...hates the cuts, hence the removal of one star! Okay, of course we should all be grateful for this amazing performance -and that unbelievable line-up of singers- but what a pity about the cuts, something like one-third of the music. However, we are in the hands of Artur Rodzinsky who (lest we forget) was the Master Butcher of Wagner scores at the MET and elsewhere!Anyway, it is what it is and I suggest that this is enjoyed (very much enjoyed!) as a supplement to a complete or near-complete performance, perhaps Gergiev or Rostropovich, with Melik-Pashaev as the historical, Soviet-era choice; somewhat cut...but with Vishnevskaya 25 years younger than for Rostropovich.A little research revealed the complete cast, the supporting members of which is awesome both in its depth (e.g. Barbieri, Corena, de Palma) and use of singers who were either to become stars or mainstays of any opera in which they were cast (e.g. Colzani, Capecchi, Fioravanti):Performances: May 26, 29, 31 and June 2, 1953 - Firenze, Teatro Comunale (XVI Maggio Musicale Fiorentino)Sergei Prokofiev: Guerra e pace(performed in Italian)N.B. Andy's date of 26 MARCH might be a mistake - should it be 26 May i.e. the Western premiere?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Natascia - Rosanna CarteriAndrea - Ettore BastianiniSonia - Vittoria CalmaRostov - Italo TajoMaria Bolkonsky - Marinella MeliPrincipe Bolkonsky - Fernando CorenaPiero Besukov - Franco CorelliElena Besukov - Cesy BrogginiAnatolio - Mirto PicchiMaria Akrasimova - Fedora BarbieriDolokov - Renato CapecchiBalàga - Fernando CorenaDenisov - Anselmo ColzaniUn maggiordomo - Marcello RossiUn domestico - Enzo FeliciatiMatrioska - Vera PrestiDuniascia - Luciana MonetaGavrila - Marcello RossiUna cameriera - Vera PrestiGenerale Kutusov - Italo TajoAiutante di campo di Rostov - Valiano NataliPrimo ufficiale - Angelo RossiSecondo ufficiale - Mario FrosiniMatiev - Enzo ViarioVassilissa - Fornarina VieriFiodor - Piero de PalmaTikon - Valerio MeucciGriska - Gino SarriKarataief - Brenno RistoriUn capitano dei francesi - Giulio FioravantiRamballe - Ugo NovelliBonnay - Gustavo GalloGerard - Umberto FusiGenerale Davout - Renato CapecchiIvanov - Enzo GuagniUn soldato francese - Alberto Lotti CamiciUna bottegaia - Carmen PicciniMavra - Luciana MonetaI tre dementi - Piero de Palma, Antonio Massaria, Enzo FeliciatiConductor: Artur RodzinskyI'm also going to heartily recommend one of Andy's 'Coming Soon' performances: English National Opera from 1972, absolutely complete (I think), sung (obviously) in English...which means that the English-speaking listener can be involved in the drama without needing a libretto, and conducted by Russian specialist David Lloyd-Jones. The committed cast includes, amongst others, Josephine Barstow and Norman Bailey. I have had this one on cassette since the original broadcast...and it's absolutely smashing!

I have now seen Prokofiev's War and Peace twice and heard at least three complete (more or less) recordings. This performance from the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino 1953 was the first time the opera had been performed in Italy. Conductor Rodzinsky cut about a third of the score. Some complete scenes are missing (the ball scene in Act 1 with the haunting waltz is one of the casualties) and there are a lot of cuts in what remains. Nevertheless, I enjoyed listening to this performance, especially with this cast.Carteri is a lovely Natasha, Corelli a heroic Pierre, Bastianini a debonair Andrei. Fedora Barbieri is heard briefly as Natasha's aunt. Fernando Corena, Anselmo Colzani, and Renato Capecchi are also in the cast. The chorus sings very well and enthusiastically. I'm glad they all sing in Italian too. The sound is very good though the transfer level is rather low; I had to adjust the volume several times.If you love sweeping operatic epics and/or these singers, you'll enjoy this.

A valuable document, being the first fairly complete performance, anywhere, of this marvellous opera; missing two scenes, plus some cuts elsewhere. Remarkably, it sounds well in Italian, particularly with such a stellar cast. Rodzinski does a fine job of conducting, with the orchestra in excellent form. One can't expect high fidelity sound. It is, presumably, a live radio broadcast, in 1953 mono, from the stage, with singers moving in relation to the mikes. However, I quickly adjusted to the recording, as the performance is strong and the archival interest high. Some people may need tolerance for the sound, otherwise I'd give five stars for this treasure. For me, it was an exciting discovery to find that the recording was available, having heard it on Italian radio many years ago. I was impressed then, and still am, especially knowing now about its origin.

Excellent music to present a classic