This 3-CD set gives us one complete performance of Forza made up of the first two acts presented on March 14, 1953 along with the third act from March 12, 1953 (the first two acts are telescoped, with the entire Inn Scene eliminated, into one act). We also get highlights–70 minutes of them–from the first two acts of the March 12th performance. The cast is the same. Except for the singing of the principals, almost everything is provincial: the edition used (the cuts are outrageous); the ragged chorus and just-okay orchestra; the bland leadership of Walter Herbert; the fact that the organist screws up so wildly in Leonora’s second-act aria that everyone sounds off for a minute. But the principals make this an important release that gives great pleasure.
Opera lovers will be tickled to hear these grand voices again–and the old “golden age” phrase must be dragged out. Milanov and Warren recorded this opera in the studio a few years after these performances, but by then their techniques had loosened–she scoops and works too much and he sounds somewhat woolly. The Alvaro on the studio set is Giuseppe di Stefano, yelling his head off in a part that’s too big for him, but also (at times) singing very effectively and always charismatically.
But this VAI set is the one to own, flaws and all. Milanov is glorious, spinning those high pianissimos with ease, grace, and great musicality, her plush voice at its peak, filled with nobility. As usual, Del Monaco has a bull-in-china-shop approach, but he shades many sections nicely, he’s always exciting, and he seems to live in this heroic part. And we get all three tenor/baritone duets–the “Sleale!” duet is not cut and it thrills. Warren is just as fine, using his gigantic voice effortlessly and with unerring high notes–true Verdi singing.
Luxury casting offers Norman Treigle, in his home theater, as Leonora’s father. He’s in wonderful, young voice and it would have been great if he’d been singing Guardiano instead of William Wilderman, who is good without shining in the part. Claramae Turner copes with Preziosilla’s music. Overall, wonderful!
