During the 1950s, 60s and 70s Decca recorded several LPs of recitals by both well and lesser-known opera singers of the day. This collection of famous opera arias, issued across two volumes, includes several of the singers known, in the main, to connoisseurs. The present volume features three singers represented by their 1950s recital discs: Flaviano Labo (1927–1991) – physically slight but vocally a force to be reckoned with; Giuseppe Campora (1923–2004) who had a particular affinity with Puccini which even informed his singing of music by the other composers on this recital; and Gianni Poggi (1921–1989) who was seen at the great hope of Italian tenors in the 1940s, his intelligent phrasing allied to a brilliant voice and stunning high notes. Although previously issued on CD all the recordings have been carefully remastered for this release.
GIUSEPPE VERDI: La forza del destino: O, tu che in seno
AMILCARWE PONCHIELLI: La Gioconda: Cielo e mar!
GIACOMO PUCCINI:
La bohème: Che gelida manina
Tosca: Recondita armonia
Tosca: E lucevan le stele
Turandot: Non piangere Liù
Turandot: Nessun dorma
GIUSEPPE GIORDANO: Fedora: Amor ti vieta
Flaviano Labo, tenor
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Fernando Previtali
GIACOMO PUCCINI: Tosca: E lucevan le stele
GIUSEPPE VERDI: Falstaff: Dal labbro il canto estasiato
GIUSEPPE GIORDANO: Andrea Chénier: Come un bel dì di maggio
ARRIGO BOÏTO:
Mefistofele: Dai campi, dai prati
Mefistofele: Giunto sul passo estremo
FRANCESCO CILEA: L’arlesiana: E la solita storia
PIETRO MASCAGNI: Lodoletta: Se Franz dicesse il vero…Ah! ritrovarla
Giuseppe Campora, tenor
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Alberto Erede
GIUSEPPE VERDI:
Luisa Miller: O! fede negar potessi … Quando le sere al placido
Il trovatore: Ah sì ben mio
Il trovatore: Di quella pira
GIACOMO PUCCINI:
Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai
Gianni Schicchi: Firenza è come un albero fiorito
GIUSEPPE GIORDANO:
Andrea Chénier: Come un bel dì di maggio
Fedora: Amor ti vieta
Gianni Poggi, tenor
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Alberto Erede
Recording Producers: James Walker (1–8); Victor Olof (9–15); Eduardo Pedrazzoli (16–22)
Balance Engineer: Gil Went
Recording Location: Santa Cecilia, Rome, Italy, July 1953 (16–22), 2 July–7 August 1955 (9–15), July 1956 (1–8)
Remastering Engineer: Chris Bernauer
‘… the dark timbre and sheer prowess of [this] new voice. Both are impressive, individual and coarsely exciting’ (Labo) Gramophone
‘Campora is a tasteful, musical singer … patently artistic intentions’ Gramophone