Verdi - La Forza del Destino - Arroyo, Bergonzi, Raimondi - Gardelli 19693CDs - ADD Digital Remastered - 168min.
EMI Classics
Performer: Carlo Bergonzi, Piero Cappuccilli, Ruggero Raimondi, Sir Geraint Evans, Antonio Zerbini, Bianca Maria Casoni, Martina Arroyo, Mila Cova, Virgilio Carbonari, Florindo Andreolli, Derek Hammond-Stroud
Conductor: Lamberto Gardelli
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus
The excellence of Lamberto Gardelli's interpretation is evident from the start. The overture is extraordinarily well played by the Royal Philharmonic in a sensitive, exciting performance, very clearly recorded. Throughout, the orchestral playing is fresh, supple, beautifully shaped; the RPO, even at this date, even with so many players changed, still sounds here like "Beecham's orchestra". (And it has been a special pleasure to be able at last to follow the opera in study score, available now from Peters, Hinrichsen in this country.) The first scene is not the best. Antonio Zerbini addresses his daughter loudly rather than with paternal tenderness, and Leonora's air seems somewhat forward, not wistful enough. Bergonzi's first utterances are also insufficiently romantic, but tenderness and line come into his performance at "Pronti destrieri". Thereafter everything goes well.
This is Martina Arroyo's first major recording, apart from that Donna Elvira for Bohm, but her Valentine, her Aida, most recently her Leonora in 11 trovatore, have already endeared her to English audiences. Caballe, Price and Arroyo are our leading Verdi sopranos today. Arroyo can soar and shine, expand on a broad phrase, softly attack a high note. Both the big arias here are very beautiful, and so are the asides, the narratives delivered with a gentle urgency, the impassioned exclamations which are never uncontrolled. The voice is smooth, rich and alluring through all its range ; the personality is warm. --Arkivmusic
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