Est 1923

Verdi Il Corsaro

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Giuseppe Verdi

Genre:

Opera

Label: Philips

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 94

Mastering:

ADD

Catalogue Number: 426 118-2PM2

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
(Il) Corsaro Giuseppe Verdi, Composer
Alexander Oliver, Black Eunuch, Tenor
Ambrosian Singers
Clifford Grant, Giovanni, Bass
Gian-Piero Mastromei, Seid, Baritone
Giuseppe Verdi, Composer
Jessye Norman, Medora, Soprano
John Noble, Selimo, Tenor
José Carreras, Corrado, Tenor
Lamberto Gardelli, Conductor
Montserrat Caballé, Gulnara, Soprano
New Philharmonia Orchestra
This work, based on Byron's poem, The Corsair, is one of the most economic and inspired of Verdi's early scores. Piave's libretto is serviceable. It's filled with poetic conceits not found in all the works of the 'galley' years, and also prophetic of many glories to come. Its success owes much to the quality of the performance here. Gardelli once again shows how well attuned he is to both the vigour and unguarded lyricism of this period in Verdi's career. Around him is assembled a near-ideal cast for this particular opera. In the first place it is a treat hardly to be repeated of having Caballe and Norman in the same recording. The latter sings Medora's beautiful cavatina with just the right sweet vulnerability. Caballe, at the peak of her career in the mid 1970s, sings with a nice combination of strength and sensitivity, and in the faster music her scales and coloratura have that gentle lightness that has always been a feature of her best performances. Then Carreras is perfect casting as the buccaneer of the title. He has the most original scene in the score, in prison in Act 3, and sings it with just the right plaintive sound. When Gulnara joins Corrado, his lyrical passion matches Caballe's. All three are superb in the marvellous finale to the whole work, offering a classic of Verdi singing. Mastromei may not be quite in his colleagues' class—in any case his music is less interesting—but he characterizes the villain well enough.
The New Philharmonia play with assurance for Gardelli. The recording is well up to the high standard set in this Philips series and these CDs are really essential for anyone wanting early Verdi at his most convincing.'

Verdi Il Corsaro

(Il) Corsaro

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