Search - Orchestra del Teatro Reale dell'Opera di Roma, Coro del Teatro Reale dell'Opera di Roma, Giuseppe Verdi :: Verdi: Messa da Requiem

A golden age perfomance

R. J. Claster | Van Nuys, CA United States | 06/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the most unabashedly operatic interpretation of this great work that I have ever heard. Serafin and his wonderful soloists just play and sing their hearts out without apparently any concern about sounding solemn or devotional. More specifically, Serafin takes very swift tempos that underscore the fiery, volatile drama of the music, yet never sounds unduly rushed; his conducting breathes. As for the singing, the ladies, especially the soprano, Caniglia, may not have the most beautiful voices in the world but they give everything they have to give (no cautiousness here). However, the men are without equal. Pinza not only has the true basso-profundo sound, which some others possess as well, but in addition, he projects a stentorian quality of emphasis and address that makes his performance the most arresting I have heard (e.g. listen to the Mors Stupendit). Gigli is truly incomparable in his range of expression and tone color (especially in his use of head tone). All other tenors sound grossly wooden and square, regardless of how accomplished their technique or how nice their sound. They just don't have the profoundly Italian heart and soul that Gigli projects in spades, even if they are Italian themselves.
Finally, given the significant advances in remastering technique achieved over the past 6-8 years, I would suggest either this or the Naxos edition among the various ones out there.
Yes, the sound is somewhat limited (after all, it is from 78s), but you will not find any later recording with the stylistic attributes of this one."