Rome Opera House Orchestra, Tullio Serafin – Anna Moffo – Arias From Faust, La Bohème, Dinorah, etc (1960) [SACD Remaster 2005] MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Rome Opera House Orchestra, Tullio Serafin – Anna Moffo – Arias From Faust, La Bohème, Dinorah, etc (1960) [SACD Remaster 2005]
Rome Opera House Orchestra, Tullio Serafin – Anna Moffo – Arias From Faust, La Bohème, Dinorah, etc (1960) [SACD Remaster 2005]
SACD ISO (2.0/MCH): 1,76 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 802 MB | 3% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: RCA Living Stereo # 67905 | Country/Year: US 1960, 2005
Genre: Classical | Style: Opera

This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.
Here is a vivid reminder of Anna Moffo, the Pennsylvania-born lyric-coloratura soprano who made her Met debut in 1959 and had an international career that went beyond the opera stage into pop music and film acting. This recital, led by the the legendary opera veteran Tulio Serafin, was recorded in Rome in 1960 and captures Moffo at her freshest and most brilliant in a selection that includes tender arias such as “Mi chiamano Mimi” from Puccini’s ‘La Boheme’ and Micaela’s Air from Bizet’s ‘Carmen,’ as well as more explosive coloratura fare such as “Bel raggio lusinghier” from Rossini’s ‘Semiramide’ and the delightful “Bell Song” from Delibe’s ‘Lakme,’ whose final high E is worth the price of the disc alone. But, if you need another reason, the sound, of the best RCA “Living Stereo” vintage, is spectacularly present. arkivmusic

This truly delightful disc of mostly coloratura arias forms a nearly perfect bookend with Leontyne Price’s classic “Blue album.” Both Living
Stereo discs were recorded within months of each other, featured the same forces (although here led by Tullio Serafin), and were recorded in
the same venues; and both featured amazing sopranos at the height of their vocal powers. Unfortunately, Anna Moffo, who was much in demand
early on in her career, peaked soon after and disappeared pretty much into obscurity.

This three-channel disc offers the first opportunity to hear these tracks as they were originally recorded, and this disc easily eclipses
all previously released digital versions – while managing to sound very analog-like in the process. Anna Moffo’s coloratura is superb; she
sings with a lovely lyrical quality and achieves admirable upper extension throughout. The disc pretty evenly mixes French and Italian
genres; on the French side, we get a sprightly rendering of the Jewel Song from Gounod’s Faust, while her heartfelt singing in Delibes’ Bell
Song from Lakme is nothing short of amazing! Traditional Italian fare comes in the form of well-known arias from Puccini and Rossini; for
good measure, Meyerbeer’s less frequently played (but truly superb) Shadow Song from Dinorah is included.

Tullio Serafin and the Rome Opera Orchestra are no strangers to this repertory, and offer lush and sympathetic accompaniments throughout.
The recorded sound here is remarkable – lets hope RCA/Sony continues to pump these discs out! The only caveat is the rather skimpy 44-minute
playing time the disc clocks in at – but truly, what would you pair it with? Very highly recommended!

– Tom Gibbs audiophile-audition

Tracklist:

1. Faust: Ah! je ris de me voir si belle “Jewel Song” by Charles Gounod
Length: 5 Minutes 26 Secs.
Language: French
2. La Bohème: Si, mi chiamano Mimì by Giacomo Puccini
Length: 4 Minutes 59 Secs.
Language: Italian
3. Le pardon de Ploërmel “Dinorah”: Ombre legère by Giacomo Meyerbeer
Length: 5 Minutes 58 Secs.
Language: French
4. Carmen: Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante “Micaëla’s Aria” by Georges Bizet
Length: 6 Minutes 55 Secs.
Language: French
5. Turandot: Signore, ascolta by Giacomo Puccini
Length: 2 Minutes 36 Secs.
Language: Italian
6. Turandot: Tu, che di gel sei cinta by Giacomo Puccini
Length: 2 Minutes 38 Secs.
Language: Italian
7. Lakmé: Où va la jeune indoue? “Bell Song” by Léo Delibes
Length: 8 Minutes 15 Secs.
Language: French
8. Semiramide: Bel raggio lusinghier by Gioachino Rossini
Length: 7 Minutes 4 Secs.
Language: Italian