Turandot and opera arias

Recorded live at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden 10 May 1937

Eva Turner (soprano) & Giovanni Martinelli (tenor)

London Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, John Barbirolli

One of Britain's finest ever singers captured live in her signature role. The extensive Covent Garden Turandot excerpts with Martinelli sound slightly less clear than EMI's release, but the... — BBC Music Magazine, July 2009 More…

Release Date: 3rd Aug 2009
Catalogue No: SJB1032
Label: Barbirolli Society

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GIACOMO PUCCINI

Turandot

Act I – Non, piangere, Liù

Act II, Scene 2 – In questa reggia

Straniero, ascolta! (Riddle scene)

Act III, Scene 1 – Nessun dorma

Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli

Recorded live at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden 5 May 1937

GIACOMO PUCCINI

Tosca Act I – Tre sbirri, una carozza (Te Deum)

Act II – La povera, mia cena

GIUSEPPE VERDI

Otello Act I – Inaffia l’ugola (Brindisi)

GIOACCHINO ROSSINI

Il Barbiere di Siviglia – Act I – Largo al factotum

Giovanni Inghilleri (baritone)

Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/

John Barbirolli Recorded June 1929

GIUSEPPE VERDI

Un ballo in maschera – Act III – Eri tu che macchiavi

Giovanni Inghilleri (baritone)

with Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli Recorded 24 April 1929

GIACOMO PUCCINI

Turandot

Act I – Signore, ascolta!

Act I – Non, piangere, Liù

Act II, Scene 2 – In questa reggia

Straniero, ascolta!

Act III, Scene 1 – Nessun dorma

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This compact disc collection includes a number of important extracts from Puccini’s Turandot (sadly, complete recordings have not survived) from performances Barbirolli conducted at Covent Garden, and performed during the 1937 Coronation Season. These extracts are not only valuable for Barbirolli live ‘in action’ as it were, within the opera house, but also they provide us with the opportunity of hearing great singers in roles for which they became most famous. In this regard, the chance of hearing the legendary Dame Eva Turner as Turandot with Giovanni Martinelli as Calaf (his first appearance in the role), is indeed wholly exceptional.

These excerpts are taken from two performances at Covent Garden, heard on May 5th and 10th 1937 and the recorded selections are of broadly identical passages in the score, although those from the May 10th performance are slightly longer excerpts. The most important difference is the change of cast, in that in the May 10th performance Licia Albanese replaces Mafalda Favero as Liù. The atmosphere of live performances thus conveyed is tangible; apart from various audience and stage noises, and what may be the occasional catch of breath from Barbirolli, the undeniable frisson of Barbirolli’s masterly conducting in following the singers, especially in their fermate – notably at the end of Martinelli’s Nessun Dorma – is a prime example of his ability to empathise with them in every way. One might also note the appositeness of his tempi, always giving the singers time to sing and to phrase properly. The HMV studio recordings from April and June 1929 feature an Italian baritone, a contemporary of Martinelli, who did not enjoy a commensurate international fame, Giovanni Inghilleri – although, like Martinelli, he was a much admired singer, especially amongst his peers. From these recordings conducted by Sir John Barbirolli we can only regret that what was undoubtedly Manchester’s gain was the international world of opera’s loss.

Reviews

July 2009

One of Britain's finest ever singers captured live in her signature role. The extensive Covent Garden Turandot excerpts with Martinelli sound slightly less clear than EMI's release, but the extras more than compensate.

Turandot and opera arias

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