Search - Andrea Mineo, Arturo La Porta, Robert Merrill :: Verdi: Rigoletto

Metropolitan legacy

herman joseph | 06/10/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Like most opera recordings of this type, which harken back to the Met days of old, this middle-Verdi opera is performed with stellar singers and standard cuts. Maestro Perlea leads a balanced orchestra with verve and taste. The great baritone Robert Merrill comes in and out of his music like a lion--he is in glorious voice here, and while his vocal acting isn't too inspired, he isn't wooden either. A wonderful job by a Verdi great. Jussi Bjoerling is a young, regal Duke, and uses his top-shape technique and elegant timbre to sing his music in stride. Roberta Peters is ideal as Gilda; there is a youthful quality in her voice, but she's no soubrette. Hers is a lyric coloratura with an amazing upper register, and she takes to dizzying vocal heights very often in this recording (it's very effective, however, and welcome, and Miss Peters sang coloratura SO WELL). Her characterization doesn't have much depth (her wail in the last scene is silly), yet her Gilda is still a gem. Giorgio Tozzi is chilling as Sparafucile, blending splendor and darkness in his voice--terrific! Anna Maria Rota (Maddalena) is playful and emotional...plus, her voice is on par with the rest of the leads. The supporting cast does a great job, particularly Arturo La Porta as Marullo. The page (Santa Chissari) may be the only irritating part of this recording (her voice is, shall we say, very "dental" sounding). I'm not going to give this recording five stars since there ARE moments that I don't care for (such as the cut where the Duke's "Possente amor" takes place--surely a tenor of Bjoerling's caliber could handle it!)...I still enjoy this recording, however, and would recommend it. This is the result of great talents enhancing a great work."

A gloriously sung Rigoletto

herman joseph | nyc, ny United States | 06/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For beautiful great singing this performance is a classic. Merrill, Bjorling, Peters are recorded in their prime.Merrill was simply the great Verdi baritone of the Metropolitan in the 1950s and 1960s with Bjorling the great lyric dramatic tenor in an unmatched tenor/baritone partnership. Peters' performance of Caro Nome is one of the greatest renditions on record. The small roles especially Tozzi are magnificently sung. I do not find the blandness that one reviewer reported. This is a studio performance but all involved turn in highly expressive and intense performances."

Rigoletto from the glory days of New York singing

L. E. Cantrell | Vancouver, British Columbia Canada | 06/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This "Rigoletto" is a fine representation of what was taking place during the glory days of New York's Metropolitan Opera in the 1950s. Bjorling, Merrill and, down in the basso basement, Tozzi do exactly what any listener would hope for Bjorling, Merrill and Tozzi to do. If what they give us is blandness, as an earlier reviewer has charged, then by all means let us have such marvelously sung blandness.



Roberta Peters was a bright, shining star who had the misfortune to be on the wrong side of the tide that swept first Callas and then Sutherland to the operatic heights. But just listen to her. You will find a fine technician with wonderful sound and great precision. Compare her Gilda that of other great sopranos and it is likely that you will find her performance (along with that of Erna Berger, who was one generation older) to be definitive.



This is an RCA studio recording from the 1950s, and it sounds like it. Nobody is going to confuse it with a digital recording. On the other hand, the voices are well-caught and the singing is glorious.



Five Stars."