Search - Ettore Bastianini, Giuseppe Verdi, Bernard Haitink :: Verdi: Don Carlos

An enjoyable performance, but...

Filippo Secondo | 06/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"...the mono sound isn't good for 1960, even though it's live: the orchestra sounds slightly muffled, and the loud vocal passages scratchy. On this Salzburg recording conducted by Santi, Jurinac (Elisabetta), Bastianini (Posa) Fernandi (Carlo), and Zaccaria (Monk) repeat the roles they sang less than two years earlier in the same house under Karajan: here, Christoff replaces Siepi (Filippo), and Resnik sings Eboli in place of Simionato. Though the Karajan (DG) is sonically superior (but not at all outstanding), I prefer this set, especially on account of Resnik and Jurinac: Simionato sounds wobbly on the other set, where Jurinac isn't at her best as she is here. It's difficult to choose between Christoff and Siepi, both being my two favourite Filippos; I can't praise Bastianini highly enough, especially when he sings what is arguably his signature Verdi role; Fernandi (a rather light-voiced tenor) is vocally similar to his assumption of the part under Karajan, so is Zaccaria (did he ever sing Filippo?). The bonus tracks come from a live stereo 1966 Dutch performance conducted by Haitink: Arturo Sergi's Carlo isn't distinguished; he's partnered with the adequate but not brilliant Elisabetta of Brouwenstijn. Though in variable sound, make sure you don't miss this set, especially if DON CARLO is your favourite Verdi opera."