Warren/Milanov/del Monaco/Siepi - Ernani Ensemble

[Maripudelmonaco]

MAGNÍFICA ESTA REPRESENTACIÓN DE ERNANI EN GENERAL, PERO PREFIERO LA DEL MAGGIO MUSICALE FIORENTINO, CON ANITA CERQUETTI, Y BASTIANINI, SÓLO ME FALTA EN ELLA SIEPI, QUE PARA MÍ ES EL MEJOR BAJO QUE HA EXISTIDO, AUNQUE BORIS CHRISTOFF ESTÁ EXTRAORDINARIO,  Y CLARO DIRIGIDOS POR EL MAESTRO DE MAESTROS EL GRANDÍSIMO MITROPOULOS.

[a9z8a743]

The quality of singing of this cast boggles the mind by today's standards.

[MrFriendofopera]

I saw all the Ernanis...NOTHING compares to this cast today.......They cannot find dramatic singers today..maybe one or two..but NO ENSEMBLES like this.

[Kievest]

A divine pantheon of titanic singers held

together by the emotional glue that is the

stupendous performance of Leonard

Warren! Marvelous photos deepen this

already sublime experience! Thank you

primobaritono for uploading and ditogam

for sharing this priceless historic record-

ing!

[ditogam]

Simple intergalactic performance :)))) WOW!!!! Thank you so much

[Aetion]

Thanks for this wonderful video. This music is of another world.

[organdude44]

My what an "interesting" collection of "expert" opinions. The truth is these four were ALL great singers that made big careers and impressions on the minds and souls of the collective operatic consciousness of their time. And what did you all do today?

[GoldenAgeSunshine]

@organdude44 I absolutely LOVE your answer which epitomizes what we should all do: shut up, listen and enjoy these amazing voices and conducting! Where on Earth would you find such singers?

[ShawDAMAN]

Wow what an interesting cast, MDM and McCracken in the same opera? Never would have thought, Warren and Siepi too, wow.

[jrakg]

Instead of bitching about a singer who has little to do here, why not just appreciate one of Verdi's greatest ensemble items? Has anyone a recording of it made by Giuseppe de Luca? - John Austin, Australia

[gaytenor]

I wonder why someone who cannot stand a really great singer like the devine madame Milanov would have so many of her live performances. I have the 52 Forza and she is wonderful as is Aida.

[josemuso1]

Milanov's voice was as beautiful when she was at her prime as any of the greates of any time, I saw her first Tosca in Havana, Cuba with Tucker and Weede, she was really awesome, although her extreme top notes, B nat and C were lways difficult for her, but who cares when you hear the love duet and Vissi d'arte splendidly delivered?..JRT

[racheleleeba]

Screaming or not, I love Zinka!

[Zva26]

Jkircher314: I have Milanov's 1943 Donna Anna from the Met with Pinza. She's spectacular on it. I think you'd probably like the broadcast from which this 1956 Ernani comes from. It was a little late for Milanov to tackle this demanding role, but she gives it all she has, which is more than most. A few downward transpositions, but the whole performance is pretty outstanding. It's a classic.

[paternostro63]

Oh please, she is horrible in her '43 San Francisco Don Giovanni.Her aria "Or sai chi l'onore" is a mess, she screams and screams and don't say Ernani is a very demaning role.Aìda and Forza both are more difficult tha Ernani

[Zva26]

I am lucky enough to have Milanov in multiple live broadcasts of all the roles she sang at the Met (close to twenty ranging from 1940-1960), and I can assure you that, while she could be vocally erratic on occasion, she was, when at her best, one of the truly great voices of the Twentieth Century. Her Aida, both Leonoras, Santuzza, Norma, Donna Anna, Madelena, Gioconda, and Amelia were models of their kind. The "Ernani" Elvira came a little too late for her, but it certainly has its moments.

[jkircher314]

Have you ever heard Milanov's Donna Anna? Astounding!

[jkircher314]

Zva26,

I want to order this recording. Do you like it?

Thanks for your input, and many thanks to primobaritono for posting.

[paternostro63]

Zva26: I have three Milanov "live" Forzas ('52 Met, '53 New orleans and '56 Met again) and she is a disaster in all.Her 2nd act is one of the most painful perf I ever listened by any singer, all her Bs are desperate screams out of tone, no low notes, horrible phrasing, etc.She never could with Forza

[paternostro63]

I do have her two '55 Ballo broadcast (one with Tucker and the other with Peerce) and she is terrible in both, she can't reach the notes.Her '40 Ballo with Bjorling is a bit better, though not great.Her '53 studio Cavalleria is a disaster, she is in dreadful voice.She is in bad voice in her '55 studio Aìda too.Her Gioconda and Tosca studio versions are both lousy.

[assindiastignani]

OK. Ms. oder Mr. Paternostro, if I'm understanding you correctly, you don't like Milanov. Is that it? May I make a suggestion? Yes? Here goes: don't listen to her. Gee, that was easy.

[vergoti20]

I also have some Milanov broadcasts.Milanov's problems were two: 1) she sounded OLD all her life (She always was old)

2)She never managed to sing well, her both '55 Ballos are terrible, she sings sooo badly, the '56 Forza is "the festival of the out of tone scream" her high notes are always screamed and she cuts them abruptly

[Zva26]

I find Milanov to be an acquired taste. When I first heard her, I wasn't impressed at all, but I was only 16 at the time. Later on, I bought the "Aida" with Bjoerling, and thought their singing of the Tomb Scene was the most beautiful I ever heard. Milanov could be very erratic, but when he voice was in perfect condition, she was incomparable. If one doesn't like her, why bother listening to her? She made a lot of audiences at the Met very, very happy. Remember --- ours are only opinions!

[assindiastignani]

Dear Zva26: what you say is right on the money. I couldn't have said it better. Another thing about Milanov is, she didn't record well. In those days they didn't know what to do with such big voices. Richard Mohr once told me, these RCA discs were all made in Rome in the summer (we all know what that's like) on a small sound stage, with all the soloists gathered around one mike. What do you suppose Netrebko and Villazon would sound like under those circumstances?!

[vergoti20]

Milanov has many vocal diseases in her awful '52 Aìda and the '53 Aìda Milanov has many bitter vocal accidents, cuts high notes abruptly, out of tone screamed high notes, Forza del destino was an opera it was a disgrace for Mme Milanov, she is terrible in any of her live and in her studio version

[tomzoricic]

Zinka is "old" and she "screams" and is for 30 years leading soprano of Met. Wash your ears and go in the kitchen you idiot!

[vergoti20]

The MET was the only major opera house where Zinka Milanov sang currently since december 1937 (she was absent three seasons 1947/48/49) and she came back in 1950/51 season (not a wise choise ofMr Bing) and went on horrible to death until 1965/66

[vergoti20]

She only attempted to sing one time at LaScala in 1950 and she had no success, she had NO career in any of the great Italy houses, she didn't sing in Verdi lands.She was married with a rich man who paid at the Met for her so she could scream there and do her old fashioned and ridiculuos interpretations

[assindiastignani]

@vergoti20 Dear Vergoti, You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but let's get the facts straight: the MET was an ensemble house in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Many of it's leading singers made no particular European careers (Merrill, Tucker, Warren to name a few) because they preferred give their time to their home house on 39th St. To say Zinka married a rich man who "paid" to get her into the MET - apart from being mean - is ridiculous. You certainly don't know much abt. Rudolf Ring.

[Cantormatis]

@assindiastignani Ridiculous is right. Milanov was an astoundingly talented singer, especially earlier in her career. There are recordings of her from the late '30's, when she was in her true prime, that reveal a voice of glory. Not to mention that the MET nowadays should be so lucky to have such a singer in the house!!!

[numetutelare]

@Cantormatis .... appunto, nella fase giovanile! Dopo é un'altra storia e comunque deve piacere quel tipo di timbro.

[cleanears]

Warren!!! Amen!!!!!!

[fedtrooper]

Have wondered how the singers manage to do Ernani without laughing, A Robin Hood type tells an old man, "Let me have the girl you want too, and I'll kill myself if you blow your horn." So in the middle of the finale love duet the old guy blows his horn and Ernani kills himself as a point of honor. Yes, it's 19th century Victor Hugo Romance, but still seems silly.

[placido1967]

Siepi il piu' grande Silva della storia.

[csiepi]

Procurem no Orkut por Cesare Siepi e participem da comunidade. São muitos mp3 disponíveis e procuramos pessoas com novos mp3 deste fenômeno para carregar em nosso disco virtual e divulgar esta lenda viva.

[1919ann]

Warren seems to find the melody in what he sings smooth as velvet rich as fudge I can chew it

[1919ann]

Toscanini choose Milanov to sing the last act of Rigoletto with Warren you want to hear a true Verdi soprano sing the role as it was intended listen. Live recording London 1938

[profgv]

Yes I agree and thanks for reminding me.

[baritono81]

Hey love your comments, you people know your basses/baritones. What do you think of Furlanetto doing Ernani this year at the Met? Does Furlanetto have what it takes to be a dramtic baritone?

[charlie8943]

furlanetto is a bass and one of the best

[NoviSadVlada]

OK! I agree that these are GREAT singers. But it would have been nice for all of them (the singers, the solo harp, the orchestra and the conductor) to be in the same tempo at the beginning. Listening to Warren vs. The Harp is pure torture. And then when the rest of them join in, OH MY GOD!!! I feel that the conducter went for a coffee, or something, and returned sometime in the middle of thes scene. These great singers are wasted on this one.

[operabuff1]

what in heaven did you hear? this is the great meastro Mitropoulos conducting!

[pearlmuth3]

I cannot believe what I just read, a comment that Warren not really a Verdi Baritone ! He was The Greatest Verdi Baritone of all! He could also sing tenor high C's at parties, sang Di Quella Pira in Key. Never thought anyone would come up with this, really one for the books, Bravo Warren!

[charlie8943]

thank you on Warren the greatest Verdi baritone ever. Just saw Ernani last night at Met what a cast all were great

[Riccardos16]

mio nonnooo

[discoverer05]

I personally think this singers were quite good but for different reasons not perfectly suited for this score: too dramatic Del Monaco, in the late part of career Milanov, not really a Verdi bariton Warren, a bit annoying Siepi. Anyway they are all driven to a fantastic outcome by the greatest Verdi conductor ever. My opinion is that the three top conductors of the XX century have been Mitropoulos, Furtwangler and Karajan and I personally feel Mitropoulos has been by far the greatest

[primobaritono]

Well I certainly agree with you about Mitropoulos being one of the greatest operatic conductors. I however cannot agree with you about the things you said refering to the singers. Warren not really a Verdi baritone? Wow I haven't hear that one before. And why, may I ask, is Siepi annoying ?

[tomzoricic]

Discoverer certainly said a lot of dubious things. Del Monaco in Ernani cannot be dramtic enough, Zinka is not on her peak any more, but fantastic enough, I can perhaps more like here Bastianini than Warren, but that is matter of taste; but to say that Siepi - one of three greatest basses in history of opera, is "annoying" it is not stupid - that can say only a moron

[bobom1]

I'd be interested to know who you consider to be the two best other basses in history.

There are so many to choose from!

But personally I would have to choose Ghiaurov and Kipnis...

And Siepi in my mind was possibly the greatest singer of the century. He had it all - beauty of tone, stage presence, adaptability, musicality, amazing elegance of phrasing, you name it.

[tomzoricic]

Siepi is first of all. Second is Boris Christoff, and third is young Ghiaurov. Shaliapin is the story for himself.

[ah332]

chaliapin, kipnis, frick, siepi, ghiaurov, christoff

in any order you like

[tomzoricic]

@primobaritono Your comment is correct. Discoverer05 simply doesnt know what is talking about!

[HERB0833]

@discoverer05 I agree, this is not a god rol for Warren.

[PietroAntoni]

@discoverer05 You must be nuts with your comments. Warren was the perfect Verdi baritone!

[canafinwe]

THIS is a cast. Where are voices like these in our days? Especially the tenors! Since the Three is over, there are no great tenors - either in the Italian repertoire nor in the German.

[epa300]

The way he opens this is astonishing. It like listening to the smallest "large" voice AND the largest "small" voice both at the sane time. Strange, interesting.

[egymagyar1111111]

that is the famous mezza voce not everybody can make

[paulostroff99]

Splendid!

[clymnestre]

magnificent!!!!

[metropolitan1966]

Warren is fantastic, as always! Loved him.

[TheSanityInspector]

There was a fascinating biography of Mitropoulos a few years ago. Too bad he's not better known.

[primobaritono]

Yes it's a very good biography.... it's called "Priest of Music".

I think Mitropolous cared mostly for the artform and wasn't so fixed on making the biggest career, such as most of the other egomaniac conductors of his time. He truly was a "Priest of Music".

[12010830]

my music teacher told me once "you had to watch the magnificient Mitropoulus as I watched him making magic or just lowering the Holy the Gral...."

[ua1907]

There is no video recording of Zinka Kunc Milanov. Does anybody know, where to get it? Could somebody please post a video of her? Or maybe just audio of more of her arias? Maybe some Mozart or Puccini... I would very much like to hear her more.

[Degamra]

There are a few video recordings of Zinka, at least one that I've seen personally (I believe it was filmed in America).

[ilprincipedipersia]

There are but the condition is unknown. There is a good Tosca clip. In the early 50s she opened the met with some selected scenes from Aida.  That tape should exist. Finally she is on tape discussing TOSca along with some of her great sisters

[Ruffiello]

Dear All,

There are two instances when Madame Milanov was on American television. On one program (I don't own it, and I'll have to look up the program) she sang "Madre, pietosa vergine" from Forza. On the other, on a video called Producers Showcase she sang "Vissi D'arte". I have that, but don't have the skills to share it. It should be available in stores or online. Good luck!

[buffoman]

Performance sounds like a gem with this cast,only the garbled recording hurts del Monaco and Milanov part in it

[bobopera]

I saw Milanov in Gioconda (1962). The NYTimes reviewer indicated it was one of her best performances in years. Vocal power, legato, floated notes (the B-flat on "Ah, come t'amo" was intact)- it was a terrific performance and evening. Brava Zinka - your recordings confirm that you were a superb singer, one of the greats of the last century.

[Ruffiello]

Thanks, pimo. :-) I know it's not her best. I wish I owned the whole thing. Ciao!

[Ruffiello]

If this is decline, we should have more of it. I know that Ernani was not considered to be one of her greatest roles, but it sounds to me like she's making choices with her phrasing, not that the choices are forced upon her. Why is this wonderful singer so often denegrate?? There are those that feel she was just under Ponselle. Warren is stunning here! Thanks for posting this. I've never been able to afford the CD.

[primobaritono]

You are very welcome !

I feel that Milanov is not quite as impressive in this Ernani as she is in let's say her Trovatore, but we shouldn't forget that she was at a difficult age for a female singer: 50. Most sopranos stop singing before they reach this age, because their hormonal setup changes and this impacts their voice tremendously(loss of the upper range for example).

In her best days however she was definitely one of the greatest sopranos in the Italian category.

[seektheforce]

@primobaritono wow, Does this happen to men?

[ilprincipedipersia]

Dear Ruffiello- Milanov as truly one the greats as declared by ponselle herself. this said 56 should not have been an Ernani year. The part lay too high and the aria is down a whole tone and labored. That said the last act with its trio is vintage Milanov. Beautiful and moving. I too would have loved to have heard pique dame and Fedora too. milanov was the gold standard

[Ruffiello]

Dear Prince, I understand, respect,and accept your comments. Have not heard the aria, or indeed, the rest of the recording. Only this brief exerpt. Perhaps my comments were foolish. I have spoken with several people who did indeed hear Milanov live, on multiple occasions. ALL said that she was thrilling. I remain grateful for the commercial recordings, and the pirates. Thank you for writing. :-) Do you know whatever happened to that Boroughs biography?

[ilprincipedipersia]

Dear Ruffiello--Your comments are anything but foolish. Your friends are correct when they tell you that she was a thrilling performer. I loved her and respected her both personally and professionally. I do not know about the Burrough's biography. I have much Milanov live---Is there anything yoou would particularly like?

[Ruffiello]

Thank you! I will give this a little thought and get back to you soon. That's very kind of you to offer. Ciao!

[ilprincipedipersia]

I have not the cds. A funeral and all that comes with it put off schedule. Sorry.

[stome3139]

Del Monaco is stunning on his Met "Ernani", the bright of his voice and singing full bodied top !.Siepi is a wonder, the velvet of his voice.I was never crazy about Leonard Warren but he is excellent here.Milanov is in decline, she cuts her high notes and several off tones.Mitropoulos conducting is unbeleivable !Unfortunately the sound of this source is not very good.

[rainbowofdeathx]

this was the year of callas' debut and the year tebaldi got traviata. Milanov was crazy enough to believe that she could do elvira whic lay to high for her. Callas sang regularly from 49, Tebaldi from 46 and Milanov from 1927!! I wish she would have opted for Fedora. Her Gioconda was still magnificent

[stome3139]

Noooo Milanov had nothing to do with verismo, as Fedora she would have been out of her element, she had no the italian "parlato".I agree her Gioconda was very good even by 1956/57.She should have sang Pique Dame or Rosenkavalier in the '56/'57 season, I never understood why she did not want to sing russian opera, that was her personality and her world

[stome3139]

Callas New York debut took place on october 29, 1956 and the Met audience was quite dissapointed, Callas was only 32 and her voice was very little and in absolute decline, she practically had no Met career, only 2 seasons

[rainbowofdeathx]

interesting choice of roles both of which i would have loved hearing.she would have been perfect as lisa too. still i would have loved fedora. her recitative were always beautiful..she could have mastered parlato

[rainbowofdeathx]

i do not know what i was thinking. Check Donna Anna's extented recetative before the vengence aria. this is parlato at its best

[jmarqueslr]

splendid. CD?

[primobaritono]

Yes, it's from a CD.

[rainbowofdeathx]

stunning