Meyerbeer: Gli Ugonotti

On this CD:

1. Les Huguenots, grand opera in 5 acts
Composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer
Performed by Joan Sutherland, Giovanni Antonini, Giuseppe Bertinazzo, Maddalena Bonifacio, Virgilio Carbonari, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Franco Corelli, Fiorenza Cossotto, Clara Foti, Vladimiro Ganzarolli, Alfredo Giacomotti, Enzo Guagni, Walter Gullino, Silvio Maionica, Angelo Mercuriali

Meyerbeer: Gli Ugonotti, Music, Giacomo Meyerbeer, L'Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Alfredo Giacomotti, Angelo Mercuriali, Antonio Cassinelli, Clara Foti, Enzo Guagni, Fiorenza Cossotto, Franco Corelli, Giorgio Tozzi, Giovanni Antonini, Giulietta Simionato, Giuseppe Bertinazzo, Giuseppe Morresi, Joan Sutherland, Manuel Spatafora, Piero de Palma, Silvio Maionica, Virgilio Carbonari, Vladimiro Ganzarolli, Walter Gullino, Classical, Classical Music, French Romantic Opera, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio, Opera/Operetta
Meyerbeer - Gli Ugonotti / Sutherland · Corelli · Simionato · Teatro alla Scala · Gavazzeni
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Breathtaking
  • Unbelievably Glorious Singing
  • Musically inaccurate to the max
  • Really!
  • A review plus corrections
Meyerbeer - Gli Ugonotti / Sutherland · Corelli · Simionato · Teatro alla Scala · Gavazzeni
Giacomo Meyerbeer , Gianandrea Gavazzeni , Tullio Serafin , Ernst Marzendorfer , Joan Sutherland , Franco Corelli , Fiorenza Cossotto , Vladimiro Ganzarolli , Giulietta Simionato , Giorgio Tozzi , Giacomo Lauri-Volpi , Nicola Zaccaria , and Nicolai Gedda
Manufacturer: Gala
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  4. Rossini: L'Assedio di Corinto
  5. Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur

ASIN: B000001XNY
Release Date: 2000-06-06

Tracks:

  1. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 1: Preludio
  2. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 1: Nei bei di di giovinezza
  3. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 2: Qui sotto il ciel della Turrena
  4. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 2: Piacer della mensa
  5. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 2: Versate in abbondanza
  6. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 2: Non lungi dalle torri.....
  7. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 3: Qual mai strana figura - io comparir qui veggo?
  8. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 3: Ma che? ben osservando, mi ricorda
  9. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 3: Piff, paff, piff, paff!
  10. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 4: Del Castello al Signor
  11. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 5: L' avventura e singolare
  12. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 6: Scoglier si dee l'imen
  13. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 7: Nel mio Castel...Salute, o Cavalieri
  14. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 7: Talor soverchio merto anche importuna!
  15. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 8, 9, 10: Lieuto suol della Turrena
  16. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 8, 9, 10: Che la lotta fatal dell'empie sette
  17. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 8, 9, 10: Chi giunge qui?...deh, vedi
  18. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 11: Egli vien, egli vien!
  19. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 12: Raul, la vostra fe
  20. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 12: Scender nel mio petto
  21. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 13: Signora! Ancor qui siete, Urbano?
  22. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 14: Onore alla piu bella!
  23. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Uno: Scena 12: Per l'onor, per la fe

Tracks:

  1. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Terzo: Scena 1: Ecco il giorno di festa
  2. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Terzo: Scena 1: Vergin del Cielo
  3. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Terzo: Scena 1: Su, venite, siamo qua
  4. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Terzo: Scena 1: Per compire un voto di pieta
  5. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Terzo: Scena 2: Tornate alla vostra magion
  6. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Terzo: Scena 3: Nell'orror di cupa notte
  7. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Terzo: Scena 3: Ah l'infido! quest' anima amante
  8. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Terzo: Scena 3: Tu m'intendesti?...Addio...
  9. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Terzo: Scena 4: Su, su, Marcel...se in tempo giungerem
  10. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Terzo: Scena 4: Alto la!... Oh tradimento!
  11. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Terzo: Scena 5, 6: Alt, ola! rispettate
  12. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Quattro: Scena 1, 2: Alfin son sola, sola col mio dolor
  13. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Quattro: Scena 3: Di Caterina un cenno tutti
  14. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Quattro: Scena 3: La causa e santa e in petto
  15. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Quattro: Scena 3: Su vuoi fidar puo il re?
  16. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Quattro: Scena 4: E voi che rispondete
  17. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Quattro: Scena 5: Gloria a Dio vendicatore
  18. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Quattro: Scena 6: Raul...ove vai tu?
  19. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Quattro: Scena 6: Stringe il periglio
  20. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Quattro: Scena 6: Non ascolti un suon funebre?

Tracks:

  1. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Quattro: Scene 1 & 2: Sei tu, mio buon Marcel
  2. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Quattro: Scene 1 & 2: Non vedi tu che a speme il cor si appresta?
  3. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Quattro: Scene 1 & 2: Nell' unir vostre man
  4. Gli Ugonotti: Atto Quattro: Scene 3: Chi va la?
  5. Gli Ugonotti: Bonus Track: Non lungi dalle torri...
  6. Gli Ugonotti: Bonus Track: Piff, paff, piff, paff!
  7. Gli Ugonotti: Bonus Track: Lieuto suol della Turrena - che la lotta fatal dell'empie sette
  8. Gli Ugonotti: Bonus Track: Raul...ove vai tu?
  9. Gli Ugonotti: Act 2: Duo: O ciel, ou suis - je?
  10. Gli Ugonotti: Act 2: Preux doit vivre sa belle
  11. Gli Ugonotti: Act 2: Ah! Si j'etais coquette
  12. Gli Ugonotti: Act 4: Grand Duo: O ciel! Ou courez - vous?
  13. Gli Ugonotti: Act 4: Tu l'as dit!
  14. Gli Ugonotti: Act 4: Plus d'amour! Plus d'ivresse!

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Breathtaking.......2006-02-17

This is a magnificent performance that was luckily captured on recording. My only quip is that the thunderous ovation following the big Corelli/Simionato duet (which has to be heard to be believed) was cut. This is live La Scala at its most exciting. You should not buy this recording for an accurate, complete realisation of Les Huguenots. It is sung in Italian and is heavily cut and it is glorious!

5 out of 5 stars Unbelievably Glorious Singing.......2005-06-23

First of all, I CANNOT believe all of the caterwauling that these ignorant reviewers have bestowed upon this historic evening of singing. Did you fools LISTEN to this recording??? Who cares that the score is cut (my God, Hugenots uncut is over 4 hrs. long!) This is passionate, glorious opera singing that I shall probably never hear the likes of in a live performance during my lifetime. And to those who are complaining about the sound: this is NOT a studio recording! The sound is very acceptable for a live perfomance from the 60's. In short, buy this!

1 out of 5 stars Musically inaccurate to the max.......2004-08-13

I concede that Sutherland, Corelli et al are in excellent voice, but what they sing is a heavily-cut, slowed-down performance of the music. Corelli, who never had a high D, also avoids the C in the Act II duet...not that I "only" listen to music for high notes, like some folks do, but Meyerbeer wrote those notes in for dramatic purposes so they are part of the score. Sutherland herself was so upset with this performance that she finally made a complete recording of the opera (at proper tempos) two years later with her husband, Richard Bonynge, conducting.

I would, however, recommend the cut but terribly exciting Nicolai Gedda performance over this one, or Sutherland's commercial recording. The Gedda-Tarres-Shane performance is unbelievably intense!

2 out of 5 stars Really!.......2004-04-18

Last night I wanted to buy a CD of Sutherland in this opera, I have a Gedda live recording which I like. So I came to this and read a lot of the reviews. Sounded pretty impressive and the price was right. It also ran a bell, so I went to the rack and found I already have this recording (duh). Okay. For two nights and days I've been listening to it. To begin with, it sounds as though it were being sung through a cell phone. The Gedda is better. Sutherland's voice is pretty, but I prefer her in other things. The review by Catharina Kuefstein is so fierce, so passionate and so well written that I love it. In fact, I like it so much that I don't want to disagree with it. But alas I do on at least one point. She says that opera (singing) is more than just vocal tricks. Well, I like vocal tricks, gymnastics, coloratura. (By the way, have you ever noticed that Gruberova (my darling operatic discovery when she first came out, what a waste) has an enraging idiosyncrasy of sliding up to her final high notes instead of leaping to them, making a clean break? Clearly she could jump if she wanted to (why doesn't she want to?), it bothers me so much that (sigh) I got rid of almost all her recordings that I had, keeping only a few Donizetti rarities that no one else has sung that I know of. Caballe, on the other hand (another one I won't listen to unless I have no choice, again on rare live Donizetti recordings) doesn't end up at all, she goes up and then drops!) But back to the opera at hand. The music is beautiful, of course, I don't think anyone in it is so ecstatically brilliant as most of these manic reviewers proclaim, the high octane cast notwithstanding, and I think most of these other reviewers would be better off if they knew a little less about music and a little more about English grammar. (Even Kuefstein, whose review I admire so much, slips.)

2 out of 5 stars A review plus corrections.......2004-02-10

Here comes my review but first I want to correct several ignorant reviews here. First of all, what's this fight about the numbers of high notes? I think it's childish, immature and stupid. Who CARES about the number of high notes, this is OPERA and not a vocal tricks fest! Also, spell it right, it's VERISMO!

"I am the biggest fan of the tenor of not only this Century but of all time...going back to the era of Rubini. Franco Corelli is the emperor of tenors and he kills Bjoeling, Caruso, and Gigli."

Good lord, what's this? He never even heard Rubini and the notion that Corelli "killed" Caruso, a singer with a greater technique, more style and grandeur is just ridiculous. I love Corelli but he wasn't the greatest tenor ever.

"I'm not out to exaggerate. But these two highlights are miraculous. Sutherland, in 1962 voice with super squillo and gigantic high notes(high C's,D's,E'sand even Fs are easy for her)These notes are the size of Nilsson's, and they left me with my jaws hanging and breathless. La stupenda simply attacks every terrifying notes of Marguerite's taxing coloratura and adds her own even more difficult embellishments. Tossing trills and fiorituri, here, there, and everywhere, making even the most arduous coloratura unsingable to all other divas seem like child's play. She trills and trills all through her great scene, high above the staff and taking 64th notes as if it's nothing. Her rendition of O beau pays and its even more taxing cabaletta is just a stroll in the part for her. Sutherland's exquisite super squillo, especially the notes above the staff makes all other sopranos take up pottery or needle-point(take your pick), her trills-both high and low are what legends are made of, to shame the flute, and the fioritura so fast that the orchestra has to catch up with her, we're talking 64th notes that cover 20 seconds at a time through two octaves. Sorry, this one must be heard to believe the scope of Dame Joan's power when she was in her prime. This is bravura singing in the style never heard since the days of Malibran!"

Never in my life have I read anything like this. A) Opera is more than high notes, tricks etc. What does Sutherland do with the text? The role? Is her phrasing and diction idiomatic, how is her vocal colouring, is her style coherent and Meyerbeer-like? B) Plus Sutherland's bell like voice has nothing in common with Malibran who was a soprano sfogato. Read Stendhal's writing (He heard Malibran) or Kesting's book on the times of Bellini and Donizetti.

"If corelli is the Emperor, she is his emperess, and we know that it's the empress who rules. No wonder she is called the "Voice of the Century!"

She isn't. She's called La Stupenda. Callas was labelled "Voice of the century".

"This is Verisimo singing for the books. And this could be the most awesome live recording of an opera in the last century...Infinitely, and I repeat, infinitely superior to even the Corelli/Price Travatore... and with far superior sound."

VERISMO. Plus Meyerbeer is stylistic French Grand Opera, not VERISMO. Also, Verdi's opera is called "Il Trovatore". To compare these recordings, it's like apples and oranges.

This recording with its overblown high notes, added fioritura, bad Italian translation and totally unidiomatic cast lacks style, finesse, French grandeur and taste. A gathering of opera's big names but completely miscast. None of them had the French style of a Nicolai Gedda, a Ninon Vallin, Alain Vanzo (A SUPERB Raoul) or a George Thill for example. This elegant, stylistic grand opera is torn to pieces, dragged down as a verismo-fest with overblown high notes fights (What you can hold I can hold longer!), senseless unwritten fioritura and acuti and totally wrong style. Then there are PAINFUL cuts.

And for the low trills of Sutherland: Her low notes were never her strength and weak, hollow and mushy. Her glory was her top and her middle.

And to clear up another lie:

"Callas was asked to sing the role of Valentine vs Sutherland's Queen. She chickened out, and smartly so. For if Callas was to confront Sutherland at La Scala, Milan, Sutherland would shame Callas's and she knew it."

Callas refused this role because it didn't fit her personality plus she never wanted to do a mezzo-role on stage. She also refused Eboli, Carmen, Dalilah and other mezzo-parts. Callas had no fear regarding Sutherland. Unlike some ignorant reviewers those two divas respected each other and Sutherland praises Callas to this day.
Meyerbeer: Les Huguenots (Gli Ugonotti)
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • give it a rest you opera scholars.....
  • A LIVE DOCUMENT OF A REVIVAL - PERIOD!
  • Quite frankly, a mess
  • Gli Ugonotti
  • The TRUTH about this recording
Meyerbeer: Les Huguenots (Gli Ugonotti)

Manufacturer: Opera D'oro
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004SU90
Release Date: 2000-05-23

Tracks:

  1. Act One: Prld - La Scala Orch, Milan/Gianandrea Gavazzeni
  2. Act One: Nei Bei Di Di Giovinezza - Wladimiro Ganzarolli
  3. Act One: Qui Sotto Il Ciel Della Turenna - Franco Corelli
  4. Act One: Piace Della Mensa - La Scala Chor, Milan
  5. Act One: Versate in Abbondanza - Wladimiro Ganzarolli
  6. Act One: Non Lungi Dalle Torri... Bianca Al Par - Franco Corelli
  7. Act One: Qual Mai Strana Figura - Piero De Palma
  8. Act One: Ma Che? Ben Osservando - Manuel Spatafora
  9. Act One: Piff, Paff, Piff - Nicolai Ghiaurov
  10. Act One: Del Castello Al Signor - La Scala Chor, Milan
  11. Act One: L'avventura E Singolare - Piero De Palma/Antonio Cassinelli
  12. Act One: Scioglier Si Dee L'imen - Wladimiro Ganzarolli
  13. Act One: Vaga Donna Illustre E Cara - Fiorenza Cossotto
  14. Act One: Talor Soverchio Merto - Wladimiro Ganzarolli
  15. Act One: Lieto Suol Della Turenna - Joan Sutherland
  16. Act One: Che La Lotta Fatal - Joan Sutherland
  17. Act One: Chi Giunge Qui - Joan Sutherland

Tracks:

  1. Act One: Chor - La Scala Chor, Milan
  2. Act One: Raul, La Vostra Fe - Joan Sutherland
  3. Act One: Scender Nel Mio Petto - Joan Sutherland
  4. Act One: Per L'onor, Per La Fe Degli Avi Miei - Franco Corelli/Giorgio Tozzi/Wladimiro Ganzarolli
  5. Act Two: Ecco Il Giorno Di Festa - La Scala Chor, Milan
  6. Act Two: Vergin Del Cielo - La Scala Chor, Milan
  7. Act Two: Su Venite, Siamo Qua - La Scala Chor, Milan
  8. Act Two: Per Compire Un Voto Di Pieta - Wladimiro Ganzarolli
  9. Act Two: Tornate Alla Vostra Magion - La Scala Chor, Milan
  10. Act Two: Nell' Orror Di Cupa Notte - Nicolai Ghiaurov
  11. Act Two: Ah! L'infido! Quest' Anima Amante - Giulietta Simionato
  12. Act Two: Tu M'intendesti?... Addio - Giulietta Simionato

Tracks:

  1. Act Two: Su, Su Marcel - Nicolai Ghiaurov
  2. Act Two: Alt, Ola; Rispettate Di Novarra La Regine - Fiorenza Cossotto
  3. Act Three: Alfin Son Sola - Giulietta Simionato
  4. Act Three: Di Caterina Un Cenno - Giorgio Tozzi
  5. Act Three: La Causa E Santa - Giorgio Tozzi
  6. Act Three: Su Voi Fidar Puo Il Re? - Giorgio Tozzi
  7. Act Three: E Voi Che Rispondeste - Giorgio Tozzi
  8. Act Three: Gloria A Dio Vendicatore - La Scala Chor, Milan
  9. Act Three: Raul.. Ove Vai Tu? - Giulietta Simionato
  10. Act Three: Stringe Il Periglio - Franco Corelli
  11. Act Three: Non Ascolti Un Suon Funebre? - Franco Corelli

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars give it a rest you opera scholars............2006-12-02

These were the last of the titans of opera and we will not see their like again. All the blah blah blather by the opera elitists. What a bore. These are the same 'educated' opera lovers who accused Caruso of being too crude in his lifetime. They just HATE any singing with a temperature over 98.6......

4 out of 5 stars A LIVE DOCUMENT OF A REVIVAL - PERIOD!.......2005-10-29

I am astounded by some of the comments in these postings. To begin with, under the guise of a "kid's review", such sophisticated
aural observations are made? If these are "kids", then the rest of us must have been retards when we were twelve. Secondly, I would like to inform "Madamemusica", or whatever she calls herself, that despite whatever musical education she has had, her comment that those who love Corelli don't know much about music, defies all logic, and defaces whatever she professes to know about music. This performance of "Ugonotti" is a live broadcast of a 1962 performance that took place at La Scala - with the most spectacular cast that could be assembled at the time. The combination of Sutherland/Corelli/Simionato/Cossotto alone is a cause for wonder. The broadcast sound is adequate for the document that it is. This opera would not be performed like this today (to begin with, are there singers to do it?), certainly not in Italian anyway, and nor would it be cut as drastically. Whatever the case, a lot of the singing is involving and the big Corelli-Simionato duet is something to hear. And yes, I happen to admire Franco Corelli tremendously. What a fabulous sound legacy he has left behind, and how vividly I recall the effects he made on opera audiences here in Chicago as well as New York. I am sure that "Madamemusica" has had the same acclaim in her life. People who bash artists in such a fashion reduce music to something on the level of a wrestling match to be seen on late Saturday night television. They should be ashamed of themselves.

1 out of 5 stars Quite frankly, a mess.......2004-08-01

All these great voices in one place...it would be nice if they actually sang the music as written.

Even Sutherland has complained about this performance. Though she was in fabulous voice, the music of the opera was virtually ruined by the sluggish tempi and especially by Franco Corelli's abuse of legato when he should be singing more rhythmically, skipping many of the written high notes, and omitting some cadenzas. Of course, if you are a Corelli fan you probably don't know much about music anyway, so you can just ignore this review and go on adoring his goopy vocal style.

Overall, the finest "Huguenots" is still the famous 1971 Vienna performance with Shane, Tarres, Petkov, Diaz and the superb Nicolai Gedda as Raoul. Marzendorfer conducts with a real sense of purpose and drama, the sound is shockingly superb for so vintage a live recording, and Gedda comes closest to the Meyerbeerian ideal tenor. A shame it is abridged, just as this recording is.

4 out of 5 stars Gli Ugonotti.......2003-12-08

Gli Ugonotti is a grand opera and probely the Grandest of all operas. This CD is the five act version thought edited it is there. The company must have scruded up there. This recording is would be tops if not for the microphone. Sutherland is excelent with the high notes as is Corelli with his. I have been an opera fan for about three years now and I know this is a great recording!!!

2 out of 5 stars The TRUTH about this recording.......2003-12-06

The sound of this recording is passable, though very imperfect, and the singers don't always "sound" in important moments. If you follow with a score in hand, be prepared to be more than disappointed. Firstly, some of the finest ensemble writing is cut out completely. You will then discover that even though the Tenor (Corelli) and the "Falcon Soprano" (Simionato) sing wonderfully full-bodied performances, neither of them sing any of the written cadenzas (especially the one out of the Act IV duet which requires the tenor to sing wonderfully a line clear up to a high D), and for all Simionato's praised high notes, she really sings very few high C's (less than a quarter of them written, though mind you, Meyerbeer did write lower alternate lines - not just notes - for those parts, which she often sings, and ineffectively, since her voice seems to lose the needed power when doing the lower alternates, fading into nothing). Both understand ITALIAN style well, and yet neither of them has a good legato line. Corelli is to the point where he becomes annoying with his continual need to use the spring-board of the petit note inferior to reach his high notes. The constant aspirates during the famous forth act duet (during the soft part "Ah dillo ancor, Tu m'ami", and it is written PPPP in the score demanding the tenor float the notes, not blast them out) not only spoil the haunting effect asked for in the music, they actually ruin the piece entirely. And what makes it even more glaring is that Simionato sings her repeat with a wonderful legato line. Yes, Corelli is energetic, virile in fact, but he is SLOPPY to the extreme. He may have been the best tenor of the day, with fabulous looks, but it would have been nice to actually hear him sing with proper style.
Meyerbeer: Gli Ugonotti
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • The TRUTH about this recording
  • To clear up lies spread by Corelli fanatics
  • Get Gedda's recording instead of this one
  • Bravi, Bravissima for Dame Joan Sutherland
  • Sutherland was the star
Meyerbeer: Gli Ugonotti

Manufacturer: Living Stage
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by MeyerbeerAll Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
RomancesRomances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
FrenchFrench | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
OperettasOperettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00003O9J4
Release Date: 1999-12-15

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars The TRUTH about this recording.......2003-12-06

The sound of this recording is passable, though very imperfect, and the singers don't always "sound" in important moments. If you follow with a score in hand, be prepared to be more than disappointed. Firstly, some of the finest ensemble writing is cut out completely. You will then discover that even though the Tenor (Corelli) and the "Falcon Soprano" (Simionato) sing wonderfully full-bodied performances, neither of them sing any of the written cadenzas (especially the one out of the Act IV duet which requires the tenor to sing wonderfully a line clear up to a high D), and for all Simionato's praised high notes, she really sings very few high C's (less than a quarter of them written, though mind you, Meyerbeer did write lower alternate lines - not just notes - for those parts, which she often sings, and ineffectively, since her voice seems to lose the needed power when doing the lower alternates, fading into nothing). Both understand ITALIAN style well, and yet neither of them has a good legato line. Corelli is to the point where he becomes annoying with his continual need to use the spring-board of the petit note inferior to reach his high notes. The constant aspirates during the famous forth act duet (during the soft part "Ah dillo ancor, Tu m'ami", and it is written PPPP in the score demanding the tenor float the notes, not blast them out) not only spoil the haunting effect asked for in the music, they actually ruin the piece entirely. And what makes it even more glaring is that Simionato sings her repeat with a wonderful legato line. Yes, Corelli is energetic, virile in fact, but he is SLOPPY to the extreme. He may have been the best tenor of the day, with fabulous looks, but it would have been nice to actually hear him sing with proper style.

2 out of 5 stars To clear up lies spread by Corelli fanatics.......2003-12-06

The singing in this opera is stupendous all around, even if the tenor is somewhat weak and has a very reedy voice. This tenor (Vrenios) sings the music adequately and includes all the very high notes, which in the live Italian version of this opera Corelli does NOT do (I stress this because if you read the reviews of that recording everyone is going on and on about all his high B's and C's and D's; he sings a few high B flats, one High C, and NO high D flats at all, that is the facts, and all the cadenza. I have heard this tenor in other recordings, and the voice is very different. He does have very powerful high notes in the traditional manner. That makes me wonder if Bonynge was trying to have the tenor sing in accordance to the time the opera was written. High notes from the chest were seldom heard, and tenors sang them either in a full falsetto or in a mixed falsetto middle voice. To my ear, that is the sound he is trying to achieve. It works, though there is some strain, but it is so different from the sound we are used to I am not that sure it comes across that effectively.

2 out of 5 stars Get Gedda's recording instead of this one.......2003-08-21

This recording is not as good as some reviewers would like you to think. It is heavily cut and is in Italian. Meyerbeer's opera sounds better in French. The singers, especially Franco Corelli, sing like they are in a verismo opera rather than a French grand opera. Corelli offends with his scooping and he cuts out the florid bits as well as the most difficult tenor passages. Only Giulietta Simionato and Joan Sutherland are models of good taste. Sutherland, especially, is a great Queen Marguerite with stupendous coloratura and correctly-hit, electrifying high notes. Get Nicolai Gedda's live recording of a cut performance of the opera on Myto instead. Gedda doesn't scoop like Corelli does, and unlike Corelli, Gedda sings the florid parts and the most difficult tenor passages. He is a model of French style and good taste. His Queen Marguerite is Rita Shane, who is almost as good as Sutherland is. Myto's sound is very good, and the recording comes with a French libretto, though no English translation is provided.

5 out of 5 stars Bravi, Bravissima for Dame Joan Sutherland.......2003-05-24

sang all the high notes easily and holds them. Simionato, although a mezzo actually matched many of Corelli's high C's.
But the real star is the coloratura, Dame Joan Sutherland, singing one of the most difficult role in the entire reportoire with such ease as if just opening her mouth. This rediculously impossible to sing written music is sheer child's play for her. Throwing trills, runs, scales, staccato and extremely high notes here, there, and everywhere. All the while maintaining what many consider the most pure and glorious soprano sound of our time. She is the greatest coloratura soprano in the entire operatic heaven. Listen to her and the others in this most difficult opera and be dumbfounding by phenomenal singing.
(unfortunately, Sutherland, especially in the 1980's, when she was way past 50, continue to sing and record operas. Thereby discrediting herself to some extent if a new opera lover had not heard her in her prime period of between 1956-1976 and therefore thought that a 1980 recording of Sonnambula is the true Sutherland sound when that was the period that Sutherland lost at least half her voice and technique. Nevertheless, the great Prima Donna had a massive 30 year spand of spectacular singing career of performing the most fiendishly difficult music ever written for the soprano voice).
P.S. Corelli and Simionato performed the most sensational grand duet on record and ranks as one of the most impressive display of that type of demanding verisimo singing.

5 out of 5 stars Sutherland was the star.......2001-11-04

The history of the annals of opera notes that La Stupenda (Joan Sutherland) received 28 curtain calls in a role that has only one big scene for Joan's role - as Marguerite. Sutherland, the queen of coloratura sopranos was awesome. Corelli - known to be a jealous type of singer, never sang with her on stage again. However, Corelli was fantastic - he match Sutheland's huge high notes, but he battles not Sutherland in this opera. His duets are with Simionato. And the two of them are wonderful in the grand duet. Corelli hits a several high D's in this opera. Live sound of 1962, but not bad. This is the most vintage recording in the books by Sutherland, Corelli, and Simionato - who were three of the greatest singers of the 20th century.
Meyerbeer - Gli Ugonotti - Gianandrea Gavazzeni (3 CD Set)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Meyerbeer - Gli Ugonotti - Gianandrea Gavazzeni (3 CD Set)

    Manufacturer: GALA Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD
    ASIN: B000ECU23Y

    Product Description

    GIACOMO MEYERBEER (1701-1864). GLI UGONOTTI. Opera in quattro atti Opera in four acts. Margherita di Valois - Joan Sutherland, Fidunzata di Enrico - lvetrothed of Henry of Navarre, lid id de Nangis - Franco Corelli, Gentiluomo - protestante/protestant nobleman, Il Conte di Saint-Bris - Giorgio Tozzi, Signore cattoli - catholic nobleman, Valentino - Giulietta Simionato, Sua figlia/his daughter, Urbano - Fiorenza Cossotto, Paggio di - Margherita/Marguerite"s page, Marcello - Nicolai Ghiaurov, Strvo di - Raul/Raoul"s servant, Il C.onte di Nevers - Wladimiro Ganzarolli, Signore cattolicol - catholic nobleman, Tavannes - Piero de Palma, Cosse - Giuseppe Bertinazzo, Thore - Manuel Spatafora, De Retz - Antonio Cassinelli, Meru - Alfredo Giacomotti, Maurevert - Silvio Maionica, Bois-Rose - Walter Gullino, Soldato ugonotto/a - Huguenot soldier. Leonard - Angelo Mercuriali. Servo di il Conte di Neverslvalet of the Count of Nevers, Un arciere - Virgilio Carbonari, A constable, Una dama - Clara Fotti, A maid of honour, Quattro signori - Walter Gullino, Angelo Mercuriali, Four gentlemen - Giuseppe Morresi, Alfredo Giacomotti, Due zingare - Clara Fotti, Maddalena Bonifaccio, Two gipsy girls Tre frati - Enzo Guagni, Virgilio Carbonari, Giovanni Antonini, Three monks. Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alia Scala, Dirigent/Conductor: Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Teatro alla Scala, Milan, June 7, 1962.
    Meyerbeer: Gli Ugonotti
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Meyerbeer: Gli Ugonotti

      Manufacturer: Classic Memories
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      All Works by MeyerbeerAll Works by Meyerbeer | Meyerbeer, Giacomo | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      RomancesRomances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      FrenchFrench | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B00008FFIP
      Release Date: 1994-08-23
      Gli Ugonotti
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Gli Ugonotti
        Meyerbeer , Sutherland , and Simionato
        Manufacturer: Great Opera Perform.
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
        ASIN: B00008F5P2
        Release Date: 1994-01-04
        Gli Ugonotti
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Gli Ugonotti
          Meyerbeer , Lauri-Volpi , Serafin , and Milan
          Manufacturer: Arkadia: the 78's
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

          GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
          ASIN: B00008EOYZ
          Release Date: 1995-03-06

          Music Track:

          1. MMC New Century, Vol. XIII
          2. Mon ami Rossini
          3. Mozart: His Greatest Works [Box set]
          4. Musical Tribute: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
          5. Mutations and other Fairytales
          6. New Tunes on Jazz Elements
          7. Opus Québec
          8. Organ & Keyboard Music
          9. Organ Wrks: At Aristide Cavaille-Coll Organ
          10. Paolo Benedetto Bellinzani: Opera 6 - Musica d'Amore

          Music Track

          music track

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