Recordings
of
FRANCO CORELLI
Among my favorite recordings of Franco Corelli are the following:
BELLINI Norma
A studio recording with Maria Callas, Christa
Ludwig, and the Orchestra and Chorus of La Scala conducted by Tullio
Serafin. On EMI. Available
from amazon.com
BIZET Carmen
In French, the first of Corelli’s two studio
recordings of Carmen. With
Leontyne Price, Mirella Freni, Robert Merrill, the Vienna Boys Choir, the
Vienna State Opera Chorus, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by
Herbert von Karajan. Corelli’s French
pronunciation is less than perfect, but his singing is ardently beautiful and
moving. Available
from amazon.com
BIZET Carmen
In French, the second of Corelli’s two studio
recordings of Carmen has Anna Moffo in the title role, with Helen Donath
and Piero Cappucilli and the Chorus and Orchestra of the Berlin Deutsche Oper
conducted by Lorin Maazel. Corelli’s
French pronunciation shows improvement over that in his earlier recording. Instead of the Guiraud recitatives, this
recording uses dialogue spoken by actors.
Can be ordered from amazon.co.uk
BIZET Carmen
In Italian, Milan,
1956. (recorded as soundtrack for a television broadcast.) With Belen Amparan, Elda Ribetti, and
Anselmo Colzani, conducted by Nino Sanzogno.
What a pleasure to hear the younger Corelli in this role! Belen Amparan was born in Texas of Mexican
ancestry, and is an interesting interpreter of the title role. Available
from amazon.com
CILEA Adriana
Lecouvreur
A popular recording of a “live”
performance of Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur stars Magda Olivero, Franco
Corelli, Giulietta Simionato, and Ettore Bastianini. Available
from amazon.com
LEONCAVALLO Pagliacci
My
favorite recording of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci stars Franco Corelli,
Lucine Amara, and Tito Gobbi, with the Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro alla
Scala conducted by Lovro von Matacic.
Available from amazon.com,
it comes in a 2-CD set with a recording of Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana starring
Victoria de los Angeles, Franco Corelli, and Mario Sereni with the Rome Opera
Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Gabriele Santini.
PUCCINI Turandot
Corelli’s studio recording of Turandot. With Birgit Nilsson, Renata Scotto, and
the Rome Opera Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Francesco
Molinari-Pradelli. On EMI. Available from amazon.com
VERDI Il Trovatore
Opera
d’Oro has issued a recording of a “live” performance of Il Trovatore with Franco Corelli, Leontyne
Price, Giulietta Simionato, Ettore Bastianini, and the Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra conducted by Herbert von
Karajan. Available from amazon.com
Franco Corelli at amazon.co.uk
Classical
music at amazon.co.uk