Search - Leonard Warren, Giuseppe Verdi, Renato Cellini :: Verdi: Rigoletto

THE GRANDDADDY "RIGOLETTO" OF THEM ALL!!

MOVIE MAVEN | 08/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I must concur with the previous reviewers on the quality of this performance. It's one of the great ones and its brilliance is not diminished in the least by the fact that it is now 50 years old. I don't have the problems with the sonics and sound
that was noted by my previous counterparts on these pages. The sound, of course, is state-of-the-art mono for 1950 --- which is actually quite listenable and agreeable.
The only other Rigoletto on record that comes close to Leonard Warren is Tito Gobbi (on EMI with Callas), who is also
quite spectacular in the great role. Warren, however, had the
superior vocal instrument, and his dramatic histrionics in this role were right on target. His Rigoletto is truly a classic operatic interpretation. The role of Gilda is so beautifully realized by Erna Berger that one cannot imagine anyone else who sounds as young and as virginial. With all due respect to Callas and Sutherland, "girlishness" was not in their line, though both did make good accounts of the role on their respective recordings. Jan Peerce was never a tenor I especially cared for, but on this recording, he actually sounds very, very good. Somehow the nasal quality in his voice which I find so noticeable in many of his recordings is all but absent here, and he sings with much lyricism and real beauty. I find this "Rigoletto" to be Renato Cellini's greatest work as a conductor -- he creates a taut, dramatic, and very compelling performance.
Many will be overjoyed that this outstanding performance is once again available. Why RCA didn't choose to reissue it on their own label is beyond me, and accordingly, a very heartfelt "thank-you" to Preiser for making this wonderful "Rigoletto" available for all to hear. Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Unexpected surprise

MOVIE MAVEN | 01/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How strange that this wonderfully surprising recording of Rigoletto is barely acknowledged, or at least mentionned a little, compared to the Sutherland-Pavarotti-Milnes and the Callas-DiStefano-Gobbi versions of this amazing opera (both must haves by the way).It struck me as far better than the two other recordings mentionned above by its emotion and sensitivity. The voices are wonderful and the singers extremely well cast, but added to that is a sort of intimacy to the recording. It feels like compared to the two others the singing and music are not being thrown at us to try and draw us in. With Cellini it's more comparable to a moving story being told in a whisper, like a heartfelt confession.Very moving, focused on expressing emotions which makes it an exceptionnal Rigoletto!"

I thought i had heard the best......and then........

Richard P. Kelley | brooklyn, ny United States | 11/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had thought i had heard the best when i had heard the young Pavarotti, Sutherland and the great Sherrill Milnes record this opera. Was i wrong! Warren is passionate and powerful, Peerce is in strong voice, passionate, a wonderful sound to listen to, and the soprano has a wonderful sound, Erna Berger. Gilda is a role that i never really connect with, as all she really does is stand there and make pretty sounds and be all pure and virginal. However, with Erna Berger making those sounds, it is a pleasure to listen to her! She really does sound like the character, and the whole recording is just a wonder to listen to!"