Verdi: Otello - Del Monaco, Rigal, Guichandut; Votto - Buenos Aires, 1950
$8.95
Description:
Mario Del Monaco is in rare form in this performance of Otello, and he is by far the most compelling reason to seek it out. Captured live at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the sound is generally acceptable, with occasional moments of greater clarity. What sets this performance apart is Del Monaco’s heightened dramatic involvement. Known in the studio for a tendency toward unrelenting vocal force, he shows more variety and nuance here—most notably in his wrenching, almost painfully human delivery of “Nuin mi tema”, which is anything but routine.
The supporting cast is less remarkable, though Delia Rigal stands out as a sweet-toned and sensitive Desdemona, offering an interpretation that brings warmth and dignity to the role. While the rest of the ensemble may not match Del Monaco’s intensity, his performance alone makes this a worthy document of a tenor at his most engaged.
In Mono
OD 11342-2
