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This German performance of La Forza del destino features an appealing cast of great singers whose careers otherwise largely steered clear of Verdi. Helge Rosvaenge, heard here at the age of 60, cannot quite access the lyricism that was the hallmark of his youth, but he still sings with vigor, managing the daunting role with dramatic flare and remarkable technical security. I couldn’t find any information on the web about Maria Corelli, which is surprising because her Leonora is quite good. Her voice certainly is not as lush as some of the great exponents of this role, but she still uses her slender soprano effectively, delivering a performance that is remarkable for its vocal security and abandon. The only other noteworthy player in this performance is Theo Adam as Padre Guardiano. His voice booms more in the higher passages than the lower, but the color of his bass-baritone otherwise fits surprisingly well in this part. The sound is fair to good. The overture is unfortunately missing.

OD 11356-2