Description

After establishing himself as a key figure in the verismo movement at the close of the 19th century, Ruggero Leoncavallo turned his attention to the 20th century and the Greek revival movement that had so profoundly influenced Richard Strauss—and later Igor Stravinsky, whose own Oedipus Rex became a landmark of modernism. It is remarkable that these two composers tackled the same subject only seven years apart, as their approaches could not be more different. Leoncavallo's opera is quintessentially Romantic, incorporating touches of 20th-century harmonies, while Stravinsky deliberately distances the listener from the drama by setting his work in Classical Latin.

Leoncavallo’s version remains the more immediately accessible, capturing Oedipus’s ultimate anguish in a raw and visceral way, creating a striking showcase for a great baritone. In this performance, that role is masterfully taken on by Mario Basiola, who navigates its formidable demands with both assurance and intensity. Previous versions in circulation were under pitch and contained breaks in the recording. We have corrected these issues.

In Mono

OD 12188-1