Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia - Simionato, Di Stefano, Mascherini, Siepi; Cellini. Mexico City, 1949
$8.95
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This recording is very exciting because it captures three artists that would go on to become legends in the very early stages of their careers: Giulietta Simionato, Giuseppe Di Stefano and Cesare Siepi. Simionato and Siepi would go on to repeat these roles with relative frequency. It is a shame that Di Stefano did not embrace this repertoire because at least at this stage in his career he is truly ideal in it. His voice moves with grace and agility and he also brings a vocal core to the role that you almost never hear. Simionato is a force of vocal agility and bubbling spirit and she is well paired with Di Stefano because within the same breath she is capable of negotiating the most treacherous vocal fireworks and then unleashing Verdian tones that could stop a man dead in his tracks. Cesare Siepi delivers one of the finest "La calunnia" that I have ever heard prompting the audience to demand an encore. The sound is good for the era.
OD 10494-2
