Homage to Giulietta Simionato: a retrospective (1)

Though Giulietta Simionato's death last week was a very sad moment for all Opera fans, the legenary Italian mezzo certainly had a life of huge achievements and glories through her talent, dedication and amazing presence and charisma. More than her passing away, it's her great life that needs to be remembered now.

I decided to make this retrospective of her best moments on record as a homage to the long and fruitful life of Simionato, IMO the best dramatic mezzo of all in the Italian repertoire. Since she is now in Heaven and her only way to be with us will be, from now on, through one of her most lively virtues: her voice and the mind with which she turned her roles so much more complex and interesting.

This is the part one of this Homage to Giulietta Simionato. A part two will follow in the next days, because she left so many great vocal moments that I simply couldn't gather all of them in only one video of 10 minutes.

The selected excerpts in this part 1 are from Verdi and Verismo operas:

1) Il Trovatore - Perigliarti ancor languente [1956, studio]
2) Aida - Judgement Scene [1959, studio]
3) Don Carlo - O don fatale [1958, live in Salzburg]
4) Adriana Lecouvreur - Acerba voluttà [1961, studio]
5) Cavalleria Rusticana - Turiddu mi tolse [1960, studio]
6) L'Arlesiana - Esser madre è un inferno [1961, RAI broadcast]
7) Suor Angelica - Nel silenzio di quei raccoglimenti [1962, studio]
8) Un Ballo in Maschera - Re dell'abbisso, affrettati [1961, studio]

Category:

Music

Tags:

• opera
• giulietta
• simionato
• mezzo
• soprano
• verdi
• puccini
• cilea
• mascagni
• retrospective

[1sumiresan2]

Vielen Dank für das Video!!!

[TheValdoro]

listening to the puccini from suor angelica,it reminds me when i first heard the recording with tebaldi on decca.there are so many beautiful voices on that record in nall the various parts small and large, but when Simionato opens her mouth I went Oh My God the richness and depth of that voice were and still are stunning and a match to Tebaldi. search out the whole recording for that masterpiece of a scene.

[valeriag1011]

Thank you for posting this tribute. What an inspiration she is!

[ingriddoppler]

An outstanding artist and a great Lady ~ I miss her dearly !

[LadyRavenhaire]

She may no longer be with us in flesh, but through her numerous recordings she can be with us in spirit teaching us the beauty and transcendence that music can give. May she rest in peace.

[Nervenkratz]

She was one of the greatest mezzos ever, I can listen to her for hours, such a beautiful and powerful voice and of course a great human beeing!

[wpunderlich]

Her art, quality and  greatness will never die. R.I.P.

[tazkorinthos]

rest in peace !!!

[45antar]

thank you for posting this, its a very beautiful choice of examples!