Warren/Milanov/del Monaco/Siepi - Ernani Ensemble

"Oh sommo Carlo, piu del tuo nome"
What an amazing cast ! The great Dimitri Mitropoulos is conducting.

Ernani - Mario del Monaco
Don Carlo - Leonard Warren
Elvira - Zinka Milanov
Silva - Cesare Siepi
Don Riccardo - James McCracken

live from the Met, December 29,1956

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Primobaritono
• opera
• Ernani
• Verdi
• Warren
• Milanov
• Siepi
• del
• Monaco
• Mitropoulos

[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 ?

[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".

[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.

[PietroAntoni]

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

[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.

[numetutelare]

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

[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?

[tomzoricic]

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

[seektheforce]

@primobaritono wow, Does this happen to men?

[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!!!