The young Verdi - Vol. 1Macbeth (1865 version) - Milnes, Cossotto, Carreras, Raimondi - Muti 1976
Performer: Sherrill Milnes, Ruggero Raimondi, Fiorenza Cossotto, José Carreras, Giuliano Bernardi, Carlos Del Bosco, Maria Borgato, Leslie Fyson, John Noble, Nielson Taylor, Christopher Keyte, Sara Grossman, Timothy Sprackling
Conductor: Riccardo Muti
Orchestra/Ensemble: New Philharmonia Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Listen to the whole performance by clicking the white arrow in the red circle!
Muti leads like a house-on-fire, whipping the Witches into a frenzy and never allowing too much of the oom-pah side of the opera to sneak out. His Macbeth is the fine Sherrill Milnes in perhaps his best recorded performance, singing like a man possessed and with every note and feeling of this complex character at his command. His Lady is the gigantic Fiorenza Cossotto, ungraceful but thrilling and with quite an attitude. Ruggero Raimondi's Banquo is dignified and he sings the aria well. Jose Carreras' Macduff is so beautifully sung that realizing what has happened to his voice can bring tears to your eyes. The Ambrosian Chorus and Philharmonia Orchestra play and sing as if they were afraid of Muti, which wouldn't surprise me one bit. --Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com
