Recommended Recordings
Compiled by Peter Russell
A safe, middle-of-the road bet here is the DECCA recording from 1972 featuring Sherrill Milnes in the title role, Dame Joan Sutherland as Gilda, and Luciano Pavarotti as the Duke, all of them in top form, conducted by Richard Bonynge.
The 1963 RCA set led by Sir Georg Solti has even more propulsion, which works well with this score most of the time, and features an equally attractive cast in Robert Merrill, Anna Moffo, and Alfredo Kraus.
A 1960 recording that originated on the Italian Cetra label resurfaces periodically as a bargain-basement reissue, and should not be ignored. Conducted by Gianandrea Gavazzeni, and recorded during a run of performances at Florence's Maggio Musicale festival, it features an almost entirely Italian cast led by Ettore Bastianini (who mostly plays the title role as relentlessly angry, but what a glorious sound it is when he actually manages to stay in tune), the young Renata Scotto and Alfredo Kraus. This has a spirit of Italianate authenticity and style.
Among videos, the 1983 London studio film looks promising on paper, with its cast of Ingvar Wixell, Edita Gruberovà, and Luciano Pavarotti and direction and design by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. Alas, it doesn't all add up. With rare exceptions, Ponnelle's talents were best applied to works, such as the comedies of Mozart and Rossini,that brought out his inherent mordant wit. In full-blooded works of the Romantic era, he was frequently at a loss, as is the case here. One has to suspend disbelief in imagining Gruberovà as a shy shut-in rather than an archly confident prima donna , or Pavarotti as an irresistible seducer. In common with so many lip-synched videos, this lacks immediacy.
It may be controversial, and it isn't nearly as well sung, but the David McVicar production recorded at Covent Garden by Opus Arte in 2001 is a more convincing performance of Verdi's opera. Be forewarned: there is full-frontal nudity in the opening scene. But Paolo Gavanelli in the title role, Christine Schäfer as Gilda, and Marcelo Alvarez as the Duke all offer valid, strong interpretations. With the possible exception of Alvarez, they don't sing well enough to make you wish for an audio-only recording, but they capture the spirit of the drama.
Note: Concerning these recommendations for audio and video recordings, especially regarding audio recordings, it is critical to bear in mind that recordings go in and out of print constantly. If a recording is described herein as ?currently out of print,? it may again be available within the coming year, so it is always worthwhile to seek things out.
