Verdi: Macbeth

Sereni, Stapp, Ferrin; De Fabritiis

Roma, 1977

$9.95

Description:

Given the vocal and dramatic demands of Verdi’s Macbeth, vocal beauty can sometimes feel— to paraphrase Anna Russell—like “a total waste of time.” Yet in this performance, Mario Sereni and Olivia Stapp manage to deliver all the necessary malevolence and vocal firepower without compromising the intrinsic appeal of their voices. This added vocal sheen lends an unexpected layer of humanity to two otherwise ruthless characters.

Olivia Stapp is in particularly fine form as Lady Macbeth, displaying pinpoint coloratura, commanding dramatic presence, and crowning her sleepwalking scene with a spine-tingling high D-flat. It's a performance that begs the question why her career didn’t gain broader recognition. Mario Sereni brings tortured nobility to the title role, his baritone shaped with elegance even in moments of brutal intensity.

The performance is conducted with skill and precision by Oliviero De Fabritiis, who balances tension and lyricism with seasoned expertise.

In Stereo

OD 11380-2