Verdi: Don Carlo (4 Act version in Italian)
Jose Carreras (Don Carlo); Mirella Freni (Elisabetta); Agnes Baltsa (Eboli); Nicolai Ghiaurov (Fillipo II); Piero Cappuccilli (Rodrigo); Ruggero Raimondi (Il Grande Inquisitore); Jose van Dam (Un frate); Edita Gruberova (Tebaldo); Horst Nitsche (Lerma); Barbara Hendricks (Una voce dal cielo); Chorus of the German Opera Berlin, Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Herbert von Karajan [MHS 534743H; 3 CDs]

Karajan puts the “Grand” back in Grand Opera in this opulently cast, gloriously sung “Don Carlo.” One is enthralled by the outpouring of vocal gold from Carreras and Freni; Baltsa’s superb mezzo sails effortlessly through her two show stoppers; Posa is exquisitely interpreted by Capuccilli’s suave baritone; Raimondi is a mellifluous Grand Inquisitor; Ghiaurov rounds out the cast with his splendidly majestic King Philip. Gruberova’s Tebaldo, Hendricks’ “Heavenly Voice”, and van Dam’s “Friar” are splendid icing on the operatic cake. Karajan’s fine ear for orchestral color and sound dynamics, his energetic drive and passion, are all brilliantly captured by the digitally remastered sound which is warm, detailed and well-defined. The side breaks are listener-friendly with Acts One and Two on a disc each, and Acts Three and Four together on one disc. Texts and translations are included.

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