Verdi, Which one to buy?

[ob1]

As title said please, who is the most poppular conductor for Verdi?

[themadlatvian]

As title said please, who is the most poppular conductor for Verdi?

What a question! Of course, any answer would be instantly controversial but I'll have a go.

My opinion is that Riccardo Muti, Carlos Kleiber, Carlo Maria Giulini and Giuseppe Sinopoli take some beating as Verdi conductors, but the best single performances of each of his many operas may involve other conductors as well.

You are probably better drawing up a shortlist of which operas you would like to start with.

I would suggest Rigoletto, La Traviata, Aida, Nabucco and Il Trovatore as the first five operas, then move on to the equally great but perhaps slightly less accessible La Forza del Destino, Otello, Macbeth, Don Carlos, Uno Ballo in Maschera and Ernani.

Sorry if that doesn't help, but there are so many great Verdi operas!

I could make recommendations for versions of each opera, but I don't want to bore you to death. Perfectly willing to do that if you would like, but others will likely disagree because it would only be opinion.

[Plato]

I'd include di Sabata as well.
But, I agree with the above post ie make a short list of the operas.
I always suggest starting with La Traviata. Personally I'd skip Aida, Nabucco, Ernani until you've dipped into the others.
But these are only personal opinions.
Plato

[ob1]

Hi both, thank you for take time and answer my (make not much sense) question. Basicly my first encounter of Opera was when Oldforge came over to my and bought a pair of Neat MFS from me few years ago. The music was used for demo and I never thought the little Neat could sound so magical.
This year I bought an excellent LP, Carl Orff - Carmina Burana (Previn) supercut HQ released, and really hooked, I am not sure what would you call this type of musc? Chamber?! Anyway, in the last 2-3 weeks I have been watching a series on BBC call "The maestro at the opera" which has a piece of Verdi's music on it....I was nearly in tear watching that.
So that's where the question come from and why "Verdi"!
I will now take a look of the recommended list, thanks again

[themadlatvian]

'Carmina Burana' by Orff is generally classified as choral music rather than opera, but it is very dramatic and atmospheric so gets grouped in with famous operatic excerpts in selections of popular classics.

Hope you enjoy your journey into Verdi.





PS - I don't know if you are into vintage vinyl, but I will be selling some of my grandfather's opera sets soon - there are certainly some fine Verdi performances in there. Might not be your thing, but thought I would mention it.

[duncan]

If you like Carmina Burana and Verdi then the obvious recommendation is Verdi's Requiem. This has had a happy recording history and there are several great versions available. Muti, Solti, Toscanini (a blistering performance but antique sound) and Pappano (a recent spectacular recording) have their fans.

Giulini and the Philharmonia are many people's favourites:

[khfm865]

Interesting question, ob. Tbh, I normally "shop" for opera more based on the main performers rather than conductor - this is the opposite for orchestral music for me. Anyway - just a thought.

[duncan]

3 great recordings of Verdi operas that would be good places to start:

La Traviata: Cotrubas/Domingo/Milnes/Kleiber
Il trovatore: Domingo/Price/Milnes/Mehta
Rigoletto: Callas/Gobbi/Di Stefano/Serafin (an old recording but doesn't sound too bad and what a performance!)

[Plato]

3 great recordings of Verdi operas that would be good places to start:

La Traviata: Cotrubas/Domingo/Milnes/Kleiber
Il trovatore: Domingo/Price/Milnes/Mehta
Rigoletto: Callas/Gobbi/Di Stefano/Serafin (an old recording but doesn't sound too bad and what a performance!)

ob
The very three operas I would have recommended.
Have all three although my Il trovatore is the one with Giulini.
Plato

[ob1]

Thank you, will have a hunt.

[adamdea]

Thank you, will have a hunt.

Have arrived very late to this thread. My recommendation for the starting point on Verdi would be
1 La Traviata: Cotrubas/Domingo/Milnes/Kleiber as mentioned above
2 The Boynge/sutherland/ pavarotti/ milnes Rigoletto. in fact i would put this slightly above the first mentioned.

I agree however that if you are thinking Carmina Burana, the requiem (Giulini IMHO) would be the obvious choice.

[khfm865]

Have arrived very late to this thread. My recommendation for the starting point on Verdi would be
1 La Traviata: Cotrubas/Domingo/Milnes/Kleiber as mentioned above
2 The Boynge/sutherland/ pavarotti/ milnes Rigoletto. in fact i would put this slightly above the first mentioned.

I agree however that if you are thinking Carmina Burana, the requiem (Giulini IMHO) would be the obvious choice.

Hi,

I own the Boynge / Sutherland/Pavarotti - bloody awesome disc. Highly recommended from me too

[musicbox]

Otello is the only Verdi Opera I can stomach.... Karajan with Jon Vickers, or Chung with Domingo

[adamdea]

Hi,

I own the Boynge / Sutherland/Pavarotti - bloody awesome disc. Highly recommended from me too

I think that on this recording Pav has on the most beautiful male voice I have ever heard.
I just love the perversity of the Opera too- bad Guy has all the best tunes, title role is twisted and pathetic, Dr Freud scribbles notes throughout.

[themadlatvian]

I think that on this recording Pav has on the most beautiful male voice I have ever heard.
I just love the perversity of the Opera too- bad Guy has all the best tunes, title role is twisted and pathetic, Dr Freud scribbles notes throughout.

For me the towering performance is Milnes as Rigoletto.

And having a genuine profundo (Talvela) as Sparafucile.

Great stuff!

[adamdea]

For me the towering performance is Milnes as Rigoletto.

And having a genuine profundo (Talvela) as Sparafucile.

Great stuff!

Definitely. Even that strange Australian man with the blond hair is pretty good as Gilda.

[Plato]

For me the towering performance is Milnes as Rigoletto.

And having a genuine profundo (Talvela) as Sparafucile.

Great stuff!

Interesting take on Milnes as Rigoletto. I heard him some years ago at the Royal Opera House in that very role, and while his voice was good to my ears, I got the strong impression that he was just going through the motions - rather disappointing.
For me, it has to be Gobbi as the Rigoletto.
But irrespective of all that, a wonderful opera.

As for Talvela, in one of my Don Carlo's, I have him as the Grande Inquisitor - such a huge voice.

All great stuff.
Plato

[ncdrawl]

the recording that bolstered my faith in 16 bit..

stunning SQ

http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Gheorghi.../dp/B000066C6K

ghiarov is my favorite sparafucile with Ramey 2nd.


a low F is childs play baby. down around AA and now we're talking. hell, I *talk* in that F.