CD Decca Verdi - Rigoletto ( Bonynge - Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes ) CD + BluRay Audio

inregistrare din 1971


Interpreteaza:

Luciano Pavarotti - Il Duca
Joan Sutherland - Gilda
Sherrill Milnes - Rigoletto
Huguette Tourangeau - Maddalena
Martti Talvela - Sparafucile

London Symphony Orchestra ( dirijor Richard Bonynge )

Deluxe hard-back editions with original covers.

Each edition includes libretto, and synopsis both with English, German and French translations, original essay, and rare images.

Presented on 2CDs + High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-ray disc containing the complete opera in 24-Bit audio.

Remastered in ultra-high quality 96kHz/24-bit audio at Abbey Road Studios in 2014 under the supervision of long-term Decca balance engineer Philip Siney.

Gramophone Review (1985)
This version of Rigoletto is well over ten years old, but the recording made in the sympathetic acoustic of London's Kingsway Hall in June 1971 sounds remarkably good, with CD bringing out the precision of placing and the sense of realism. Only a slight lack of bloom on high violins betrays the age of the sound. The CD transfer brings the incidental advantage that with a total timing of just under two hours three LPs have comfortably been translated into two CDs, with the whole of Act 1 contained on the first record, Acts 2 and 3 on the second. As usual with Decca, the sectional banding—14 on the first disc, 15 on the second—has been intelligently done to allow maximum convenience in finding particular places in the score quickly.

As to the performance, much will depend on the listener's response to Dame Joan Sutherland as Gilda, the central star whatever you normally expect in this opera. In 1971 there was a hint of a beat in the voice, but the mooning manner which marred her complete recording of ten years earlier is little in evidence, and the sheer beauty, command and technical brilliance make the singing a delight. Pavarotti too was in excellent voice, characterizing the Duke as a charming and selfish rogue. Milnes with never a sour or rough note makes a vocally strong Rigoletto, maybe too noble of timbre for the hunchback, giving a felt but more generalized performance than the others. Bonynge's characteristic ability to spring rhythms and draw out Italianate melodies works well in this opera, with the LSO in excellent form. No doubt before long a new digital recording of Rigoletto will be appearing on CD, but in the meantime this vintage set makes an excellent choice.

* * *

[Pavarotti] is an intensely characterful Duke: an unmistakable rogue but a charmer, too...[Sutherland] is glowingly beautiful as well as supremely assured technically. Milnes makes a strong Rigoletto, vocally masterful rather than strongly characterised.

* * *

This Rigoletto has been around for so long it might be easy to take it for granted or skip it for a newer set. Don't! It features all three principals in superb voice, as well as pacing from Bonynge that is much heavier on drama than most of us expect from him. Sutherland may sound a bit mature (and mush-mouthed) for Gilda, but not only is she sympathetic, she sings gorgeously. And speaking of gorgeous, those familiar only with the Pavarotti of latter years would be wise to hear him here--this is stylish, full-blooded, Golden Age singing. The beautifully round tone, the easy high notes, the impeccable diction, and the pointed characterisation are unique. Milnes, in the title role, is also in splendid voice, offering smooth legato, brilliant, Verdian ring and real attention to the text. The analogue sound is excellent. No other modern recording offers the visceral thrill of this Rigoletto--go for it. --Robert Levine