From the Deutsche Oper Berlin 1987: This live recording stars the great baritone Renato Bruson and soprano Mara Zampieri as the murderous couple in Verdi’s opera, based on Shakespeare’s tragedy. Luca Ronconi’s production won huge critical acclaim at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, in particular for the conductor, Giuseppe Sinopoli, whose individual virtuosity brought fresh colour to the dramatic score. The cast also features David Griffith as Malcolm, James Morris as Banquo and Dennis O’Neill as Macduff. (Sung in Italian)
Aida
Luciano Pavarotti heads an exceptional cast in this spectacular live recording from La Scala, Milan, with Ghena Dimitrova, Maria Chiara, Nicolai Ghiaurov and Juan Pons, all in peak form. Luca Ronconi’s magnificent production of Verdi’s much-loved masterpiece was a triumphant success, with Mauro Pagano’s monumental settings capturing perfectly the imposing grandeur of the land of the Pharaohs and the ochre hues of the desert. Lorin Maazel conducts.
Ernani
Ernani, Verdi’s fifth opera (1844) is melodic from beginning to end. Based on Victor Hugo’s play, whose tumultuous reception in 1830 marked a decisive turning point in the development of romantic drama, this violent and sombre story of frustrated passion, honour fatally impugned, and ambition thwarted and rewarded, is set by the young composer to a succession of irresistible tunes, unsurpassed even in his mature works. The opera’s dramatic impetus is unstoppable. For Luca Ronconi’s production, four of the world’s leading Verdi singers were engaged: Placido Domingo as the bandit, Ernani; Renato Bruson as the scheming, dangerously suave King Charles of Spain; Nicolai Ghiaurov as the proud Spanish Grandee whose implacable sense of honour propels the action to ist tragic conclusion; and Mirella Freni as the gentle heroine desired by these three rivals.