Verdi - Rigoletto / Sills · Milnes · Kraus · M. Dunn · Ramey · PO · Rudel

1. Rigoletto, opera
   Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
   Performed by Ambrosian Opera Chorus, London Philharmonia Orchestra
   with Mignon Dunn, Jennifer Smith, Alfredo Kraus, Alan Watt, Malcolm King, Sherrill Milnes, Ann Murray, Beverly Sills, John Rawnsley, Sally Burgess, Dennis O'Neill, Samuel Ramey
   Conducted by Julius Rudel
   
   

Verdi - Rigoletto / Sills · Milnes · Kraus · M. Dunn · Ramey · PO · Rudel,Giuseppe Verdi,Julius Rudel,Beverly Sills,Sherrill Milnes,Philharmonia Orchestra,Ambrosian Opera Chorus,Alfredo Kraus,Mignon Dunn,Samuel Ramey,Ann Murray Sally Burgess,Malcolm King Dennis O'Neill,Angel Records,Classical,Classical Composers,Classical Music,Italian Romantic Opera,Opera,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

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Average customer rating: An excellent introduction to Rigoletto Verdi Lovers's Dream: A Superb Recording

Verdi - Rigoletto / Sills · Milnes · Kraus · M. Dunn · Ramey · PO · Rudel Giuseppe Verdi , Julius Rudel , Beverly Sills , Sherrill Milnes , Philharmonia Orchestra , Ambrosian Opera Chorus , Alfredo Kraus , Mignon Dunn , Samuel Ramey , Ann Murray Sally Burgess , and Malcolm King Dennis O'Neill Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Rossini: The Barber of Seville (Complete opera); Beverly Sills; Nicolai Gedda; James Levine; London Symphony Orchestra Verdi: La Traviata / Sills, Gedda, Panerai; Ceccato Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor: Complete Opera (with full libretto and translation) Gaetano Donizetti: Don Pasquale Verdi - Giovanna d'Arco (Joan of Arc)/ Caballé · Domingo · Milnes · LSO · Levine ASIN: B000002S7K Release Date: 1996-09-10

Tracks:

1. Act One: Preludio - Phil Orch/Julius Rudel
2. Act One/Scene One: Della Mia Bella Incognita Borghese - Alfredo Kraus/Dennis O'Niell
3. Act One/Scene One: Questa O Quella - Alfredo Kraus
4. Act One/Scene One: Partite? Crudele! - Afredo Kraus/Sally Burgess
5. Act One, Scene One: In Testa Che Avete - Sherrill Milnes/Dennis O' Neill
6. Act One, Scene One: Gran Nuova! Gran Nran Nuova! - Rawnsley/O'Neill/Kraus/King/Milnes
7. Act One, Scene One: Ch'ioGli Parli - Ramey/Kraus/O'Neill/Milnes/Rawnsley/King
8. Act One, Scene One: O Tu Che La Festa Audace - Kraus/O'Neill/Milnes/Rawnsley/King
9. Act One, Scene Two: Quel Vecchio Maledivami! (Rigoletto/Sparafucile) - Sherrill Milnes/Samuel Ramey
10. Act One, Scene Two: Pari Siamo! (Rigoletto) - Sherrill Milnes
11. Act One, Scene Two: Figlia!...Mio Padre! - Sherrill Milnes
12. Act One, Scene Two: Ah, Veglia, O Donnna (Rigoletto/Gilda) - Sherrill Milnes/Beverly Sills
13. Act One, Scene Two: Giovanna, Ho Dei Rimorsi (Gilda/Giovanna/Duca) - Sills/Murray/Kraus
14. Act One, Scene Two: E Il Sol Dell Anima - Kraus/Sills /King
15. Act One, Scene Two: Addio! Speranza Ed Anima - Alfredo Kraus/Beverly Sills
16. Act One, Scene Two: Gaultier Maide!...Caro Nome - Sills/O'Neill/King/Rawnsley
17. Act One, Scene Two: Riedo! - Milnes/O'Neill/King/Rawnsley
18. Act One, Scene Two: Zitti, Zitti, Moviamo A Vendetta - O'Neill/Rawnsley/King
19. Act One, Scene Two: Soccorso, Padre Padre Mio! - Sills/O'Neill/Rawnsley/King/Milnes

Tracks:

1. Act Two: Ella Mi fu Rapital - Sills/O'Neill/Rawnsley/King/Milnes
2. Act Two: Parmi Veder le Lagrime - Alfredo Kraus
3. Act Two: Duca, Duca...Ebben? - Alfredo Kraus
4. Act Two: Possente Amor Mi Chiama - O'Neill/Rawnsley/King/Kraus
5. Act Two: Povero Rigoletto! - Rawnsley/Milnes/O'Neill/King/Smith
6. Act Two: Cortigiani, Vil Razza Dannato - Sherrill Milnes
7. Act Two: Mio Padre! Dio Mia Gilda! - Sherrill Milnes
8. Act Two: Tutte Le Feste Al Tempio - Beverly Sills/Sherrill Milnes
9. Act Two: Compiuto Pur Quanto - Milnes/Sills/Watt/Ramey
10. Act Two: Si, Vendetta, Tremenda Vendetta - Sherrill Milnes/Beverly Sills
11. Act Three: E L' Ami? - Milnes/Sills/Kraus/Ramey
12. Act Three: La Donna E Mobile - Kraus/Ramey/Milnes
13. Act Three: Un Di, Se Ben Rammentomi - Kraus/Ramey/Milnes
14. Act Three: Bella Figlia Dell 'Amore - Kraus/Dunn/Sills/Milnes
15. Act Three: Venti Scudi Hai Tu Detto - Milnes/Ramey/Kraus/Dunn
16. Act Three: E Amabile Invero - Dunn/Ramey/Sills
17. Act Three: Della Vendetta Alfin Giunge I' Istante! - Milnes/Ramey/Kraus
18. Act Three: Chi Mai, Chi E Qui In Sua Vece? - Sherrill Milnes/Beverly Sills

Customer Reviews:

An excellent introduction to Rigoletto.......2004-09-01

I bought this opera several months ago as my first Rigoletto. This was my introduction to the opera and it serves as an extreamly worthy one. This may not be the best RIGOLETTO out there, but it does come close.

We have Julius Rudel at the helm here, in firm terriotory as a Verdi conductior. The Cast is uniformally excellent. He and the Philharmonia orchestra turns the music into a whole other world, a threatinging prelude, an act one party where you almost can see the debauchery in the air and the music, a dark confrontation between Rigoletto and Sparafucile. Rudel lets the tragedy spiral downwards at a breakneck (but not too hasty) pace that works well for the last two acts, but lets the lyrical moments hang on the edges of your memorymost efectivley.

Alfredo Kraus is somewhat past his prime here, but still gives a exhilarating performace of the duke. His high D at the end of Possintene Amour" is thrilling. Sills is likewise edging the end of her career but she is still Sills, still excellent, and still beautiful. Sherrill Milnes here holds his place as the successor to Tito Gobbi as the greatest Bass-Baritone of the Day. His Rigoletto is amazing, a Chilling, dark sound that can only be rivaled by Gobbi. He shocked me into cold stone silence several times durrring the opera. Samuel Ramey, one of my personal favorite singers, is caught here at the early stage of his greatness, singing both a Dark and frightening Sparafucile and an anguished, threatining Montarone. Mignon Dunn is a senusal Maddeleana, and the smaller parts are handeled expertly as well. 10/10

Verdi Lovers's Dream: A Superb Recording.......2004-02-09

For Verdi fans, this 1979 studio recording is a must have, even if you already own other recordings of Rigoletto. There are many fine, outstanding recordings in the market - among them a classic recording featuring Bjussi Bjorling and Roberta Peters, but a good Rigoletto should not be limited to mere novelty and flashy singing -this opera is full of such great arias as the famous tenor aria "La Dona E Mobile" and many singers like Pavoratti merely show off their voice. It requires really great acting and convincing passions. Fortunately,there are some singers who do get into the characters and provide us with real drama - names that come to mind for terrific Rigolettos are Robert Merill, Juan Pons and in this recording Sherill Milnes and there have been many fine Gildas as this recording's Beverly Sills, the forementioned Roberta Peters, Sumi Jo and Andrea Rost most recently. The good thing about Rigoletto is that for once, a baritone is the star and the character with most substance. Usually baritones in opera are fatherly figures or villains. The character of Rigoletto the hunchback jester was the inspiration for the troubled clown in I Pagliacci. Rigoletto is a man of contrast and conflict. He is a loving father as well as a man consumed by revenge. He comes off like a lost Shakespearean tragic hero.

THE STORY was sensational for its time. Verdi drew plot from a Victor Hugo play. Rigoletto is the court jester of the corrupt and immoral Duke of Renaissance Mantua, Italy, and his fawning court are sycophants. Rigoletto is himself a man of questionable virtue since he was as bad as the courtiers who helped in bringing the lusty Duke new female sexual victims. In Act 1, Monterrone, whose daughter has been raped by the Duke, is insulted by Rigoletto- his biggest mistake. Monterrone puts a curse on Rigoletto. The curse theme music is played significantly in the score. Soon, the curse takes effect. Rigoletto's daughter Gilda falls for the Duke's trap when he disguises himself as a poor student only to have her courtiers abduct her and bring her into his bed chamber where he rapes her. Rigoletto learns about the incident and swears revenge. He hires a hitman Sparafucile to kill the Duke. But by the end of the opera, Gilda gives up her life willingly for the Duke and Sparafucile accidentally kills her instead. The evil Duke lives scot-free and Rigoletto mourns the death of his daughter, recalling "La Maldizzione" the curse of Monterrone.

THIS RECORDING was made in 1978-79. By this time, the principal singers were seasoned and veteran opera stars- tenor Alfredo Kraus, soprano Beverly Sills and baritone Sherril Milnes had been singing for years and were approaching retirement from the stage. Nevertheless, they are so well-trained both dramatically as actors and as singers that their age is irrelevant. They do deliver a spectacular opera. Sherill Milnes is one of the best Rigoletto's- full of anguish, despair, vindictive spirit and bitterness. Impressive are his "Vendetta" aria, his duets with Gilda in touching father-daughter moments and his attack on the wicked Duke's court "Cortigiani, vil raza" as well as his powerfully moving final scene. Alfredo Kraus' potrayal of the Don Giovanni-type Duke of Mantua is sensational. Brilliantly sung and brilliantly performed, he comes off as wanton, devil-may-care and degenerate -"Questo E Quella" and "La Dona E Mobile" are greatly delivered as well as his wooing song "E il sol dell'anima". Beverly Sill's Gilda will move you to tears. Her sweet but powerful soprano voice is tinged with pathos and naivete- "Caro Nome" is the best interpretation on my perpective and so is her death scene. The Ambrosia Opera Chorus sings in fine harmony and Julius Rudel as always conducts a fine orchestra. This recording is also available in "Highlights" form on Amazon.com. In fact, this entire recording is out of stock but hopefully it will resurface from the z-shops soon. A must have and absolutely the best Rigoletto there is.

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