Astrid Varnay Fans Will Love This!

In 1948, Varnay was only seven years into her career and already sounded like a seasoned Diva in the best sense. She is best known for her Wagner and Strauss roles, but she shows herself to be a formidable singer of the Italian repertoire on this disc of excerpts from her Mexico City performances in 1948. I don't know whether or not she sang either Gioconda or Desdemona much after these performances. From La Gioconda we get about 20 minutes of the last act beginning with "Suicidio!" through the end of the trio with Enzo and Laura (no finale with Barnaba - curses!). From Otello, we get the big duet from Act 1 and the complete Willow Song and Ave Maria from Act 4. The Trovatore excerpts are drawn from the complete recording already available from Opera Depot. I don't have the space to go into details, but Varnay's imagination and musicality shine forth in every selection. She always had a strong top and an excellent trill that she displays here in the Trovatore excerpts. There may be more beautiful, Italianate voices, but few that are so alive to the nuances in the text and vocal line. Vinay sings superbly as Otello as does Warren in the big duet from Trovatore. Baum is very good as Enzo; I think that's Winifred Heidt as Laura though she isn't credited. Though derived from decades-old acetate discs the sound is very listenable. Opera Depot has also taken care to pitch everything correctly. My only regret about this disc is that the Gioconda and Otello performances have not survived complete.