The cast list tells us that this performance was recorded at La Scala...but the brief information on top-right of the information page says 'Venezia'. From further research, it would appear that TEATRO LA FENICE, VENICE is the correct venue.A wonderful performance from all the singers (Luchetti is particularly impressive, holding his own beautifully with all the "regular Don Carlo stars" from that period), and it's fun to hear such an imposing Lerma from Zancanaro - presumably understudying Cappuccilli! Chorus and orchestra are "okay" and don't let the side down. Sound is fairly good [not 'very good'] from -I think- a house tape, and perfectly acceptable. Needless to say, this performance loses a star for what might go down in recorded Don Carlo/s history as The Transgressions of Pretre.

PART 2...ANDY'S SO MEAN WITH HIS WORD COUNTS!...Why -oh why- does Pretre have to push so hard and fast? Doesn't he realise how he destroys many of Verdi's beautiful, arching vocal lines, just for the cheap excitement of speeding up (which is not exciting)? Strangely, he gets the opening of Act 1 Scene 2 (the Monk's scene in the chapel) just right, giving it full weight and emphasis. Carlo's recitative straight afterwards is also impressively paced -Luchetti can actually breathe and caress the line- BUT...enter Posa...and (in a rather strange compilation of two versions of the duet) we're back and forth with the speed, sometimes fine, sometimes simply crass. Similarly with the lead-up to the Veil Song in the next scene: dreadful...poor Tebaldo, running for the bus...but then Pretre relaxes and we get a decently-paced aria (Cossotto's influence?) and following colloquy. And so on and so on, throughout the opera. What went wrong??? Despite my criticisms of Pretre, this is still a MUST HAVE for Don Carlo/s addicts [Definition: anyone who owns more than 50 recordings/performances and simply can't get enough of any and all versions of this opera...like me!]

Hi,Your request for feedback let me note that I have never received my purchase.Kind regards.Christian

This purports to be the complete French version of this opera sung in Italian - except no such edition exists. Basically this is the complete Five Act version with sections cut from the premiere stitched into various places. We get the scene where Elisabetta and Eboli switch places at the festival, the duet between the two women before "O don fatale", the "Lacrymosa" section at the end of the prison scene, and a final scene where the monks emerge from the cloister to claim Carlo, ending the opera quietly without Elisabetta's high B on "O ciel!" The vocal lines are also slightly different in a few places. It makes for a very long performance, but the singers make the lobg

It makes for a long performance, but the singers make it worth the long sit. Ricciarelli sounds beautiful, but ominous portents of her future vocal problems are already to be heard (scooping, occasional unsteadiness, etc.) Luchetti has his occasional issues with intonation yet he makes a more virile Carlo than usual. Cossotto, Cappucilli, and Ghiaurov all sing very persuasively and the audience rewards them with enthusiastic applause. Pretre is to be praised for introducing the Italian public to music that hadn't been heard in over a century, less so for his rushed pacing that leaves the singers scrambling to keep up.The sound (from an in-house tape) is very good though the voices are slightly recessed. My copy had some minor clicking during the last track of disc two (the Grand Inquisitor scene); it doesn't last very long.Don Carlo fans will definitely want to acquire this!