It's Obvious! Surely, to Make Her Contribution Worth- 1925 -35 Period, When His Voice Had While

' really choral symphonies, and this one make a beautiful lyric tenor open out into has the interplay of brass and drums a tenore di forza are all too apparent. Nay 22nd, 1746 to carry it to the realms of high drama. Clabassi is so limited at both ends of the R.C.M. scale and so throaty in between that Alvise, who can take a dominant position, emerges a nonentity. Previtali's conduct- lion. Chauncey Lee is and even rather dull Julep Acres PONCHIELLI: La Gioconda ing uneventful - Williamsburg. 'Virginia Colony surprisingly so, in view of his good work Zinka Milanov (s), La Gioconda; Rosa- on other complete opera sets. The choral Dear Cousin - lind Elias (ms), Laura; Belen Amparan singing, however, is quite fine. The sound 7n reply to your letter lately delioued by La Cieca: Giuseppe di Stefano (t), is perfectly listenable, rather crude I 31uch (c), (apt. Torres of this Town. indeed heard with the soloists quite Modern Musick during nor Solourn in I trope. No, Enzo Grimaldo; Giacomo Cottino (t), early stereophony, d is not u'orlh the a ',pence of Importai to our Isepo; Leonard Warren (b), Barnaba: in the foreground. C.L.O. shores as il is but a transitory Ibing. aimed at Clabassi (bs), Alvise Badoero; the sensual not the Plinio 1n mnsland, the (sermon 31r. Mandel affects Fernando Valentini (bs), Zuane and areal Knowledge from his hlallan Nitrifies. 71ís Helmsman: Virgilio Carbonari (bs), a 3414 sis all Comedies are all the racle bis Oratorios "The Young Singer: Chorus and Orchestra of Acca- BENIAMINO GIGLI: the Marne. at the expense of Religion llorship. Gigli" 31r Rameau tabors in a like 7'ein in ?rance with demia di Santa Cecilia (Rome), Fernan- h adulation front ll'eallhy Patrons in higb do Previtali. cond. [from RCA Victor places of Lou' llornts. 71ís appeal depends orale Ponchielli: La Gioconda: Enzo Gri- /,lent the .a LM 6139/LSC 6139, 1958]. on his Mean for pleasing (callerie maldo, Principe di Santafior: Cielo e certain loh. Rash also Winds 3lusisall I woos into RCA VICTROLA VIC 6101. Three LP. a mar; Del,! non tremar. Puccini: - Tosca: (ierrrrarr (hurst'es, though with certain Clever- $7.50. ness, the near PernLec.s us the better wrought ''ordita armonia; E lucera,, le stelle. ,hstract one all from Der'oriorl RCA VICTROLA VICS 6101. Three Purses La Bohème: O soave Jaiwiulla. Boito: Thou,lh the ie/Lnoes mast rl suppose earn their SD. $9.00. lt'ay (nic. asp when Burll,o1A teal, Oyer Lrr te Mefistofele: Dai campi, dai prati: Se tu families) their Popular :Musick is dearadma to mi doni: Lontano, lontano: Giunto sul is a ramie of a Dissolute Dignity passing This set leaves plenty to be desired, but passo. Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana: Society Ilea "amid t.rldure. as a low- priced reissue it has its attrac- Mammal gitel vino è generoso. Donizetti: i'r. Mull. a loving Cousin servil. tions, especially in view of the less than I. LaL Favorita: Apmrto gentil: Addio, fuggir Clearer Lee overwhelming competition. Gioconda' Fili lascia. Iris: Apri la 7Wir finestra. lltitcl'es 711ák, sale". calls for six great singers, and here we nella sua 31ass'Ils. Colnrrr Lodoletia: Alt! ritrovarla have two -Zinka Milanov and Leonard capanna. Giordano: Fedora: Amor ti Records labelled Cornbridg bear witness to our is in top form. Com ial Corruption; spite of High Principles Warren. though neither esala: Vedi, io piango. 8, Puritan Prompts, we shameless Purveyors of Gioconda was (perhaps I should say such Popular Fore. Catalog B lin a nearly plain wrap- per) on request even lists items hem 17th a 20th is) one of Milanov's best roles. The music Beniamino Gigli, tenor: various other Century +; monotones $4.98, stereot ypes $5.98 of yr. local dealer or Direct. brought out the best in her big. creamy singers: orchestras [from various origi- voice, and the outlandish dramatic as- nals, 1918 -19]. BRIirAE pects of the opera were compatible with ANGEL COLH 146. LP. $5.98. CAM ROWS her old- fashioned, stagey temperament. 477 Washington St., Wellesley, Mass. 02181 It is a shame that Victor did not get These recordings are all taken from ses- around to her Gioconda five years ear- sions held in Milan when Beniamino CIRCLE 13 ON READER -SERVICE CARD lier, for by 1958, when this recording Gigli was not yet twenty. The tranfers was made, unsteadiness and whoopiness have been well done, and the accom- had invaded too much of her singing. panying information is complete and All the same, she is in far better control useful, as is customary with this Angel here than on the later Forza, and she series. Why? produces some stunning moments: the There is now a great deal of Gigli well incredible suspended 13 flat at "Enzo on LP: all phases of his career are DO THOUSANDS OF HI -FI adorato. Ah, come t'anu!" (one of her represented, and many arias are present great achievements in the theatre -she in two or three different versions. It ENTHUSIASTS BUY FROM used to hold it while crossing the entire is of course interesting to have his early stage), the supplication at the end of Act attempts in the catalogue. By and large, AUDIO UNLIMITED I, nearly all of Act IV, including a really though, I think he is heard to best splendid "Suicidio!" There's enough here, advantage on his recordings from the It's Obvious! surely, to make her contribution worth- 1925 -35 period, when his voice had while. taken on its full mature lushness and as self - LOWEST PRICES Warren is often shaky where he should his style had not yet become be steady, and perhaps the exaggerated indulgent and tasteless as it was later FAST SERVICE approach he took to Barnaba will not apt to be. A comparison of this "Enzo Grimaldo" with the later one made with FACTORY SEALED UNITS please everyone, though I always enjoyed it hugely. The first act is just too shud- Ruffo, for example, shows a much FULLY INSURED SHIPMENTS dery, but with the Barcarola he hits his fuller, liquid tone in the later issue: the as display same can he said for the Iris serenade, UP TO 2 YEAR MANUFACTURERS' stride, tossing it off the grand song it is, and he is in good form for the though in the early one he employs a WARRANTY last scene too. true half -voice most caressingly. Naturally, there are wonderful things PACKAGE DEALS -SAVE MORE There is good work from two of the other principals -Rosalind Elias and here: the opening out as the voice leads in the Cielo e FRANCHISED DISTRIBUTORS Belen Amparan. Both sing solidly and into " vieni, o donna" " in fact); the with some honest feeling for their music, mar" (this whole aria, Write for FREE Catalog Today stelle," preferable though neither has quite the presence or melting "E lucevan le the more extroverted one on the SEND US YOUR LIST grandeur one wants in this sort of work. to set (but not to the intervening On the negative side are Giuseppe di complete FOR OUR AIR MAIL by "O dolci Clabassi. The tenor's one for Victor, backed QUOTE TODAY Stefano and Plinio work is well conceived and free from af- Visit Our Showroom and Warehouse fectation, and in the duet with Laura and most of the fourth act his sensible phras- unlimited, inc. ing and the lovely sound of his middle *AUDIO voice carry him through. Elsewhere, Ave. (Nr. 38) New York 16, N.Y. 715 F Second though, his now familiar difficulties with 000 000000o 3 blocks from the U.N. high tones and his distressing attempts to

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