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Rating: 
Summary: Pure enjoyment
Review: I don't think there are two La Forza's from 1958 so this must be the one with Franco Corelli, Renata Tebaldi, Boris Christoff and Ettore Bastianini. It is black-and-white but the picture is good enough. The voice is exceptionally good when you think that this is recorded in 1958. I don't think I have enjoyed another opera DVD as much as this. All the four main singers are superb. This is a real treasure!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: If any historic live performance of a Verdi opera on DVD is a must-have, it has to be this one. Here we have four totally magnificent artists together on the stage and all in great voice. Renata Tebaldi performs even better here than on the great studio recording she did with same conductor and the same Don Carlo. It is simply thrilling to see her sing this difficult part like there is no tomorrow. I have never heard a more moving and excting Pace, pace mio Dio.
Franco Corelli is incredibly exciting from the start. He suits the part like a glove and his duet with Ettore Bastianini's Don Carlo is so moving and exciting at the same time. Bastianini is his usual magnificent selv in the role. He was enormously famous in the mid '50s and watching this performance we understand why. He acts and sing with total conviction and security. His Urna fatale aria and in his confrontation with Corelli in the final act are highlights of his performance.
Boris Christoff's Padre Guardiano is also a treasure to behold. He is the very embodyment of the kind, authorative leader of the Convent. I can think of ony one that depicts that level of commitment in the role, Ezio Pinza in his recording with Rosa Ponselle. Cesare Siepi is very good in the studio recording with Tebaldi and Mario Del Monaco, but we have something here that is even better. Francesco Molinari-Prandelli gives this work much care and excitement and allows Tebaldi to hold a couple of those high notes a little longer than is written to add to the excitement of the event that is taking place. The only two things I find regrettable about this performance is that the scene just following Don Carlo's arias when Don Carlo reveals who he is to Don Alvaro is cut and we just jumps to the chorous scene with the great Preziosilla of Oralia Dominguez. And the fact that the layershift is in the middle of Corelli's great aria in the beginning of Act 3 (or Act 2 as it says on the DVD). The picture isn't too good, though, but I don't expect too much from filmed live performance from 1958, but the sound is good mono. As an added attraction there is a small interview with Renata Tebaldi as a special feature. The menu system is in Italian and is pretty primitive. This one is wholeheartly recommended to anyone even remotely interested in this great opera. We won't have arists like these any more, but we have these documents to treasure their art and the time in which they performed.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic, must-have performance
Review: This live performance contains all of the visual cliches that make opera-haters laugh at this art form: Tacky wigs, painted drops that move when anyone walks by, stilted acting. But, My God, what vocalism. Tebaldi and Corelli are at the height of their careers, Bastianini is magnificent. As is the supporting cast of Oralia Dominguez, Renato Capecchi, and Boris Christoff. The Corelli, Bastianini duet, "Solenne in quest'ora" is sufficient to justify the purchase of this DVD. Don't hesitate to buy this DVD, you'll be blown away by it.
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