Verdi: Don Carlo (In Russian)

Andjaparidze, Milashkina, Arkhipova, Petrov, Valaitis; Naidenov

Bolshoi, 1963

$14.95

Description:

This unique performance of Don Carlo features an excellent cast of Russian singers, each bringing a powerful sense of character and vocal command to Verdi’s sprawling drama. Irina Arkhipova is extraordinary as Eboli, handling the role’s formidable range with ease and dramatic conviction. Her performance alone is worth the price of admission.

The version used here is the four-act edition, but it includes some rare musical additions—a full ballet in Act II and an unusual extension to the Filippo/Posa duet that offers fresh insight into Verdi’s original scoring. One curious detail: the Celestial Voice at the end of the auto-da-fé scene vocalizes her part on an “ah,” possibly a result of Soviet-era censorship or local performance tradition.

While the Russian-language translation may initially surprise those used to hearing Verdi’s original Italian, the musical and dramatic commitment of the performers ultimately makes this a fascinating and rewarding listening experience.

In Mono

OD 11479-3