Giovanni Martinelli: His Last Otello

On this CD:

1. Otello, opera
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Cesare Curzi, Giovanni Martinelli, John Carmen Rossi, Lloyd Harris, Cesare Bardelli
Conducted by Giuseppe Bamboschek

Giovanni Martinelli: His Last Otello, Music, Giuseppe Verdi, Giuseppe Bamboschek, Cesare Bardelli, Cesare Curzi, Giovanni Martinelli, John Carmen Rossi, June Kelly, Lloyd Harris, Mildred Ippolito, Classical, Classical Music, Italian Romantic Opera, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio
Giovanni Martinelli: His Last Otello
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Martinelli's Final Bow as the Moor a Mixed Bag
 Giovanni Martinelli: His Last Otello

Manufacturer: Grammofono 2000
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by VerdiAll Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ItalianItalian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004C4R8
Release Date: 2000-03-14

Tracks:

  1. 'Evviva! Evviva'...'Esulate'
  2. 'Roderigo, Ebben Che Pensi?'
  3. 'Roderigo, Beviam'
  4. 'Innaffia L'ugola'
  5. 'Abbasso Le Spade'
  6. 'Jago, Tu Va Nella Citta Sgomenta'
  7. 'Gia Nella Notte Densa'
  8. 'Non Ti Crucciar'
  9. 'Vanne, La Tua Meta Gia Vedo'
  10. 'Credo In Un Dio Crudel'
  11. 'Cio M'accora'
  12. 'E Un 'Idra Fosca'
  13. 'D'un Uom Che Geme'
  14. 'Desdemona Rea!'
  15. 'Ora E Per Sempre Addio, Sante Memorie'
  16. 'Era La Notte, Cassio Dromia'
  17. 'Si Pel Ciel Marmoreo Giuro!'

Tracks:

  1. 'Dio Ti Giocondi, O Sposo'
  2. 'Ma Riparlar Vi Debbo Di Cassio'
  3. 'Esterrefatta Fisso Lo Sguardo Tuo Tremendo'
  4. 'Dio Mi Potevi Scagliar Tutti I Mali'
  5. 'Ah! Dannazione!''
  6. 'Vieni, L'aula E Deserta'
  7. 'Questa E Una Ragna;
  8. 'Come La Uccidero?'
  9. 'Viva, Evviva'
  10. 'Eccolo! E Lui! Nell'Animo Lo Scruta'
  11. 'A Terra...Si...Nel Livido Fango'
  12. 'Fuggirmi Io Sol Non So...Sangue!'
  13. Intro
  14. 'Chi E La? Otello?'
  15. 'Aprite! Aprite!'
  16. 'Quai Grida! Orrore! Orror!
  17. 'Niun Mi Tema'
  18. 'Pria D'Ucciderti...Sposa...Ti Baciai'

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Martinelli's Final Bow as the Moor a Mixed Bag.......2004-01-25

Verdi's Otello was one of the great roles of the celebrated Italian tenor Giovanni Martinelli (1885-1969) and this final performance, given in Philadelphia in 1948, is well worth having. The recording, as well as the performance itself, is a mixed bag, running the gamut from exquisite to truly bizarre. At age 62, Martinelli is still in fine form as the Moor, although given to a much more declamatory style than one is accustomed to hearing from the tenor in his prime. The tenor occasionally transposes to suit his aging high notes but the voice rings true for the most part...the opening "Esultate!" is remarkable and as fine as anything recorded by the tenor during any period of his career. The "Si, pel ciel" gets off to a brilliant start but completely comes apart toward the end due to coordination problems. Otello's Act III monologue suffers similarly...Martinelli enters a bar early on Jago's "Cassio e la", leaving him hanging out to dry on the final "O gioia!". Martinelli is forced to resort to declamation to finish the aria. On the other hand, Otello's death aria is beautifully and heartbreakingly sung by the tenor. Did he know that this would be his final performance as the Moor? Martinelli is surrounded by an uneven cast and a rather dubious sounding chorus. Cesare Bardelli's Jago is brilliant. This singer possesses a true Verdi baritone which he uses to great effect. The "Era la notte" in the second act is one of the finest I have ever heard. His performance is particularly incredible considering that he might have been slightly under the weather that night...he can be frequently heard clearing his throat. On the other hand, the Desdemona of June Kelly leaves something to be desired. Her thin soprano simply does not fill the requirements of the role...Kelly might be better suited for Nanetta in Falstaff. In Kelly's defense, portions of her music (particularly the third act duet with Otello) seem to have been transferred at too high a speed and her two fourth act arias, which she may very well have sung quite beautifully, are omitted. Bamboschek's conducting does very little to help the singers which strikes me as a bit odd...he was one of Martinelli's favored accompanists during the latter part of the tenor's career! As a final note, it should be mentioned that the prompter is in fine voice throughout the performance! Martinelli's voice may be an aquired taste, but for a remarkable document of a great tenor of the Golden Age in the twilight of his career, this CD is a must have!

Music Track:

  1. James Dashow/Bruce Saylor/Ezra Sims
  2. Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Complete Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1
  3. Joseph Haydn: Symphonies No. 31 in D Major "Hornsignal" / No. 59 in A Major "Fire" / No. 73 in D Major "The Hunt" - Concentus Musicus Wien / Nikolaus Harnoncourt
  4. Juego de siempre: Jewish Spanish Traditional Songs
  5. "Lost Yet Not Forgotten" (Enchantments of Long Ago)
  6. Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night's Dream Op61; Concerto for violin in Em
  7. Music by Erich Itor Kahn
  8. Music by Robert Hall Lewis
  9. Music by Tobias Picker & Marc Blitzstein
  10. Music For Romance

Music Track

music track

Recommended Music:

Back in the World [Extra tracks] [Live] [Import]

Hugo Wolf Society, Vol. l (Original Albums l - lll)

Evening Tunes in Prague

Music: Bach J.S: Cantatas Nos. 51, 82, 202 & 208 [Import

21st Century Blues

Get on It [CD-single] [Import]

Highlights From The Phantom Of The Opera: The Original London Cast (1986 London Cast) [Cast Recording]

Gift

Goodbye Peter Lorre [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Double Bass Portraits

Harlem Lullaby [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Georgia on My Mind [Import]

En La Guerra Y En El Amor

Live Bust

Hopeless Romantics