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Licinio Refice's Cecilia Posted by Chris Howell on August 15, 2023, 7:05 pm Edited by board administrator October 27, 2025, 10:29 pm I was interested to read Ralph Moore's review of the recent recording of Cecilia by Licinio Refice. In view of his strictures over the singers, and the drawbacks of the earlier versions he mentions, I would point out that there were two RAI productions that have had some circulation among aficionados. The earliest, 1955, is conducted by the dependable Oliviero De Fabritiis and has Maria Pedrini and Alvino Misciano in the lead roles, as well as two better remembered names, Plinio Clabassi and Saturnio Meletti. This was once on YouTube but doesn't seem to be there any longer. It was followed by a 1975 production under Danilo Benardelli, the nearest you could find to a Refice specialist since he also recorded Margherita da Cortona in 1969. The principal singers are Renata Mattioli, Renato Cioni, Walter Monachesi and Laura Londi. Unfortunately I've never managed to track this down, but the singers all did good work in their day (Mattioli's excellent Liù sometimes turns up) so I can only hope it exists somewhere

Re: Licinio Refice's Cecilia Posted by Jim Westhead on August 15, 2023, 9:25 pm, in reply to "Licinio Refice's Cecilia" I had hoped to review this CD, but I have no doubt that Ralph Moore is more qualified to do it than I. In one sense I am glad that I didn't receive it, because like Mr.Moore, my patience would have snapped when confronted by the aural assault of FTMV (Far Too Much Vibrato). I have just submitted a review of Atterberg's Aladdin, and have made criticism of the principals' vocal technique in much the same way as Mr.Moore. I too wonder what on earth conservatories are doing these days, when wobble, wobble seems to be the desired end of vocal training.

Re: Licinio Refice's Cecilia Posted by Des Hutchinson on August 16, 2023, 2:09 am, in reply to "Re: Licinio Refice's Cecilia" The apparent contradiction here in these HIP times is that if indeed vibrato is encouraged in singing, it is positively discouraged in string playing. Previous Message I had hoped to review this CD, but I have no doubt that Ralph Moore is more qualified to do it than I. In one sense I am glad that I didn't receive it, because like Mr.Moore, my patience would have snapped when confronted by the aural assault of FTMV (Far Too Much Vibrato). I have just submitted a review of Atterberg's Aladdin, and have made criticism of the principals' vocal technique in much the same way as Mr.Moore. I too wonder what on earth conservatories are doing these days, when wobble, wobble seems to be the desired end of vocal training.

Re: Licinio Refice's Cecilia Posted by Ralph Moore on August 16, 2023, 8:52 am, in reply to "Re: Licinio Refice's Cecilia" I think that it is not so much that the conservatories encourage an excessive use of vibrato in singing, but that it is the inevitable consequence of their teaching - or at least tolerating - a poor technique, which requires nasal, "Valsalva manoeuvre" constriction and forcing rather than a relaxed, open-throated, pharyngeal method which resulted in the "old school" sound we hear among great singers of the first half of the 20C and which was mostly extinct by the early 70s, apart from a few who escaped their baleful influence. You may see clips of conductors such as Pappano - whom I otherwise admire - coaching singers by spouting absolute nonsense about how to shut off a voice and make it smaller as it goes up, encouraging a shutting down of tone exactly where it should be opening up and getting larger, or advocating a "letter-box-shaped" mouth for high notes to foster screamy sounds, I could go on...but won't... Previous Message The apparent contradiction here in these HIP times is that if indeed vibrato is encouraged in singing, it is positively discouraged in string playing. Previous Message I had hoped to review this CD, but I have no doubt that Ralph Moore is more qualified to do it than I. In one sense I am glad that I didn't receive it, because like Mr.Moore, my patience would have snapped when confronted by the aural assault of FTMV (Far Too Much Vibrato). I have just submitted a review of Atterberg's Aladdin, and have made criticism of the principals' vocal technique in much the same way as Mr.Moore. I too wonder what on earth conservatories are doing these days, when wobble, wobble seems to be the desired end of vocal training.

Re: Licinio Refice's Cecilia Posted by Ralph Moore on August 16, 2023, 12:26 am, in reply to "Licinio Refice's Cecilia" That 1955 RAI broadcast is available from Houseofopera.com as a download, Chris, but I can find no trace of the Bernardelli recording. (Sorry to have deprived you of the opportunity to review the new recording, Jim, but I can only say that you're not missing much...) Previous Message I was interested to read Ralph Moore's review of the recent recording of Celcilia by Licinio Refice. In view of his strictures over the singers, and the drawbacks of the earlier versions he mentions, I would point out that there were two RAI productions that have had some circulation among aficionados. The earliest, 1955, is conducted by the dependable Oliviero De Fabritiis and has Maria Pedrini and Alvino Misciano in the lead roles, as well as two better remembered names, Plinio Clabassi and Saturnio Meletti. This was once on YouTube but doesn't seem to be there any longer. It was followed by a 1975 production under Danilo Benardelli, the nearest you could find to a Refice specialist since he also recorded Margherita da Cortona in 1969. The principal singers are Renata Mattioli, Renato Cioni, Walter Monachesi and Laura Londi. Unfortunately I've never managed to track this down, but the singers all did good work in their day (Mattioli's excellent Liù sometimes turns up) so I can only hope it exists somewhere

Re: Licinio Refice's Cecilia Posted by Mark Morris on September 18, 2024, 9:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Licinio Refice's Cecilia" You can buy Margherita da Cortona form houseofopera.com. I am listening to it at the moment (Milan 1969) - bearing in mind it's an off-air source, it's a fine performance and more than acceptable recording (quite a passionate one) in mono. Voices a little too forward. Well worth investigating, especially at its current sale price of $US14.36 They also have the full private recording of the 1976 Scotto Cecilia. Previous Message That 1955 RAI broadcast is available from Houseofopera.com as a download, Chris, but I can find no trace of the Bernardelli recording. (Sorry to have deprived you of the opportunity to review the new recording, Jim, but I can only say that you're not missing much...) Previous Message I was interested to read Ralph Moore's review of the recent recording of Celcilia by Licinio Refice. In view of his strictures over the singers, and the drawbacks of the earlier versions he mentions, I would point out that there were two RAI productions that have had some circulation among aficionados. The earliest, 1955, is conducted by the dependable Oliviero De Fabritiis and has Maria Pedrini and Alvino Misciano in the lead roles, as well as two better remembered names, Plinio Clabassi and Saturnio Meletti. This was once on YouTube but doesn't seem to be there any longer. It was followed by a 1975 production under Danilo Benardelli, the nearest you could find to a Refice specialist since he also recorded Margherita da Cortona in 1969. The principal singers are Renata Mattioli, Renato Cioni, Walter Monachesi and Laura Londi. Unfortunately I've never managed to track this down, but the singers all did good work in their day (Mattioli's excellent Liù sometimes turns up) so I can only hope it exists somewhere

Re: Licinio Refice's Cecilia Posted by Mark Morris on September 18, 2024, 9:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Licinio Refice's Cecilia" Margherita di Cortona ia also avaiable free at: https://archive.org/details/lp_margherita-da-cortona_licinio-refice-orchestra-and-chorus-of/disc2/03.01.+Act+2.mp3 with some useful notes, tho9ugh the transfer (from LP) doesn't sound quite as good as the House of Opera download. Previous Message You can buy Margherita da Cortona form houseofopera.com. I am listening to it at the moment (Milan 1969) - bearing in mind it's an off-air source, it's a fine performance and more than acceptable recording (quite a passionate one) in mono. Voices a little too forward. Well worth investigating, especially at its current sale price of $US14.36 They also have the full private recording of the 1976 Scotto Cecilia. Previous Message That 1955 RAI broadcast is available from Houseofopera.com as a download, Chris, but I can find no trace of the Bernardelli recording. (Sorry to have deprived you of the opportunity to review the new recording, Jim, but I can only say that you're not missing much...) Previous Message I was interested to read Ralph Moore's review of the recent recording of Celcilia by Licinio Refice. In view of his strictures over the singers, and the drawbacks of the earlier versions he mentions, I would point out that there were two RAI productions that have had some circulation among aficionados. The earliest, 1955, is conducted by the dependable Oliviero De Fabritiis and has Maria Pedrini and Alvino Misciano in the lead roles, as well as two better remembered names, Plinio Clabassi and Saturnio Meletti. This was once on YouTube but doesn't seem to be there any longer. It was followed by a 1975 production under Danilo Benardelli, the nearest you could find to a Refice specialist since he also recorded Margherita da Cortona in 1969. The principal singers are Renata Mattioli, Renato Cioni, Walter Monachesi and Laura Londi. Unfortunately I've never managed to track this down, but the singers all did good work in their day (Mattioli's excellent Liù sometimes turns up) so I can only hope it exists somewhere

Re: Licinio Refice's Cecilia Posted by alexseen on October 25, 2025, 7:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Licinio Refice's Cecilia" under Danilo Benardelli, the nearest you could find to a Refice specialist since he also recorded Margherita da Cortona in 1969. The principal singers are Renata Mattioli, Renato Cioni, Walter Monachesi and Laura Londi. Unfortunately I've never managed to track this down, but the singers all did good work in their day (Mattioli's excellent Liù sometimes turns up) so I can only hope it exists somewhere

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