GIUSEPPE VERDI
La Forza Del Destino: Sinfonia; Luisa Miller: Sinfonia; Nabucco: Sinfonia; Aida: Prelude; La Traviata: Prelude (Act I & III); MacBeth: Ballet; Don Carlos: Prelude (Act II) (1884); Les Vêspres Siciliennes: Overture. Claudio Abbado conducting the Berlin Philharmonic (Deutsche Grammophon) 289 457 627-2 - 54:20 1999
Reviewed by Robert Cummings

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This is a splendid collection of orchestral Verdi that challenges the strongest entries in this heavily-trafficked repertory. There are many discs, as you might surmise, of Verdi's various overtures, ballet music, and sinfonias. By the way, I should explain the term "Sinfonia" which appears rather frequently in the headnote above. In the 18th century, "Sinfonia" referred to an instrumental passage in an otherwise vocal work that can stand apart from its source piece. Here Abbado presents a Verdi collection with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in splendid performances and vivid sound that catches the Italianate sinistrality and regal bombast of La Forza, the urgency and menace in Luisa Miller, and the ominous beauty of the Aida prelude. In the La Traviata first act prelude, he harnesses the gentle tragedy, and later the heartrending sweetness of Violetta's premature death in the Act III prelude.

In the other selections here, the Les Vêspres Siciliennes overture is dramatic and spirited and the Don Carlos Second Act prelude is full of passion and drama. If this isn't the best collection of Verdi orchestral snippets, it is easily among the best. Karajan (DG), and Morandi (Naxos-in a series with the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra), and Downes (Chandos, also in an on-going series) present formidable competition here. In fact the Morandi, owing to the low price and decent performances, is a major consideration in this repertory for those whose wallets aren't bulging. One can assess that Abbado is probably the all-around artistic choice, however, his splendid orchestra responding with spirited virtuosity to his deft baton and the engineers lavishing excellent sound on the proceedings. For some, this kind of Verdi disc, while not of the "bleeding-chunk" Wagner variety, is still off limits to their anti-partial tastes. For those not in that camp this disc can be highly recommended.

© 1999 - Robert Cummings