Carlo Battistoni
1935 - 2004Verdi, Un Ballo in Maschera - Salvatore Licitra, Maria Guleghina, Riccardo Muti, Teatro alla Scala
Carlo Battistoni, Liliana Cavani
Salvatore Licitra, Bruno Caproni
Conducted by Riccardo Muti, the master of the Scala in Milan for twenty years, the Verdian melodrama unfolds before our eyes. This Cavani's approach is ageless and excellence is pre-eminent: to start with, the role of Riccardo is played by the wonderful Salvatore Licitra. As for Maria Guleghina, she plays an exceptionally good Amelia. Riccardo Muti proves once again what a wonderful Verdian he is.
Verdi, Un Ballo in Maschera - Salvatore Licitra, Maria Guleghina, Riccardo Muti, Teatro alla Scala
Otello
Carlo Battistoni, Graham Vick
Plácido Domingo, Leo Nucci
This was Domingo's last set of performances as Otello in La Scala. In spite of his relatively advanced age, he is still in excellent form, both vocally and in terms of stage presence. Nucci is also his usual self, delivering a performance of very high standard. Barbara Frittoli is an excellent Desdemona, in good voice and gives a very moving performance. Muti conducts with great emotion and tight accuracy, conveying the full orchestral drama of the score.
Otello
Norma
Carlo Battistoni, Roberto Andò
Shing Young Hoon, Ildar Abdrazakov
Gaul has been conquered by the Romans. Oroveso, the Arch-Druid longs to lead a Gallic rebellion against the colonial forces. He and all the others wait for the signal to be given by his daughter, the Druid High Priestess Norma. But Norma has fallen in love with the Roman Proconsul, Pollione, and given birth to two children. They have been brought up in secrecy by her confidante Clotilde. Norma still loves Pollione but he has fallen in love with a novice priestess, Adalgisa.
Norma
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra
Carlo Battistoni, Peter Stein
Carlo Guelfi, Julian Konstantinov
Giuseppe Verdi's one prologue, three act opera featuring libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and Arrigo Boito is performed before a live audience at Florence's Teatro Comunale in this release featuring the music of the Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino under conductor Claudio Abbado, and starring Carlo Guelfi, Julian Konstantinov, and Karita Mattila.
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra
