Turning Points
Donald Macleod explores three Verdi operas that formed turning points in the composer's career: La traviata, Macbeth and Ernani.
Giuseppe Verdi was a leading figure in 19th-century Italian opera. But his impact on the cultural and political landscape of the country went much deeper. This week Donald Macleod investigates how Verdi achieved an iconic status which still holds good to this day, beginning with three operas which formed turning points in his career - the first established his international reputation, the second broke new ground with an operatic adaptation of Shakespeare's Scottish play, and finally, the work which, alongside Rigoletto and Il trovatore, represents a high-water mark in Italian operatic history.
'Libiamo ne'lieti calici' (La Traviata)
Violetta ..... Ileana Cotrubas (soprano)
Alfredo ..... Placido Domingo (tenor)
Bavarian State Orchestra and Chorus
Conductor, Carlos Kleiber
'Surta 猫 la notte' - 'Ernani, Ernani involami' (Ernani)
Elvira ..... Mirella Freni (soprano)
Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala Milan
Conductor, Riccardo Muti
Macbeth (extract from Act I)
Lady Macbeth ..... Fiorenza Cossotto (mezzo)
Macbeth ..... Sherrill Milnes (baritone)
Macduff ..... Jos茅 Carreras (tenor)
Banquo ..... Ruggiero Raimondi (bass)
Ambrosian Opera Chorus
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Conductor, Riccardo Muti
La Traviata (extract from Act III)
Violetta ..... Ileana Cotrubas (soprano)
Alfredo ..... Placido Domingo (tenor)
Giorgio Germont ..... Sherrill Milnes (baritone)
Bavarian State Orchestra and Chorus
Conductor, Carlos Kleiber.
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Giuseppe Verdi
Act 1 no.3; Libiamo, libiamo ne' lieti calici [Brindisi] La Traviata - opera in 3 acts
Conductor: Carlos KLEIBER Performer: Ileana COTRUBAS - Soprano (Violetta) Performer: Placido DOMINGO - Tenor (Alfredo) Performer: Bavarian State Opera Chorus Performer: Bavarian State Opera Orchestra
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 415-132 2.
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Giuseppe Verdi
Act 1 sc.2; Surta e la notte [recitative] Act 1 sc.2; Ernani, involami [aria, Elvira]
Conductor: Riccardo MUTI Performer: Mirella FRENI - Soprano (Elvira) Performer: La Scala Chorus Performer: La Scala Orchestra
- EMI.
- CDC 747 083-5.
-
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Giuseppe Verdi
Act 1 (extract) Macbeth - opera in 4 acts
Conductor: Riccardo MUTI Performer: Fiorenza COSSOTTO - Mezzo-soprano (Lady Macbeth) Performer: Jose CARRERAS - Tenor (Macduff) Performer: Ruggero RAIMONDI - Bass (Banquo) Performer: Sherrill MILNES - Baritone (Macbeth) Performer: Ambrosian Opera Chorus Performer: New Philharmonia Orchestra
- EMI.
- CMS 5671282.
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Giuseppe Verdi
Act III from (masked chorus*, then) 'Signora, Che t'accade' La Traviata - opera in 3 acts
Conductor: Placido DOMINGO Performer: Ileana COTRUBAS - Soprano (Violetta) Performer: Sherrill MILNES - Baritone (Giorgio) Performer: Bavarian State Opera Chorus Performer: Bavarian State Opera Orchestra
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 4394212.
Broadcasts
- Mon 2 Apr 2012 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Mon 2 Apr 2012 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
- Mon 5 Sep 2016 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Mon 5 Sep 2016 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
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