Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Preludio
2. Act 1. Scene 1.: "Della Mia Bella Incognita Borghese"
3. Act 1. Scene 1.: "Questa O Quella"
4. Act 1. Scene1.: "Partite? Crudele!"
5. Act 1. Scene 1.: "In Testa Che Avete"
6. Act 1. Scene 1.: "Gran Nuova! Gran Nuova!"
7. Act 1. Scene 1.: "Ch'io Gli Parli"
8. Act 1. Scene 1.: "O Tu Che La Festa Audace"
9. Act 1. Scene 2.: "Quel Vecchio Maledivami!"
10. Act 1. Scene 2.: "Pari Siamo!"
11. Act 1. Scene 2.: "Figlia!...Mio Padre!..."
12. Act 1. Scene 2.: "Ah, Veglia, O Donna"
13. Act 1. Scene 2.: "Giovanna, Ho Dei Rimorsi"
14. Act 1. Scene 2.: "È Il Sol Dell'anima"
15. Act 1. Scene 2.: "Addio! Speranza Ed Anima"
16. Act 1. Scene 2.: "Gualtier Maldè!...Caro Nome"
17. Act 1. Scene 2.: "Riedo!...Perché?...Silenzio!"
18. Act 1. Scene 2.: "Zitti, Zitti, Moviamo A Vendetta"
19. Act 2. Scene 2.: "Soccorso, Padre Mio!"

Disc 2:

1. Act 2.: "Ella Mi Fu Rapita!"
2. Act 2.: "Parmi Veder Le Lagrime"
3. Act 2.: "Duca, Duca!...Ebben?"
4. Act 2.: "Povero Rigoletto!"
5. Act 2.: "Cortigiani, Vil Razza Dannata"
6. Act 2.: "Mio Padre!...Dio! Mio Gilda!"
7. Act 2.: "Tutte Le Feste Al Tempio"
8. Act 2.: "Compiuto Pur Quanto"
9. Act 2.: "Sì, Vendetta, Tremenda Vendetta"
10. Act 3.: "La Donna È Mobile"
11. Act 3.: "Un Di, Se Ben Rammentomi"
12. Act 3.: "Bella Figlia Dell'amore"
13. Act 3.: "Venti Scudi Hai Tu Detto?"
14. Act 3.: "È Amabile Invero"
15. Act 3.: "Della Vendetta Alfin Giunge L'Istante!"
16. Act 3.: "Chi Mai, Chi È Qui In Sua Vece?"

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #89878 in Music
• Released on: 1997-08-19
• Number of discs: 2

Amazon.com
Nobody steals the spotlight when Maria Callas is onstage, but Tito Gobbi never lets us forget that this show is called Rigoletto, not Gilda. Neither singer has one of the century's prettiest voices; both have dramatic presence, impact, and subtlety--based as much on their control of verbal nuance as on musicianship--that make their characters three-dimensional, the story meaningful, the emotions real, varied, and intense. His role is bigger and more complex than hers is. He is almost constantly onstage, and his music runs the whole gamut from fatherly tenderness, to regret at a life gone wrong, to explosive rage. Sparks fly when they sing together, and Tullio Serafin conducts with an exemplary grasp of the opera and a detailed knowledge of his cast's capabilities. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews

questa o quella?
This one? That one? Which 'Rigoletto'? One review sites power of high notes with Bastianini, another grumbles about the sound, a third hates all the principals.
Callas inspired both love and contempt and this perform won't help.To the devoted fan they will hear her incredible artistry, to her detractors she will seem ungainly and far from the virginal creature Verdi intended. But as is usual with the great Diva..if you have ears to hear, then hear her fall from innocence into guilt and shame and finally feel her inspired to self sacrifice. Wonderful.
There is much, much more to the role of Rigoletto than a rich voice and a brilliant top.Gobbi's vocal colouring is staggeringly versatile. Only possible criticism is that he may wear his heart too much on his sleeve..and if you really believe that then go to Merrill or Bastianini and good luck to you. Gobbi is superb.
Di Stefano? Listen to his 'Questa o Quella' and you know the Duke inside out. Dangerous, predatory, shallow. La Donna goes less well with an ungainly cadenza and a flatconclusion. Forgivable after his glorious tones in the love duet and elswhere. The man has voice, 'face' and glorious tone.
Serafin loved this score though the quartet seems to slow dangerously at one point. Only 4 stars? Well its not perfect!
It's simply the best!

A simply marvelous recording!!!!
This has GOT to be the perfect cast for Rigoletto. Callas, Di Stefano, and Gobbi all in their wonderful primes. La Divina sounds so young, fresh, and innocent here (I don't know where someone got that they thought she sounded like a 70 year old lady!!). I have usually found Callas' diction quite exceptional, unlike Dame Joan, and that is once again evident on this recording. Her coloratura soaring tones sound efortless here! And Gobbi!! What incredible voice he is in here!! I agree with our friend from Milano when he states that Gobbi has to be second only to Ruffo for Italian baritones. Di Stefano had to be the perfect voice for the Duke (along with Nicolai Gedda, the late Alfredo Kraus, and Mario Lanza, even though we were never fortunate enough for Lanza to perform the entire role). It must have been this type of voice Verdi had in mind when he wrote the Duke of Mantua. Di Stefano shows a neccessary abandon and rakeishness that so many other Tenors lack on recordings. This recording has a real Italian edge to it. Not plastic and pristine sounding like most modern recordings of this role. Serafin's conducting is flawless!!!! Quite possibly one of the greatest recordings of all time. A must have!!!

Very Emotionally Involving
Few complete recordings "Rigoletto" have the same intense level of emotional involvement as this one. Gobbi gives one of the great dramatic performances of any title role in opera. Sure, there are others who brought more resplendent voices to the role (i.e., Taddei and the 55 year old but magnificent Ricardo Stracciari), but neither of them gives a portrayal that is anywhere near as moving as Gobbi's. As for Callas: what is it about the quality of her voice that so causes your heart to go out to her immediately in sympathy? There is something so vulnerable, genuine and three-dimensional about her Gilda - it's hard to put into words. As for di Stefano, has anyone else so perfectly captured the Duke's mixture of charm and cruelty? And if that were not enough, Serafin provides us with one of the finest-conducted Rigoletto out there.

As far as I'm concerned, this is a top candidate if you are choosing a sole version of this Verdi masterpiece.