occasion that provides the extra frisson. Attila might be considered minor Verdi--he was only 33 when he wrote it--but I find it irresistible, a work of genius, even if not fully formed. Good as Muti is, I wouldn't be without this great recording. The source is an Austrian Radio broadcast, in stereo, and the sound is excellent. Highly recommended!"