Verdi's "I Vespri Siciliani".
Thu, Apr 25 2013, 12:09PM
Some critics dismiss this opera as overlong and boring; others claim it is "by no means despicable" and contains some very fine music, though the libretto by Scribe is rubbish and Verdi did not like the 5-Act French Grand Opera format. What do you think? (I haven't heard the work in decades.)
Fri, Apr 26 2013, 8:20AM
#2
RE: Verdi's "I Vespri Siciliani".
As a non-melomane, for years now, I found this almost late work by Verdi less mature, uneven and unjustifiably long. However, there are some very beautiful, almost magical moments ("O tu Palermo" is such a musical gem and a lovely Aria for the Bass voice, the Overture so impressive and substantive too, some intriguing choral and ensemble passages etc.) that can make it worth a try for the overall thing. However, I doubt one can revisit it more than a couple of times, in its entirety. Live performances and recordings demonstrate this.
By the way, the original work was commissioned by the Opera de Paris and its original form was in French (les Vepres siciliennes). However, the work is pretty much Italian in its essence and pure Verdi.
As for the recordings, Adrian, you may go for your beloved Muti: it's a sure bet. However, the other commercial contender with Levine (on RCA) is a winner too. I love them both, since they serve the work in a very effective way.
Parla
Fri, Apr 26 2013, 12:17PM
#3
RE: Verdi's "I Vespri Siciliani".
@ Parla: You say that you love the Muti and Levine versions of this opera yet earlier you say of it: "However, I doubt one can revisit it more than a couple of times, in its entirety." What I'm interested in knowing is whether it is worth giving it shelf room.
Fri, Apr 26 2013, 12:47PM
#4
RE: Verdi's "I Vespri Siciliani".
Adrian, in more than three decades of listening and collecting CDs, it is not surpising if I managed to collect these two recordings, which proved to be carefully produced and greatly performed. However, I meant that a non-opera loyal is rather unlikely to have the interest and urge to revisit this overlong and uneven opera, in its entirety, more than a couple of times in a long time. So, I have not listened the above two recordings, in their totality, more than two or three times. I happened to have seen it once "live" and I felt rather bored, but with rewarding moments of inspiring truly Verdian music.
Parla
Fri, Apr 26 2013, 9:22PM
#5
RE: Verdi's "I Vespri Siciliani".
Hi Adrian.
I agree with Parla's comments on this. I bought the Levine version some 25 years or so ago and I don't think I have played it twice complete.
For me it's one of those operas you hope one day to get to know well but put back on the shelf for a rainy day. The Levine recording has its moments. For instance, if you enjoy Domingo and Milnes in RCA recordings of Trovatore and Forza you are likely to appreciate them here too. A disadvantage is the recorded sound which distorts and gives their voices an unwanted edge. Raimondi's "O Tu Palermo" is movingly delivered, well vocalised and is a real highlight.
Arroyo's Elena, who I understand was a replacement for an indisposed Caballe, is somewhat out of sorts and lacks finesse, especially in the famous Bolero, memorably recorded by Callas, Sutherland and Gheorghiu.
For a while I toyed with buying the Muti version as I, like many collectors, love to compare different recordings. So far I have not been tempted. Interestingly, Covent Garden have a production planned with Jonas Kaufmann as tenor lead. It will probably be a hot ticket but I doubt I am tempted.
I don't envisage setting time aside to listen to Vespri again in one sitting between now and the grave, I'm afraid. I have similar thoughts about Thomas' Hamlet, Rossini's Armida and Massenet's Herodiade - works I intend to get to know better but probably never will. Hope this helps.
Sat, Apr 27 2013, 10:51AM
#6
RE: Verdi's "I Vespri Siciliani".
Thank you, Parla and Caballe. You have been persuasive enough to get me to decide against buying "I Vespri". The money will, I hope, be better spent on Maazel's "Luisa Miller".
Sun, Apr 28 2013, 12:53AM
#7
RE: Verdi's "I Vespri Siciliani".
Well Luisa Miller is a lot easier to get to know than Vespri. I haven't heard the Maazel version but I think I would enjoy it and it's inexpensive these days, though without a libretto. I opted for the Peter Maag version on Decca with Caballe, Pav & Milnes in the days when opera sets were full priced and choices had to be made. I think it was recorded in the Kingsway Hall and occasionally the rumble of London Underground trains can be heard - a feature on several recordings from this venue which these days, for some strange reason, when I hear it, find rather endearing.
Sun, Apr 28 2013, 5:47AM
#8
RE: Verdi's "I Vespri Siciliani".
Maazel is better as an overall recording and for the pure musical aspect of the work. However, I prefer Maag's recording on Decca, particularly for the vocal parts (a great Caballe, a most wonderful Pavarotti and a powerful Milnes), since "Luisa Miller" is an Opera for voices par excellence.
Parla
My comments on early Verdi in the other thread apply here too. I'm convinced that, given the kind of imagination that's applied to Handel operas these days, its time will come. The old Muti La Scala performance is musically very fine and reasonably well-staged. If the libretto is a joke - and Verdi certainly didn't think much of it - good productions have breathed life into far worse efforts.