Verdi: La forza del destino (Naples, 1958)
 

Cast: Renata Tebaldi (Leonora), Franco Corelli (Don Alvaro), Ettore Bastianini (Don Carlo), Boris Christoff (Padre Guardiano), Oralia Dominguez (Preziosilla), Renato Capecchi (Fra Melitone), Francesco Molinari-Pradelli (conductor)

Recorded on 15 March 1958 at the Teatro di San Carlo (Naples). First published in tape formats.

Reissued in 2002 in DVD format, using RAI's original mastercopy, by Hardy Trading Company of Via Millelire 13, 20146 Milan, Italy (region 0 / NTSC, subtitle options: English, French). This version also includes an interview with Tebaldi. Distributed in the USA by VAI (Video Artists International and VAI Audio) HCD4002

Technical Details:
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 monochrome
Sound: Digital Dolby - monaural

Running time:160 minutes
Sung in Italian

Price $34.95 in the USA
 
In the presence of great singing in the style of a great composer, technical flaws must be overlooked. This performance has been known for many years in ghostly video with blurred sound. In this release, it is restored to the level of a good kinescope of the era, allowing the viewer to relish the flapping buildings, ludicrous props - and glorious music in fully satisfying monaural sound.
 
Renata Tebaldi stakes a claim to ownership of this Leonora - and clearly owns it as fully as any contemporary of hers, more than any other on video. One cannot accept her as vulnerable, but one must admire her grace and commitment almost as much as her thrilling voice. Corelli is dashing and brilliant, sounding completely at ease from trumpeting forte to floated pianissimo. Bastianini will not persuade as a 'student', but with that voice it hardly matters. Dominguez is given a bit more of her part than is customary and makes of it all one could hope. Christoff is a matter of taste; one cannot argue the richness of his tone, but he is one exception to the stylistic consistency of the performance. Capecchi, on the other hand, threatens to steal the show with both voice and acting. Molinari-Pradelli offers 'only' the steady hand and complete assurance of one for whom the work is in his blood; it is a thrilling vocal display, with excellent soloists and chorus and with a sufficient orchestra. He allows the forces on stage to carry the work and they do so magnificently.
 
Direction is primitive both in terms of stage imagery and in terms of television craftsmanship. The format on the review copy is NTSC and Region 0. It should play well on any opera lover's DVD machine. Once it finds its way to yours, it will be played often and with great pleasure.
 
Related websites: Hardy Trading Company www.promart.it/Dischi/EtichDiHardy.html
VAI (Video Artists International and VAI Audio) www.vaimusic.com
Hardy Trading Company email: hardyclassic@tiscaline.net
 
Michael Richter, 1 June 2002
mrichter@cpl.net
 
See also Michael Richter's Introduction to the DVD, for a list of other reviews see the DVD Project page.