Ponchielli - La Gioconda - Cerquetti, Del Monaco, SiepiPerformer: Anita Cerquetti, Mario Del Monaco, Ettore Bastianini, Franca Sacchi, Giulietta Simionato, Cesare Siepi
Conductor: Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Orchestra/Ensemble: Florence Maggio Musicale Orchestra, Florence Maggio Musicale Chorus
This recording is great! Ponchielli's opera has been unfairly maligned over the years. It contains great, effectively-orchestrated music and six wonderful roles for the leading singers. Sure, the plot is very melodramatic and the ending (Barnaba running away through an alley) is ridiculous, but it's the music that counts. The title role, Gioconda, is a difficult one to sing. It demands many low notes and a fair share of high notes. Anita Cerquetti has a huge, dark voice that is just right for Gioconda. The only problem I have with her voice is that her vibrato sometimes becomes excessive, especially in high-lying passages. She is very convincing as the street singer. Her concern for her blind mother, La Cieca, is believable and the way she conveys Gioconda's different emotions is great. Her low notes are strong and most of her high notes are very good. In the Act Four Gioconda/Enzo/Laura trio, her last high note becomes a screech. Her Italian diction is very fine and her phrasing is exemplary. The power and fury she unleashes in her confrontation with Enzo in Act Four is exhilarating. This confrontation is a highlight of the recording. Enzo is sung by Mario del Monaco. When he makes his entrance trumpeting out "Assassini", your ears are pinned back. He is a great Enzo. He not only sings loudly, but also softly. His golden tenor is thrilling in its power and he gives a glorious account of "Cielo e mar". --Amazon customer
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