Part II - Your Favorites: RENATA SCOTTO

THIS PART IS FOR YOUR FAVORITES!
Famous italian Soprano Renata Scotto found her place in Part II - Do you agree? Please let us know!

Renata Scotto, Soprano (born 1934)

Giuseppe Verdi - Otello
Ave Maria
(Recorded 1977 )

My personal opinion: "Nowadays we don´t have a Soprano leggiero anymore. Once upon a time there was Renata Scotto who sang enchanting, but now - after all these strong parts - she screams, oh my God how she screams!", said Lina Pagliughi, and Augusta Oltrabella once asked: "Have you heard her screaming in the new recording of "Nabucco"? She found people, paying for her screaming. She may take all the money as long as she will get it. In a singer´s life, tomorrow isn´t just another day!" Renata Tebaldi: "Once she (Scotto) was very talented!"

When Renata Scotto sang Cio-Cio-San in her first Butterfly-recording alongside Carlo Bergonzi in 1966, she gave an emphatic performance (Indeed one of the best renditions of Butterfly we have on records at all!). Ten years later (Scotto was 42), vocal sharpness and effort were unmistakable, and much of Renata Scottos formerly "enchanting" was lost. She ruined her "Soprano leggiero" with roles like Norma, Gioconda, Abigaile and Lady MacBeth. "That´s the business! They squeeze the lemon and throw it away!" once Lisa della Casa blamed directors and conductors.

When Scotto was very young, she came to Mafalda Favero, who teached her to sing Butterfly. In 1954 she gave her debut at La Scala, two years later Alfredo Kraus took notice that she built up the top register incorrectly. Scotto: "He was the best Tenore di grazia I´ve ever heard!" Kraus brought her to his own teacher Mercedes Llopard ( a Toscanini favorite), who cancelled Scotto´s beloved Butterfly and teached her to sing "vocalises". "She gave me back the meaning of Belcanto", Scotto praised her. With Antonio Votto she learned Mimi, with conductor Francesco Molinari-Pradelli she risked "Pique Dame". "It was the evening of September 3th 1957 that changed my life." Scotto replaced Maria Callas and performed "Sonnambula". Callas favourably sent compliments, and in critic´s circels they talk about "a new coloratura with dramatic expression". In 1958 she was Adina (with di Stefano), 1959 "Don Pasquale" and "La Bohème". She recorded "Rigoletto" (with Kraus/Bastianini) and "Lucia" (with di Stefano) and "Traviata", but at La Scala Violetta was given to another Soprano - and it became a desaster for Mirella Freni. In 1970 Renata Scotto stepped on stage for "Vespri" and some shouted "Brava Callas!". "Let her sing, if she can!", she replied with tears in her eyes. Soon after, Renata Scotto left Milano. She made a "second career" at the Met (Trovatore, Musetta in Bohème, Adriana, Desdemona, Elisabetta and many more) with good and bad critics (Renata Screecho!). In the 1970s and 1980s she made several good recordings ("Traviata" with Muti), and her retirement came in 2002. For me, with her remarkable performances of Verismo-music she´d made a virtue out of necessity. But even with great sacrifices she was a big personality in opera - one of the last great sopranos. 27 nominations and place 27 for her - the results of your votings for Renata Scotto.

THE COMPLETE OVERVIEW: GO TO ALL SINGERS IN THIS LIST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBsScnQWVlU

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Renata
• Scotto
• Butterfly
• Puccini
• Verdi
• Otello
• Shakespeare
• Callas
• Muti
• Alfredo
• Kraus
• Belcanto
• Verismo

[TheWisemonkey8]

I love this singer with my entire heart. Scotto is never frightened of colouring her voice to portray a required emotion or dramatic effect. I realize of course that may critics often lambast this particular stance in her interpretations. However, in my humble opinion, a performance like the one here clearly shows a singer capable of great and beautiful singing. Super post! Kind and warm regards,

[iskenderuna]

I heard Scotto a couple of times in the 80s. By then she was doing the heavy repertory. I knew her Norma & co from records and I agree the top notes were acidic. I neverthless loved the colour of the voice and her superb musicality and sense for drama. One mustn't forget there were a couple of other sopranos who had ugly top notes and people loved them nevertheless. I must add Scotto was riveting onstage and when you experienced her live, one really didnt hear the sour notes any more.

[dawrldbmastage08]

i think her best is her Butterfly. No one can touch that

[tyjeffries]

Yes its shame...its very beautiful but the audio is distorting on the loud parts... it has recorded too loud. x

[tenorisimo1975]

Renata Scotto piena di arte. Brava.

[OKelleyPaidir]

She is the quintessential Italian lyric soprano. As a technician an actor and an artist, she is amazing.

[kirok1701]

This is an excellent complete studio recording of Otello conducted by Levine with Domingo and Milnes.

[Drelnis]

What is this 1977 recording from? Is it a full recording?

If anyone at all owns this recording, would you please send it to me? :)

I can rip it off this video but the volume here has been adjusted that the loud parts are fuzzy :(

[bbmt7dh7]

i don't necessarily prefer her in general but i did like her as Neris in Medea with Callas.