Verdi Rigoletto

An acclaimed and versatile conductor, Carlo Maria Giulini started his musical studies as a violinist, attending the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome. He studied conducting with Bernardino Molinari at Santa Cecilia and Alfredo Casella at Accademia Chigiana in Siena. After graduation, he joined the Augusteo Orchestra in Rome as a violist. As an orchestral musician, he came in contact with the great conductors of the time, including Strauss, Mengelberg, Walter, Klemperer, and Furtwängler.

Verdi: Rigoletto - Callas, di Stefano, Campolonhi - Mugnai - Mexico City, 17 June 1952
Classical | 2 CDs | MP3 | VBR - 192 kbps | NO BOOKS | COVER | 131 MB
URANIA URN 22.223 | Release Date: 2000

In June 1952, Maria Callas gave a legendary series of performances at the Palacio de las Bellas Artes, Mexico City. That series included not only this "Rigoletto", but three performances of "Lucia di Lamermoor" at the first of which she reprised the entire Mad scene. Callas went on to record "Rigoletto" in 1995 at La Scala in a studio recording with Tito Gobbi in the title role. Inevitably this recording can never replace that one and Pietro Campolonghi is no match for Tito Gobbi, but it is a fascinating and rewarding document.

Verdi: Rigoletto - Björling, Warren, Sayão - Sodero - 29. 12. 1945
Classical | 2 CDs | MP3 | 192 kbps | NO BOOKS | COVER | 155 MB
Naxos Historical 8.110051-52 | Release Date: 2000

The opera, set at the ducal court in 16th century Mantua, opens with a scene in which the Duke, abetted by his jester Rigoletto, mocks Monterone, a courtier whose daughter the Duke has seduced. Monterone's curse on them both takes effect when the Duke, in disguise, finds his way into Rigoletto's house and declares his love for Rigoletto's beloved daughter Gilda, whom Rigoletto later unwittingly helps to abduct to the palace. There the Duke is able to betray her, and Rigoletto now plans to have the Duke killed. In the final act of the opera the Duke is closeted with Maddalena, sister of the murderer Sparafucile, whom Rigoletto has hired to murder his master. Maddalena persuades her brother to kill another in place of the Duke, and hand over his victim's body, concealed in a sack, to Rigoletto. Gilda, disguised as a man, overhears the conversation, and resolves to sacrifice herself. As Rigoletto gloats over what he believes to be the body of his daughter's seducer, the voice of the Duke is heard. Rigoletto tears open the sack, to reveal his dying daughter.

Verdi: Rigoletto - Gueden, Protti, del Monaco - Erede - 1954
Classical | 2 CDs | MP3 | VBR - 192 kbps | NO BOOKS NO COVER | 131 MB
DECCA 476 263 8 | Release Date: 2006

Egy évvel a korszakos jelentőségű, Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi és Giuseppe di Stefano fémjelezte Rigoletto-felvétel előtt készült ez a most újrakiadott lemez, amely jó 50 év távlatából visszatekintve is kiállja az idő próbáját.

Verdi: Rigoletto - Highlights - Callas, Di Stefano, Gobbi, Lazzarini - Serafin - 1956
Classical | CD | FLAC+LOG+ CUE | NO BOOKS NO COVER | 139 MB
EMI (7243 5 6667 2 6) | Release Date: 1997/1998

It is the most human and vulnerable Rigoletto on record. The most formidable in his wrath and the most tragic when he realises the truth. He is terrified when he walks home after Monterone’s curse. He is fatherly caring when he meets Gilda. He is in despair when he meets the courtiers in act II. [Gobbi] whispers, whines, roars, caresses - his supply of vocal colours seems inexhaustible. This is a reading in a million - but it isn’t spotless vocally. Under pressure the tone tends to become pinched. But just as with Callas’s deficiencies this also becomes part of the reading, part of the personality… The final verdict: If you haven’t got the Serafin set: grab the opportunity at once. You will never regret it!

Decca is proud to present this unique recording of Rigoletto. The only Rigoletto stage production on film featuring Luciano Pavarotti, this performance of one of Verdi's best-loved operas was discovered in the Metropolitan Opera Archives and is available here for the first time. Recorded in 1981, it presents Pavarotti at the peak of his career, supported by an outstanding cast that includes Louis Quilico in the title role, Christine Eda-Pierre as Gilda, Ara Berberian as Sparafucile, and Isola Jones as Maddalena, with Met Music Director James Levine on the podium.