This is the second of this EMI series to come my way for review.
Like the first, devoted to Mirella Freni (see review),
it is of an Italian lyric voice. The Sicilian-born tenor Giuseppe
Di Stefano emerged in Switzerland after fleeing there when the
Nazis took over Italy. There he made his first recordings after
appearing on local radio in opera broadcasts. He made his operatic
debut as Des Grieux in Massenet’s Manon at Regio Emilia
on 20 April 1946 after which his rise was rapid. He débuted at
La Scala in the same role in March 1947 and as the Duke of Mantua
in Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera the following year
with Leonard Warren in the title role. These were Di Stefano’s
golden years, singing roles such as Fenton in Verdi’s Falstaff,
Almaviva in Il Barbiere de Siviglia, Nemorino in L’Elisir
d’amore and Alfredo in La Traviata. His early 78rpm
recordings from this period reveal a voice of great lyric beauty
(CD 1 trs1-5) and when the repertoire was right and when he resisted
putting pressure on his open-throated forward tone. His outgoing
and exuberant, if insouciant, personality did not take restriction
to heart. If he could sing a note or a phrase full out he did
so and even on these early tracks in the revealing sound of CD
one can detect a touch of dryness, even rawness, at the top of
the voice although without detracting from the attraction of his
pianissimo and mezza voce singing.
In 1951 Di Stefano
was cast alongside Maria Callas for the first time as Alfredo
in La Traviata, Tito Gobbi was Germont. Di Stefano’s
association with Callas was defining for his career in the 1950s.
She had been signed up by Walter Legge, head of A&R at British
Columbia/Angel to record core opera for the newly arrived LP.
He joined her in many recordings and these are the basis of
most of the remaining tracks in this collection. He had also
offended Rudolf Bing at the Met by his casual attitude to commitments.
As a consequence Di Stefano did not sing there between 1952
and 1955. During this period he was involved in memorable stage
performances at La Scala with Callas in Lucia di Lamermoor
under Karajan and La Traviata with Giulini on the rostrum.
In the first of
their joint recordings made in February 1953 he sang Edgardo
to her Lucia in Lucia di Lamermoor (see full review).
As Lucia’s lover Di Stefano gives one of his best performances
in the series of their recorded collaborations (CD 1 trs 6-7).
However, by this time he was already singing heavier roles and
its effect on his voice is evident in the second of the recordings,
I Puritani (CD 1 tr8) made in March 1953. There his singing,
whilst having elegance, tends too easily towards the crude can
belto tradition (see full review).
In the following August he sang Cavaradossi to her Tosca with
Gobbi as Scarpia under the baton of Victor de Sabata (CD 1 trs.11-12).
Di Stefano is on nearly best vocal behaviour, caressing the
phrases, characterising with aplomb and only occasionally opening
his voice to full power (see full review).
Regrettably in the same month, the duo set down the verismo
Cavalleria Rusticana with the more indulgent Serafin
on the rostrum (CD 1 trs.9-10). Like the I Pagliacci
that followed in 1954, Di Stefano did not stint his open tone
in roles really a size too large for his lyric tenor (CD 1 tr.15).
At least he was not cast in the spinto role of Pollione
in Callas’s first recording of Norma in 1954 nor was
he cast as Alvaro in the August 1955 La Forza del destino
or as Radames in the Aida recorded the same month, the
latter two roles being sung by Richard Tucker. His rendition
of La vita e inferno of the same year is included (CD
1 tr.16). It was only published in 1973 and really should have
been kept under wraps. His tone is coarse and one has only to
compare Bergonzi on the complete 1969 EMI recording to appreciate
the beauty in the aria when sung by a tenor with the appropriate
vocal resources.
Walter Legge was
not always as circumspect in his casting of Di Stefano. When
it came to the recording of Verdi’s Il Trovatore in August
1956, the preferred Manrico was Richard Tucker. But Tucker,
a devout Jew, would not sing under Von Karajan in view of the
latter’s suspect Nazi connections (see full review).
Di Stefano was called on (CD 2 trs.2-4 and CD 3 tr.6). Again
it is a question of an over-generous artist trying to get more
from his instrument than nature intended. His portrayal has
moments of beauty and others of strain. In the following month
Di Stefano and Callas recorded Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera.
His voice, despite raw patches, still has ring and his diction
is exemplary (CD 2 trs.6-8). The role of Riccardo was one that
suited Di Stefano well as was the Duke in Rigoletto.
The latter was recorded in 1955 before too much wear was evident
in his voice. In my review
of the Fonit Cetra re-issue, I recount how my family decided
in favour of that issue on the basis of Ferruccio Tagliavini’s
singing as the Duke over that of Di Stefano. Whilst the latter
was no longer capable of employing the honeyed mezza voce
of the former, his Duke has much to commend it (CD 2 trs.1-2
and CD 3 trs.3-5).
The
vocal grace of Di Stefano's Riccardo
in the 1956 recording of Ballo in Maschera
was still in evidence in his British
debut performances as Nemorino alongside
Callas's Adina in L'elisir d'amore at
the Edinburgh Festival in the summer
of 1957. Although he had recorded Calaf's
Non, piangere liù and Nessun
dorma in a recital under Votto in 1955
(CD 1 trs.20-21), Eugenio Fernandi undertook
the role in the complete recording of
the opera made in July of that year
with Callas in the title role. Covent
Garden heard him for the first time
in 1961, but by 1963 when he sang Rodolfo
at the theatre he lasted only one performance
and then withdrew; a certain Luciano
Pavarotti made an unscheduled début.
The best of what was left of his operatic
voice can be heard on Karajan’s 1962
studio recording of Tosca now
available as a Decca Legend (466 384-2).
There is nothing of the beauty of the
De Sabata La Scala recording of ten
years before, although the open tone
and good diction are still present.
After
this time Di Stefano’s stage appearances
became more sporadic and he gave his
last performance at La Scala in 1972;
he was fifty-one years of age. His last
stage appearances were in the minor
role of the Emperor Altoum in Turandot
in Rome in 1992. By comparison, Mirella
Freni, who I referred to in my opening
paragraph, by taking a much more circumspect
approach to her repertoire and its suitability
for her lyric voice, was still singing
at some of the best operatic addresses
in her seventh decade.
The plangent tenor
voice of Di Stefano’s early years is best heard in the first
tracks of CD 1 already referred to, whilst his singing of his
native Sicilian folk songs, recorded in 1955 is also enjoyable
(CD 2 trs. 14-15). Of interest, and not as far as I know previously
available, are the arias in Italian from Carmen and Faust
(CD 3 trs.13-14) and also Otello’s Gia nella notte densa
(tr.11). This collection records what might have been as well
as what was. As such it is a record of a singer who had so much
to give but gave too prodigiously and without care for the consequences
to his gifts. He preferred the lifestyle of smoking and the
fast track to that of dedicated artist. It was his choice and
his life. It ended on 3 March 2008.
Robert J Farr
Detailed contents
CD1 [74.37]
Ambroise THOMAS (1811-1896)
Mignon, Act 2 - Addio, Mignon! [3.07]
Act 3. Ah! Non credevi tu [4.11]
Jules MASSENET (1842-1912)
Manon, Act 3. Io son' solo ... Ah! Dispar vision
[4.39]
Francesco CILÈA (1866-1950)
L'arlesiana, Act 2. E la solita storia- Francesco’s
Lament [4.10]
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1912)
La traviata, Act 2. Lunge da lei ... De' miei
bollenti spiriti [3.47]
Philharmonia and London Symphony Orchestra/Alberto Erede
rec. November and December 1947. Abbey Road Studios, London.
La forza del destino,
Act 3. La vita è inferno ... O tu che in seno agli angeli [
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/ Antonino Votto
rec. June 1955. La Scala, Milan
Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797-1848)
Lucia di Lammermoor,
Act 3 - Fra poco a me ricovero darà negletto avello [3.32].
Tu che a Dio spiegasti I'ali [5.15]
Chorus and Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale, Florence/Tulio
Serafin
rec. February 1953. Teatro Communale, Florence
Vincenzo BELLINI (1801-1835)
I puritani, Act 3. Son già lontani [3.17]
Orchestra of La Scala, Milan/ Tulio Serafin
rec. March 1953. Basilica di Santa Eufemia, Milan.
Pietro MASCAGNI (1863-1945)
Cavalleria Rusticana, Intanto amici qua ... Viva
il vino spumeggiante [3.05]…Mamma, quel vino [4.15]
With Ebe Ticozzi and Maria Canali
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/ Tulio Serafin
rec. June 1953. Basilica di Santa Eufemia, Milan.
Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Tosca, Act 1. Recondita armonia [2.43]. Act 3
- E lucevan Ie stele [2.42]
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/ Victor de Sabata
rec. August 1953. La Scala, Milan
Madama Butterfly,
Act 1.Dovunque al mondo [2.44] Act 3. Addio, fiorito asil [1.58]
Orchestra of the Rome Opera/Gianandrea Gavazenni
rec. July 1954. Rome Opera House
Ruggero LEONCAVALLO (1857-1919)
Pagliacci, Act 1. Recitar! ... Vesti la giubba
[3.31]
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/ Tulio Serafin
rec. June 1954. La Scala, Milan
La fanciulla del West, Act 2 - Una parola sola
... Or son sei mesi [3.56]
Act 3. Ch'ella mi creda libero [2.18]
Gianni Schicchi, Avete torto! ... Firenze è come
un albero
Turandot, Act 1. Non piangere, Liù [2.41]
Act 3. Nessun dorma! [3.13]
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/ Antonino Votto
rec. June 1955. La Scala, Milan
CD2 [74.08]
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1912)
Rigoletto, Act 1. Questo O quella
Act 2. Ella mi fu rapita! ... Parmi veder Ie lagrime
Act 3. La donna è mobile
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/ Tulio Serafin
rec. September 1955. La Scala, Milan
Il trovatore,
Act 3. Ah sì, ben mio [2.53]….Di quella pira [1.57]
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/ Herbert von Karajan
rec. August 1956. La Scala, Milan
Un ballo in maschera, Act 1. Di' tu se fedele
[3.19]
Act 2. Teco io sto ... Non sai tu che se I'anima mia ... Oh,
qual soave brivido (with Maria Callas) [9.27]
Act 3. Forse la soglia attinse ... Ma se m'e forza perdita [5.23]
Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
La boheme,
Act 1. Che gelida manina! [4.48]
Act 4. In un coupé? ... O Mimì, tu più non torni [4.26]
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/Antonino Votto
rec. August 1956. La Scala, Milan
Manon Lescaut,
Act 1. Donna non vidi mai [2.26]
Act 2. Oh, sarò, la più bella! [8.19]
Act 3. No! Pazzo son! Gaurdate! [2.43]
With Maria callas
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/Tulio Serafin
rec. July 1957. La Scala, Milan Sicilian Folk Song
Trad. Arr. Favara. A la barcillunisa [2.22]
Trad. Arr. Favara. Cantu a timùni [2.07]
New London Opera Orchestra/Alberto Erede
rec. December 1947. Abbey Road Studios, London. Italian Songs
Eduardo Di CAPUA (1865-1917)
O sole mio [3.35]
Francesco Poalo TOSTI (1846-1916)
Marechiare [3.28]
Salvatore CARDILLO
(1874-1947)
Core
'ngrato [3.41]
Ernesto DE CURTIS (1875-1937)
Torna a Surriento [3.21]
Recorded in Italy. No dates or orchestral details known
CD3 [79.28]
Vincenzo BELLINI (1801-1835)
I puritani, Act 3. Nel mirarti un solo istante
[4.03]…. Vieni fra queste braccia [2.49]
Bellini: I puritani, Act 3 -
With Maria Callas
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/Tulio Serafin
rec. March 1953. Basilica di Santa Eufemia, Milan.
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1912)
Rigoletto,
Act 1 - Giovanna, ho dei rimorsi [3.12]… E iI sol dell'anima
[4.18]… Addio, addio ... Speranza [0.52]
With Maria Callas and others
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/Tulio Serafin
rec. October 1955. La Scala, Milan
Il trovatore,
Act 4. Miserere ... Ah! che la morte ognora [4.58]
Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala, Milan/Herbert von Karajan
rec. August 1956. La Scala, Milan
Georges BIZET (1838-1875)
I pescatori di perle,
Act 2. Leila mia! Leila mia! [2.20]…. Non hai compreso [5.59]
Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924)
Madama Butterfly,
Act 1. Bimba dagli occhi pieni di malia [3.27]… Vogliatemi bene,
un bene piccolino [6.40]
With Victoria de los Angeles
Orchestra of the Rome Opera/Gianandrea Gavazenni
rec. July 1954. Rome Opera House
Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1912)
Otello, [10.47]
Act 1. Già nella notte densa [10.47]
Pietro MASCAGNI (1863-1945)
Iris,
Act 2. Oh, come al tuo sottile [14.23]
Georges BIZET (1838-1875)
Carmen,
Act 1. Ah! mi parla di lei! [6.02]
Georges Charles GOUNOD (1818-1893)
Faust,
Act 3. Tardi ni fa, Addio! [9.33]
With Rosanna Carteri
Milan Symphony Orchestra/Antonio Tonino
rec. June 1957. Milan
==============================================
Mastering Details
Mignon (1989 Digital
Remaster)
Addio, Mignon (Act
II) (1989 Digital Remaster) - Thomas
Ah! non credevi tu
(Act III) (1989 Digital Remaster) - Thomas
Manon: Io son sol...Ah!
dispar, vision (Act III) (1989 Digital Remaster) - Massenet
L' Arlesiana (1989
Digital Remaster)
E la solita storia
- Cilea
La traviata: Lunge
da lei...De' miei bollenti spiriti (Act II) (1989 Digital Remaster)
- Verdi
Lucia di Lammermoor
(1997 Digital Remaster)
ATTO TERZO
Scena seconda
Fra poco a me ricovero
daregletto avello (Edgardo) - Donizetti
Tu che a Dio spiegasti
l'ali (Edgardo/Raimondo/Coro) - Donizetti
I Puritani (1997
Digital Remaster)
ATTO TERZO (1997
Digital Remaster)
Son giࠬontani
(Arturo) (1997 Digital Remaster) - Bellini
Cavalleria rusticana
(1997 Digital Remaster)
Intanto amici qua...Viva
il vino spumeggiante - Mascagni
Cavalleria Rusticana
(1997 Digital Remaster)
Mamma, quel vino Teneroso
(Turiddu/Mamma Lucia/Santuzza/Una donna) (1997 Digital Remaster)
- Mascagni
Tosca (1997 Digital
Remaster)
ACT 1 (1997 Digital
Remaster)
Recondita armonia
- Puccini
Tosca (1997 Digital
Remaster)
ACT 3
E lucevan le stelle
- Puccini
Madama Butterfly
(1998 Digital Remaster)
Dovunque al mondo
(Act I) - Puccini
Addio, fiorito asil
(Act III) - Puccini
Pagliacci (1997 Digital
Remaster)
Act 1: Recitar!....Vesti
la giubba - Leoncavallo
La forza del destino
Act 3
La vita 蠩nferno
... O tu che in seno agli angeli - Verdi
La fanciulla del
West
Una parola sola...Or
son sei mesi (Act II) - Puccini
La Fanciulla del
West, '(The) Girl of the Golden West' (1989 Digital Remaster)
Ch'ella mi creda libero
- Puccini
Gianni Schicchi
Avete torto!...Firenze
dome un albero - Puccini
Turandot (1989 Digital
Remaster)
Non piangere, Liu
- Puccini
Nessun dorma! - Puccini
Rigoletto
Act 1 (1997 Digital
Remaster)
Scene 1 (1997 Digital
Remaster)
Questa o quella (Duca)
- Verdi
Ella mi fu rapita!...Parmi
veder le lagrime (Duca) from Rigoletto (1997 Digital Remaster)
- Verdi
Act 3 (1997 Digital
Remaster)
La donna Mobile (Duca/Sparafucile/Rigoletto)
- Verdi
Il Trovatore (1997
Digital Remaster)
ACT 3 Scene Two (1997
Digital Remaster)
Ah si, ben mio, coll'essere
io tuo (Manrico) (1997 Digital Remaster) - Verdi
Il trovatore (1997
Digital Remaster)
Di quella pira (Atto
III) - Verdi
Un Ballo in Maschera
(1997 Digital Remaster)
ACT 1 (1997 Digital
Remaster)
Scene 2 (1997 Digital
Remaster)
Di' tu se fedele (Riccardo/Coro)
(1997 Digital Remaster) - Verdi
Un ballo in maschera
(1997 Digital Remaster)
Teco io sto...Non
sai tu che se l'anima mia...Oh, qual soave brivido (Act II)
- Verdi
Un ballo in maschera
(1997 Digital Remaster)
Forse la soglia attinse...Ma
se m'forza perderti (Atto III) - Verdi
La boh譥 (1997
Digital Remaster)
Che gelida manina
(Atto I) (1997 Digital Remaster) - Puccini
In un coupe. O Mimi
tu pitorni (Atto IV) (1997 Digital Remaster) - Puccini
Manon Lescaut (1997
Digital Remaster)
ATTO PRIMO/ACT 1/ERSTER
AKT/PREMIER ACTE
Donna non vidi mai
(Des Grieux) - Puccini
ATTO SECONDO/ACT
2/ZWEITER AKT/DEUXIȿE ACTE
Oh, sari pi?la! (Manon/Des
Grieux) - Puccini
Manon Lescaut
No! Pazzo son! Guardate!
(Atto III) - Puccini
A la barcillunsia
(1989 Digital Remaster) - Traditional
Cantu a tim?1989 Digital
Remaster) - Traditional
'O sole mio (1988
Digital Remaster) - Di Capua
Marechiare (1988 Digital
Remaster) - Tosti
Core 'ngrato (1988
Digital Remaster) - Cardillo
Torna a Surriento
(1988 Digital Remaster) - De Curtis
I Puritani (Act 3):
Nel mirarti un solo istante (2008 Digital Remaster) - Bellini
I Puritani (Act 3):
Vieni fra queste braccia - Bellini
Rigoletto (2008 Digital
Remaster)
Giovanna, ho dei rimorsi
- Verdi
Eil sol dell'amina
- Verdi
Addio, addio....Speranza
- Verdi
Il trovatore, Act
4 - Miserere...Ah! che la morte ognora (2008 Digital Remaster)
- Verdi
I Pescatori di Perle,
Act 2 - Leila mia! Leila mia! (2008 Digital Remaster) - Bizet
I Pescatori di Perle,
Act 2 - Non hai compreso - Bizet
Madama Butterfly
(2008 Digital Remaster)
Bimba dagli occhi
pieni di malia - Puccini
Vogliatemi bene, un
bene piccolino - Puccini
Otello, Act 1 - Gioella
notte densa - Verdi
Iris, Act 2 - Oh,
come al tuo sottile - Mascagni
Carmen, Act 1 - Ah!
mi parla di lei! - Bizet
Faust, Act 3 - Tardi
ni fa, Addio! - Gounod
Various accompanying
artists
