Verdi: Rigoletto - Gedda, McNeil, Grist - Molinari-Pradelli - 1967

A major-label Rigoletto with two Americans in lead roles is a rar avis, and yet EMI has hidden this set in their vaults for a long time. I find no reviews of it in either the Gramophone or Fanfare archives. Perhaps too many big-name rivals sank it – EMI has the classic Callas and Sills versions, among others.

One hoped that Gedda would be an outstanding Duke, but he's a bit worn of voice and not passionate enough. Which isn't to say that his singing isn't stylish and engaging. MacNeil enjoyed a long career at the Met and was probably the outstanding American-born Rigoletto between the eras of Robert Merrill and Leonard Warren and Sherrill Milnes. Fortunately, he doesn't shout with the merciless constancy of Milnes, and although the portrayal is conventional, MacNeil sounds thoroughly idiomatic and has a big, impressive voice. The one thing he isn't is touching, a serious drawback. Grist appears on quite a few prominent recordings, including Bernstein's Mahler Fourth, and her voice has a pleasing timbre. It's light and vibrant, as is her depiction of the cardboard Gilda – it's not Grist's faualt that she can't find the pathos of Callas, but on the other hand she's not as overblown as Sutherland. Molinari-Pradelli's conducting is serviceable but no better.

Artists
Duc de Mantoue - Nicolai Gedda
Rigoletto - Cornell MacNeil
Gilda - Reri Grist
Sparafucile - Agostino Ferrin
Maddalena - Anna Di Stasio
Giovanna - Limbania Leoni
Monterone - Ruggero Raimondi
Marullo - Benito di Bella
Borsa - Franco Ricciardi

Choeurs et Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rome
Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Roma, 07/1967



Tracklist - Disc 1
1. Prelude
2. Act 1. Scene 1. Della mia bella incognita borghese
3. Act 1. Scene 1. Questa o quella
4. Act 1. Scene 1. Partite? crudele!
5. Act 1. Scene 1. Gran nuova!
6. Act 1. Scene 1. Ch'io gli parli
7. Act 1. Scene 2. Quel vecchio maledivami!
8. Act 1. Scene 2. Pari siamo!
9. Act 1. Scene 2. Figlia! Mio padre!
10. Act 1. Scene 2. Ah! veglia, o donna, questo fiore
11. Act 1. Scene 2. Giovanna, ho dei rimorsi
12. Act 1. Scene 2. È il sol dell'anima
13. Act 1. Scene 2. Che m'ami, deh! ripetimi!
14. Act 1. Scene 2. Gualtier Maldè… Caro nome
15. Act 1. Scene 2. Riedo! perché?
16. Act 1. Scene 2. Zitti, zitti

Tracklist - Disc 2
1. Act 2. Ella mi fu rapita!
2. Act 2. Parmi veder le lagrime
3. Act 2. Duca, Duca!
4. Act 2. Possente amor mi chiama
5. Act 2. Povero Rigoletto!
6. Act 2. Cortigiani, vil razza dannata
7. Act 2. Mio padre!
8. Act 2. Parla, siam soli… Tutte le feste al tempio
9. Act 2. Ah! Piangi, fanciulla, piangi
10. Act 2. Compiuto pur quanto a fare mi resta
11. Act 2. No, vecchio, t'inganni… Sì, vendetta
12. Act 3. E l'ami?
13. Act 3. Un dì, se ben rammentomi
14. Act 3. Bella figlia dell'amore
15. Act 3. Venti scudi hai tu detto?
16. Act 3. Povero giovin! grazioso tanto
17. Act 3. Ah, più non ragiono!
18. Act 3. Della vendetta alfin giunge l'istante!
19. Act 3. Egli è là! morto!
20. Act 3. Chi è mai, chi è qui in sua vece?
21. Act 3. V'ho ingannato… Lassù in cielo