Un ballo in Maschera with Cossutta, Orlandi-Malaspina, Gorr & Bryn-Jones
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Un ballo in Maschera
Giuseppe Verdi Rita Orlandi-Malaspina, Carlo Cossutta, Delme Bryn Jones, 1969 London OD 10457-2 |
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Sound Quality:
  This performance of Ballo is an excellent document of great singing from singers who left few commercial recordings. As Gustavo, Carlo Cossutta brings a burnished baritonal quality with unflinching control over the top (Although he does opt out of the c in the duet.) He is well paired with Rita Orlandi-Malaspina who posesses a similar chiaroscuro quality to her vocal production. And for baritone fans out there who think they have heard every great baritone of the twentieth century, you are in for a great suprise in the form of Delme Bryn-Jones. It is a true mystery why this superb singer didn't have a bigger career for he is truly outstanding. A Wikipedia entry indicates that "personal problems" may have interfered with ascent into super-stardom. I invite anybody who knows more about this artist to leave their thoughts below. Elizabeth Harwood is a charming Oscar and Rita Gorr, the biggest star in the cast, is an eerie Ulrica. The sound is good. |
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3 Comments on Un ballo in Maschera with Cossutta, Orlandi-Malaspina, Gorr & Bryn-Jones »
July 31, 2009
John @ 8:20 am:
Delme Bryn-Jones was a regular at Covent Garden around this time. I remember especially Di Luna. A big burly man and voice in the Peter Glossop mould. He began to cancel and have vocal problems. I understand drink was a result or the cause.
John @ 12:07 pm:
A fitting tribute to Sir Edward Downes who died recently at the Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland along with his wife. He conducted every season at Covent Garden for 50 years and was a highly regarded Verdi conductor and scholar, as well as Wagner, Strauss, the Russians etc. Only failing eye sight ended his career. He conducted the first Western performances of Katerina Ismailova
September 23, 2009
Roland @ 4:24 pm:
I knew Delme Bryn-Jones at the end of his life after he stopped drinking. A wonderful man. He sadly didn't get back to major public performance but did help a lot of people recover from drink problems, like his own. There are sadly very few recordings of him working. I am very pleased to have found this one to add to my very small collection.