Giuseppe Verdi: Otello (Complete Opera, 2 disc set) - Gwyneth Jones, James McCracken, Sir John Barbirolli (conductor)

Giuseppe Verdi: Otello (Complete Opera, 2 disc set) - Gwyneth Jones, James McCracken, Sir John Barbirolli (conductor)

Giuseppe Verdi: Otello (Complete Opera, 2 disc set) - Gwyneth Jones, James McCracken, Sir John Barbirolli (conductor)
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CD Details

Performer: Alfredo Giacomotti
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Conductor: John Barbirolli
Performer: Boys from Uptown House School
Performer: Girls from Hammersmith County School
Orchestra: Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Orchestra: New Philharmonia Orchestra
Performer: Florindo Andreolli
Performer: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Performer: Gwyneth Jones
Performer: James McCracken
Performer: Anna di Stasio
Performer: Glynne Thomas
Performer: Piero dePalma
Performer: Piero de Palma
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1994-09-13
Music Label: EMI - Capitol
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
  1. Una Vela Una Vela (Act1/Otello)
  2. Esultate!
  3. Roderigo, Ebben, Che Pensi?
  4. Fuoco Di Gioia
  5. Roderigo, Beviam!
  6. Inaffia L'ugola! Trinca, Tracanna!
  7. Capitano, V'attende La Fazione Ai Baluardi
  8. Abbaso Le Spade!
  9. Gia Nella Notte Densa
  10. Qunado Narravi L'esule Tua Vita
  11. Non Ti Crucciar
  12. Vanne, Lat Tua Meta Gia Vedo
  13. Credo In Un Dio Crudel
  14. Eccola...Cassio...A Tr
  15. Cio M'accora
  16. Dove Guardi Splendono Raggi
  17. D'un Uom Che Geme Sotte Il Tuo Disdegno
  18. Se INconscia COntro Te, Sposo
  19. Desdemona Rea!
  20. Ora E Per Sempre Addio
  21. Era La Notte
  22. Si, Pel Ciel Marmoreo Giuro!
Music CD 2
  1. La Vedetta Del Porto Ha Segnalato
  2. Dio Ti Giocondi
  3. Esterrefatta Fisso
  4. Dio! Mio Potevi Scagliar
  5. Vieni, L'Aula E Deserta
  6. Questa E Una Ragna
  7. COme La Uccidero?
  8. Viva! Evviva! Viva Il Leon Di San Marco
  9. Messeri! Il Doge...
  10. A Terra!...Si...Nel Livido Fango...
  11. Fuggirmi Io Sol Non Sol...Sangue!
  12. Era Piu Calmo?
  13. Mia Madre Aveva Una Povera Ancella
  14. Piangea Cantando Nell'erma LAnda
  15. Ave MAria, Piena Di Grazia
  16. Chi E La? Othello?
  17. Apirte! Apirte!
  18. Quai Grida!
  19. Niun Mi Tema

Music reviews of Giuseppe Verdi: Otello (Complete Opera, 2 disc set) - Gwyneth Jones, James McCracken, Sir John Barbirolli (conductor)

Music Review: McCracken's finest hour?
Rating: 5 Stars

The main reason I'm writing this is because of the naysaying reviewer. (The other reviewers offer many good points.)

I agree with the naysayer that this may not be the best Otello on the market -- although I don't agree that I'm sure of it. I do feel the need to address some of his/her criticisms, not because the recording has no flaws but because these criticisms are so inappropriate. First and foremost, the reviewer mentions Jones's infamous wobble. Granted, and -- no question -- I also dispute the frequent praise of much of her work. But there's no wobble here, so why bring it up? She sings beautifully, and acts beautifully as well -- very much the "perfect Desdemona" approach, but with spirit as well as sensitivity. As to Fischer-Dieskau, I had him on almost all of my original Verdi recordings, and wasn't happy about it. But he performs extremely well, and, as to hectoring ... I guess the reviewer wanted to like Iago?

As to McCracken -- okay, I'll admit, this recording was my childhood introduction to Otello. I saw Domingo in the role on stage (three times), and Vickers on television (I think twice) -- and I was an avid fan of Vickers. But neither eclipsed McCracken's interpretation, for me. Just listening to it recently (on CD, not my original records), I was out-right shocked by how insane the man sounded, even from the start. (This makes the Horne anecdote of another reviewer seem apt.) So I picked up my Penguin Opera Guide and read how this volatility was a major change that Verdi and Boito made from the Shakespeare. Surely there's no question that it is apt, and well (vocally) acted. Since most listeners don't know McCracken either from disks or live performance (I did get to see him in Tannhauser and Prophete before he had his altercation with the Met -- over Otello), they owe it to themselves to get a hold of this recording, because it's McCracken at his top. Whether or not you like the top (I do).

As to Barbirolli, I've always found his Madama Butterfly too emphatic, and I've been amazed at other reviewers' adoration of the recording. But then, I'm amazed at the aforementioned reviewer's charge of lax tempos, which seems no-more-true in Otello than Madama Butterfly. The storm scene at the beginning (of Otello) is so vitriolic it overwhelms the capacity of the recording -- which IS a liability of this recording. Other tempos seems at least sufficiently fast for me, and always expressive. As other other reviewers have said, the rest of the cast is quite commendable.

So ... the best recording out there? I don't know. I know from in-person experience that Vickers and Domingo have a great deal to offer the role. Desdemona has been remarkably well served, in my experience (even by the eventually execrable Gilda Cruz-Romo). And Iago will undoubtedly have more mellifluous exponents elsewhere, but few better acted. But this is a highly powerful Otello that needs to be heard. And poor McCracken, who died fairly young and languished in undeserved obscurity during his final (vocally still potent) years, must be heard by anyone who treasures singing. And American singing. And MET singing. And singing actors. Despite its vivid but over-stuffed sonics, this is a document that must be both preserved and savored.
More Giuseppe Verdi: Otello (Complete Opera, 2 disc set) - Gwyneth Jones, James McCracken, Sir John Barbirolli (conductor) free music reviews:
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