Listen to a Sample:

An outdoor performance of Rigoletto at the Arena di Verona is probably one of the last places you would expect to find Verdi at its absolute best, however, on this occasion the Veronese public was treated to three young singers destined for greatness and some Verdi singing that would rival the greatest singers in history. Piero Cappuccilli makes the daunting title roles seem almost effortless, excelling equally in the lyrical as well as the dramatic passages. His ”Veglia, o donna” is particularly breathtaking and doubly impressive since it is performed without the standard cut. Renata Scotto approaches perfection as Gilda offering a shimmering ”Caro nome” as well as a taste of the spinto side of her voice during the storm scene. She is well-matched by Jaime Aragall who sings the duke with youthful abandon without ever coming across as coarse. His ”La donna è mobile” brings down the house (or amphitheater in this case) and he capitulates by offering an encore. Oliviero Fabritiis favors a more leisurely pace to the benefit of the singers. It is worth noting that there is some very remarkable playing from the string section. The sound is fair. There are about five minutes of music missing from ”Tutte le feste”.

In Mono

BONUS:
Renata Scotto sings excerpts from La Traviata, Il Trovatore, and Un Ballo in maschera

OD 11454-2