A great Rigoletto - Live 1973 SF

I found myself longing for a really well sung Rigoletto after listening to some postings on YouTube, so I looked through my collection and pulled up this.

It is a great Rigoletto which took place in San Francisco in 1973.

Here are a few excerpts. I will upload some more upon request.

I love this Rigoletto because it is felt, and not just sung. Milnes is a far more thrilling Rigoletto than many of those of greater voice and technique (Warren, Merrill, even Cappuccilli) because of the fury he exudes at appropriate moments, and the passion and tenderness he exerts at others. Nave's voice is not the most attractive ever, but she presents a perfectly innocent and naive Gilda. Aragall is a fantastic Duke, one of my favourites. His technique is perfect, the sound and legato are gorgeous; I'm not crazy about his phrasing, but he's certainly my favourite Duke, after Pavarotti, and he presents the Duke differently from Pavarotti, Kraus and many others. The whole performance is thrilling, and capped by a magnificent high C flat by Milnes: a truly impressive feat which, I believe, even the great Leonard Warren, and the greater Piero Cappuccilli never attempted. The conducting has direction and is of a consistently good standard, very attentative to the singers' needs.

The cast was as follows:

Rigoletto: Sherrill MILNES (SFO Debut)
Gilda: Isabella NAVE
Duca di Mantova: Jaime ARAGALL (SFO Debut)
Sparafucile: Clifford Grant
Maddalena: Silvana Mazzieri
Conte di Monterone: Harry Dworchak
Borsa: James Atherton
Marullo: Timothy Nolan
Conte di Ceprano: Daniel Sullivan
Contessa di Ceprano: Gwendolyn Jones
Giovanna: Donna Peterson
Paggio: Richard Morrison


San Francisco Opera Orchestra & Chorus
Conductor: Kasimierz KORD
San Francico Opera, 1973

Category:

Music

Tags:

• rigoletto
• verdi
• duke
• la
• donna
• mobile
• gilda
• jaime
• aragall
• sherrill
• milnes
• nave
• isabella
• opera
• live
• 1973

[jamesgatward1985]

It's not a C it's a High B still very impressive though!

[1993MGB]

MILNES!!! WHAT A C!!!

[tenorbear60]

Thank you Moorhe for posting this collection of clips. I saw this incredible production in San Francisco as a boy - it was the height of Jean Pierre Ponnelle's productions, truly a blended musical and theatrical experience. I won't ever forget Milnes in his prime here before the vocal issues hollowed out his middle voice. This brings back so many memories..... thank you again.

[SHICOFF1]

Sirius just played a fine met. Brdcst. of a 1977 Butterfly with Scotto and Aragall. They have spelled Aragall on the screen Aragail. Anyhow it is a fine performance from all.

[SHICOFF1]

Aragall (born in 1939) when young had a similar weight in the sound to Pavoratti and when his top C is open it can be wonderful. This was a performance where the singers all did their thing--exciting!

[SHICOFF1]

Chicago Born Milnes (Downers Grove) is in great voice here and really shows us live as does the beautiful lyric voice of Aragall. The ending with Milnes is a pleasant Shock!!!

[esclarmonde1]

Sublime Aragall. Thank you for posting this and is it possible to buy?

[esclarmonde1]

The sublime Aragall, singing the role supremely well, no wonder it became his calling card.

[maestromuffin]

and this is live!!!! how long can he hold the a flat at the end of vendetta? and I thought he only hit the bflat at the end on the recording - he holds it even longer in person...I'm glad I wasn't there in person - I'm sure I would have fainted!!!!

[operafanatic01]

you have e il sol dell´anima-addio addio and possente amor by aragall from this?