Verdi - I Lombardi - Carreras, Dimitrova - Gavazzeni 1984DVD9 - NTSC - 4:3 - All Regions - PCM - 127min.
Subtitles: English, Spanish, German
NVC
Jose Carreras - Oronte, Ghena Dimitrova - Giselda, Carlo Bii - Arvino, Silvano Carroli - Pagano
Conductor: Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Orchestra/Ensemble: Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra, Milan Teatro alla Scala Chorus
Another Verdi triumph from the archives of La Scala, this 1984 production of one of the master's early popular successes showcases José Carreras's truly glorious instrument, a tenor voice of loveliness and delicacy that, in its abbreviated prime, was one of the true operatic glories. He sounds superb as the hero, Oronte, and, as his paramour Giselda, Ghena Dimitrova nearly matches Carreras's ringingly beautiful tone: their wonderful Act 4 duet is almost too much of a good thing.
Gianandrea Gavazzeni conducts an exciting performance by the La Scala Orchestra, while the La Scala Chorus claims as its vocal peak the striking choral writing that begins Act 3. Gabrielle Lavia's staging, evocative and atmospheric without being cloyingly literal, probably looked better in the opera house, but it transfers effectively to the smaller screen. But this I Lombardi is a souvenir and reminder of José Carreras at his best. --Kevin Filipski
Find more at Amazon
