Opera Cage Match: Rigoletto 'Si Vendetta' Sing-off

[roselandalvin]

Tibbett gave up on that note at the end, didn't he?

[dziady1]

Why Gobbi who barks his way through and that dreadful Callas shrieking

her last note and ruining the impression of whatever few good notes this

screamer and shrieker had before and her basic gutteral sound does not

portray a young girl.

[Beth29252]

Gobbi and Callas for me,you can tell they know what they're singing about. Close second would be Warren and Berger. I liked Merrill quite a bit, wasn't so keen on Peters, much prefer her as Rosina. Tibbett and Pons do a good job too, but I didn't like the speed that much. Bruson does very well, and Gruberova is probably my personal favourite of the Gildas, but the lack of the A flat was a disappointment. If you had enough time though, I would have included Milnes Nucci and Macneil's Rigolettos.

[j72050]

...when you hear the heavy trembling, the searching of the lower register depths with Warren, it seems most other voices lack closeness with the music that Warren achieved....that silky, velvet poured honey voice was a wonder of mankind.....

[ininacsot]

il est difficile de faire un classement même si je prefère warren et berger dans cet air,mais il en faut pour tousles gouts

[SrTopocho]

Per me: Gilda- Lily Pons. Rigoletto - Tito Gobbi.

[osinging]

No 2 of course Why? Erna Berger is my goddess. I worship her.

[saintbarbara]

With all due respect to all those participating in this match, Gobbi and Callas leave them for dead. Oh the tempo oh the understanding of the moments. Stunning. Thank you.

[turnipoverlord]

callas unleashed the beast within!

[tex99pL]

Herlea, I think, is better than all

[improvvisamente1]

Voto Gobbi, la rabbia e l'astio che esprime hanno un qualcosa di viscerale.

[melomane57]

Sono d'accordo con te, ma quello che rimane inconfondibile è il timbro della voce eccezionale come anche quella di Bruson, senza tralasciare la Callas e in questa parte forse sono meglio Roberta Peters e Lily Pons.

[bodiloto]

Grandissimi tutti e 5 ma fra loro il mio baritono preferito è Lawrence Tibbett .

Nel Rigoletto preferisco Ruffo,Danise,Granforte,Taddei,­Reali e Popov .

[mikipaglia]

Gobbi was the best, his interpretations were great

[DonPaolissimo]

WARREN - NO Competition!!!

[ivelosthewilltolive]

@DonPaolissimo I second that. Even though his recording was the slowest, somehow it was the most exciting...

[art724]

I prefer Gobbi. Although Bruson is also Italian, Gobbi truly captires the uniquely Italian concept of "Vendetta."

[ah332]

nicolae herlea!

[adamskyb]

Tibbett and Pons have that Capretta(little goat) sound...I hate that rediculously fast vibrato

[mire2007]

Se que muchos discreparán de mi opinión, pero Callas no era para este papel, su voz era más gruesa y eso le pasó la cuenta en el sobreagudo. Placido Domingo también hacía lo mismo ¬¬

Warren, estupendo como siempre, lastima que Berger no dio con la calidad necesaria.

[SugarTomAppleRoger]

If I have to choose, Tibbett and Pons are the best. Maybe it is because Walter is conducting. He is my favorite.

[federricoilgrande]

Ottimi Gobbi e Warren, discreti merrill e Tibbett, pessimo come sempre Bruson, fra le donne Callas surclassa tutte

[Cesconegre]

Direi invece che la versione di Bruson, diretta da Sinopoli, è quella che più si fa preferire in quanto l'unica che rispetti la partitura originale. Callas e Gobbi nella stretta finale della cabaletta risolvono gli acuti con due versi indecenti...

[federricoilgrande]

Siopoli è fuori repertorio, Bruson è un mistero doloroso, ha sempre cantato maluccio ma che carriera!

[Cesconegre]

Ma insomma, come si può giudicare ottimo Gobbi e poi dire che Bruson canta maluccio!!?? Semmai è vero l'esatto contrario.

[31122051]

@Cesconegre : la verità è che sono stati entrambi due grandissimi baritoni. T. Gobbi in questo ruolo per conto mio non ha eguali : come cantante-attore era assolutamente imbattibile.

[31122051]

@federricoilgrande : ma che cosa sta dicendo ??? Ho a casa una versione de " I due Foscari " e una " Cavalleria " con R. Bruson e non è assolutamente vero che canta male : bellissima voce e grandissimo attore.

[marokt]

I always feel disappointed, when a nightingale appears in Gilda in this scene. And I'm always amazed when I can hear I dark, sad voice, like Callas.

[halavey]

Warren in this was really terrific as usual.

[lpvcrcd]

Didn't it seem like that final note by Callas wasn't sung . It was shouted./shreiked. Regardless, she no doubt lost control of her bowel on that one!

[ancamg]

For me, Callas and Gobbi rule. Callas is simply divine. Very close, in second place come Pons and Tibbett. They were amazing, in spite of the bad recording. Renato Bruson sits alone in third place, cause I didn't like Gruberova. The others can not be compared. Peters bad quality high note was unpleasant, and in the end just ruined the aria. Warren/Berger were forgettable.

[operabeauty]

Without Cornell MacNeil, with the best Ab of all, this is not interesting for me.

[edraith]

It's interesting, but it's a pity for sure that the great MacNeil was not included in this sing off :(

[SugarTomAppleRoger]

This whole exericse is very interesting. Five duets have been nominated. All five have been repeatedly nominated by various people. It just shows you the quality of the candidates. I personally think that each and every one is truly wonderful.

[SugarTomAppleRoger]

No wonder Bernstein called Callas the "bible of opera". She is sensational.

[Elisabetta611]

Callas and Gobbi....now THAT is dramatic singing!

[mongemark]

mancano all'appello dal '50 in poi: Protti, Lisitsian,Taddei, Silveri, Bastianini, Cappuccilli, Herlea, MacNeill, Sereni, Milnes, Nucci

[mayflash67]

Just thanks for posting!!!!

[ejb61]

as an aspiring singer it's so inspiring to hear these great baritones strutt their stuff. i only dream i can be anywhere near as good as these men.

[Ruffiello]

Have any of you listened to the Titta Ruffo / Maria Galvany version? It's probably on youtube. An "unique sonic experience".

[DonPaolissimo]

For me, Warren is still, 45+ years later, unsurpassed. I was so fortunate in having had the honor of seeing him perform this role 3 times - he set an unachievable standard.

Gobbi has a melifluous voice & does a better job vocally than I would have expected.

Bruson is a waste - no high note??? Vergogna!

If you can, please try to hear the great Franco Pagliazzi (he is on You Tube) - the audience makes them "bis"!!!

Peters rules as Gilda!

DonPaolissimo

[patrickshere]

Don't care which sop you put him with but Warren is the king, endastory (personally, I would have liked to hear him with Peters)

[nocoincidence59]

Merille/Peters

[Chiliarches]

Merrill-Moffo would have been more representative of Merrill's best...he's awesome throughout that recording.

[Nesbit85]

Merrill/Peters.

[JackOperaMan]

for me, Warren-Callas would have been the tops.

[DanRobSo]

Interesting to hear the different "performance practices" as we go chronologically from decade to decade.  Note how the final two singers are cheated out of their interpolated high notes as conductors wanted to adhere closer to the written score.

[a28594]

Sherill Milnes and Sutherland are the dream team in this..even though they r not featured !!! her E flat is crazy and to hear Milnes drill that Aflat right after is an amazing kick

[Serggio123]

Where is Gino Bechi???? Why no Nucci???

[baritonoguapo]

Because YouTube only gives you 10 minutes. And because I like these five better than Bechi and Nucci.

[nclysander]

Indeed, THANK YOU for leaving Nucci out!

[crstioherz]

RIGOLETTO Sì, vendetta, tremenda vendetta, Di quest'anima è solo desio Di punirti già l'ora s'affretta, Che fatale per te tuonerà. Come fulmin scagliato da Dio Il buffone te colpire saprà. GILDA O mio padre, qual gioia feroce Balenarvi negli occhi vegg'io! Perdonate a noi pure una voce Di perdono dal cielo verrà.

[vanzofaust]

My opinion:

Gobbi-Callas (only two who sound like they know or care what the words mean)

Warren-Berger (good singing)

Tibbet-Pons (Pons doesn't sing a single clean attack)

Bruson-Gruberova (He's innocuous )

Merrill-Peters (He's last on his own.)

Thanks for posting-fascinating to hear.

[Iareto]

Merrill is easily the best Rigoletto. I like Gruberova as anything, but here she wasn't my favorite. I liked Peters a lot and I even liked Erna Berger.

[dynomax101]

You're missing Ruffo-Galvany. Haven't heard anyone else come close. MacNeil-Sutherland is great too.

[ezequielisimo]

Excelente trabajo "Baritono Guapo"!!! Te felicito!!!

[MarquisDePosa53]

Gobbi, by wide margin, Merrill a distant second, edge to Peters as Gilda over Berger. Gobbi was the consumate Rigoletto, his interpretaion of the role was second to none

[tonebarry]

But, where is John Rawnsley? A great Rigoletto, even in English. Top A too.

[operabuff1]

Thanks, the vendetta duet is also one of my favourite moments. I miss Nucci/Mula with these stupendous top notes.

Bruson/Gruberova skip them!

[34fgsfgsdtu48w7qtaqt]

La mia preferita è la coppia Gobbi-Callas, una cosa assolutamente da fuori di testa, dovreste sentire tutto il CD, perchè è fantastico!!!!

[34fgsfgsdtu48w7qtaqt]

La mia classifica:

1-Gobbi-Callas

2-Tibbett-Pons

3-Bruson-Gruberova

4-Merrill-Peters

5-Warren-Berger

Bravi!!!!

[fecheverriam]

Gobbi-Callas on this one. I missed Milnes-Sutherland.

Thanks baritonoguapo, nice job.

[ettorebariton]

everybody here is good, very good , amazing, spectacular, but gobi+callas are the music itself

ciprian, romania

[KatherineXIX]

I'm sorry, but why does Callas always have to scream?

[Orbazzano]

La mia edizione preferita è senza dubbio Merrill-Peters! Questa esecuzione, tratta dal mio Rigoletto preferito (con lo straordinario Duca di Bjorling), è una delle cose più esaltanti che si possano ascoltare! Due voci baciate da Dio in una vera gara di bravura! Per sentirlo al meglio, poi, bisognerebbe sentirlo su vinile in quanto vengon restituiti alle voci squillo, larghezza e spessore tolti in massima parte da tutti gli altri mezzi d'ascolto!

[swanningaround]

All five for me are good performances. My clear favorite is Erna Berger. Callas and Peters are second equal. I wasn't so keen on Gruberova in this, although she usually masters anything she takes on. This doesn't suit Lily Pon's delicate little voice.

[LawrenceGalante]

You missed the best. Gino Bechi's recording is fantabulious.

[kgus123]

Fist, thanks again for these wonderful "singoffs". Second, thanks for naming the conductors. Third, Gobbi/Callas.

[tehen162]

For me the best was the Gobbi-Callas, the second the Tibbett-Pons.

[JohnSoister]

I'll go along with Gobbi as the ultimate Scarpia - I saw him at the Met back in the 70s, when his voice was pretty much shot, but his stage presence was as awesome as ever - but I'm a Cappuccilli/MacNeil/Nucci (& Bastianini) Rigoletto advocate.

[paulostroff99]

Delightful! Bravo! TY

[HellasItalia4]

Where is Nucci? I heard him live 1 month ago singing 3 times "la vendetta", Parma !!! (66years old)

[baritonoguapo]

I only had room for these five examples! Youtube limits videos to 10 minutes.

[TheVerdiBaritone]

@HellasItalia4 I was in the chorus when Louis Quilico sang six wonderful performances of Rigoletto. He was over 70 years old and was by far the best singer on the stage here at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

[meltzerboy]

I believe Pons is Gilda in the picture, not Marguerite; as far as I know, she never sang the role of Marguerite on stage.

[Sissawilda]

Todd Duncan and Ann Brown used to sing this number.

[adriangans]

What about Macneil?

[billyguns2]

Gobbi is the best singing actor; he really means business! Serafin is the master conductor here. Warren sings it the best. Merrill's voice is a miracle, but his acting childish and adolescent sounding. I would have included Stracciari and Bastianini. I love these comparisons; many thanks for posting.

[Milordvega]

I like them all.

And kudos as well for the pictures. All the Rigolettos look appropriately menacing whle tragic, while the Gildas are all beautiful

[baritonoguapo]

I'll let you in on a little secret: the picture of Gobbi is from a production of Falstaff.

[Milordvega]

Hahaha, I thought he was Rigoletto there because of the growl. And nope, not all the baritones look "menacing" here as I said, more like tragi-comic.

And I think some of the "Gildas" are not really Gilda, right. Lily Pons looks like she's Marguerite, Callas is Violetta.

I like Warren and Merril best. Gobbi should be number 1 but this is a duet and I have never been partial to Callas' voice. Gilda really requires a beautiful voice, not just dramatic instinct.

[pfh]

Ragazzi secondo me Bastianini forever!

[pfh]

Ah e cmq anche Gobbi scherza poco eh...

[operadm]

wonderful posting. many thanks. powerful interpretations - each with merit. Viva Verdi!

[jayboytheplayboy]

I'm partial to Merrill or Warren.

[meltzerboy]

There is a wonderful version of this duet with Ruffo and Galvany, the latter subduing her usual eccentricities. Also, a recording with Battistini and Lulu Hayes.

[baritonoguapo]

There are a whole lot I would have liked to include if it weren't for the 10 minute time limit that YouTube sets. I was torn between posting Bruson and Gruberova or Milnes and Sutherland but I decided to put up Bruson because it's actually a little surprising how well he measures up to the older greats (but he loses points for wimping out on the high Ab).

[nclysander]

You can't blame Bruson for that. It was the conductor's decision (none of the higher options are taken on the recording), and is also becoming common practice nowadays. : (

[meltzerboy]

This is really an embarrassment of riches! I find it almost impossible to choose one performance among so many great ones. My personal favorite among the Gildas is Pons, though not necessarily based on her singing here. For the baritones, I think they are all terrific, but if I had to choose, it would be between Gobbi and Warren.

[LuisTavinho]

Gruberova was the BEST Gilda!*

[gilliebest]

For my money, Gobbi was the best Rigoletto. Also the best Scarpia and Iago.

[ioSonoCallas]

Tito Gobbi, Maria Callas, 3-16 september 1955, Milano.