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Thanks for your enquiry, Larus; I am always happy to help if I can. I think with regard to Christoff’s two live recordings, both conducted by Bartoletti in 1962 and 1976 respectively, there is little doubt that the earlier one is preferable and it is available in a good Urania label issue – or more cheaply on Opera d’Oro. The later cast is not as distinguished and Christoff is not in such fresh voice. You can hear that earlier recording on YouTube.
Regarding Ghiaurov, you can again sample the whole operas conducted by both Sinopoli (1980) and Muti (1972) on YouTube. The sound on the latter isn’t as good and unfortunately it isn’t widely available but I much prefer Gencer to Zampieri, whom I find hooty and unsteady, and the ever-undervalued Luchetti is superior to Sinopoli's tenor. However, there is also a live 1975 recording conducted by Patanè on the Myto and Bongiovanni labels with a great cast of Cappuccilli, Luchetti and Rita Orlandi Malaspina; that, too, is available complete on YouTube. She in particular is terrific, surprisingly better than either Zampieri and Gencer – but unfortunately CD copies are rare.
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If I may be so bold as to ask Mr. Moore for an opinion. I would like to add more recordings of Verdi's Attila to my collection. I already have both the Muti recording and the Gardelli recording and I like them both. I also have the Giulini recording with Italo Tajo and I really enjoy it. (I love the old Fonit Cetra Verdi recordings, they are so honest and straightforward, and often feature very good singers that you hardly hear anywhere else, like Paolo Silveri.) But let's get back to my original question. I would like to add to my collection recordings of Attila with Christoff and Ghiaurov. There is more than one live recording of both of them, so my question is, which is the best. I think I know that the Ghiaurov recording with Sinopoli on Orfeo is probably the best he made. Good sound, good director, Cappuccilli in a good voice and the duet between Attila and Ezio in the prologue is very stirring, Mara Zampieri is a bit wild but I think it's appropriate and she has an impressive voice. Then it's still undecided which recording with Christoff is best. Mr. Moore, if you would be so kind?
Message Thread | This response ↓ Ralph Moore Surveys - Iggy April 14, 2024, 4:27 pm
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