Guiseppe Verdi: La Forza del Destino
Leontyne Price (Leonora); Richard Tucker (Don Alvaro); Robert Merrill (Don Carlo); Giorgio Tozzi (Il Padre Guardiano); Shirley Verrett (Preziosilla); Ezio Flagello (Fra Melitone); Giovanni Foiani (Marchese di Calatrava); Piero De Palma (Trabuco); Corinna Vozza (Curra); Ron Bottcher (Mayor); Mario Rinaudo (Surgeon); RCA Italiana Opera Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Thomas Schippers [MHS 534980Z, 3 CDs]

Recorded in the RCA Italiana Studios in 1965, this happily re-issued “Forza” bears the stamp of record producer Richard Mohr’s high artistic standards. Mohr was fortunate in casting singers who sang their roles onstage. This lends this recording an outstanding musical and dramatic authenticity.

The role of Leonora di Vargas fits Leontyne Price’s juicy lyrico-spinto like a seamless glove. Here, Price is at her youthful, shimmering prime. In Leonora’s three great arias, “Me pellegrina ed orfana,” “La Vergine degli angeli”, and “Pace, mio Dio”, Price has splendid opportunities to display her lush voice with its smoky lower register, shining tone and floating upper tones. Her dramatic commitment is beyond question.

As in RCA’s famous “Madama Butterly”, Price’s voice blends resplendently with Richard Tucker’s. The peerless Richard Tucker uses his commanding heroic tenor most nobly, giving us a passionate, anguished performance as the tormented Don Alvaro. The notoriously difficult “Oh, tu che in seno agli’angeli” is sung with firm, resonant tone and ringing passion. Robert Merrill’s secure, plangent baritone and insightful characterization lend special authority to his earnest interpretation of the pivotal role of Don Carlo. Tucker and Merrill raise the operatic roof in their scenes together with their potent and gleaming tone.

The recording is further distinguished by the outstanding cast of supporting character roles. Shirley Verrett turns in a brilliant, virtuoso performance as the insolent, vivacious camp-follower Preziosilla. Giorgio Tozzi is a compassionate Padre Guardiano. And it’s a delight to hear Ezio Flagello’s resonant, beefy basso in the role of the grumbling Fra Melitone. Giovanni Fioani and the accomplished Piero di Palma round out the cast of talented comprimari. The RCA Italiana Chorus performs with remarkable feeling and verve.

In his passion-charged reading, Conductor Thomas Schippers displays his innate grasp of the dynamics, impetus and thrust of the robust Verdian style.

The sound is lucidly vivid with exciting sound effects for the battle scene in Act III. The score is given complete. An Italian/English libretto is included. This gorgeously sung and dramatically compelling “Forza” is a must for all Verdi lovers.
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