Word: calaf
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...lecturer since his retirement in 1950. But when former Metropolitan Opera Tenor Giovanni Martinelli, 81, arrived in Seattle, the head of the Seattle Opera persuaded him to sing some of the old songs again, playing in Puccini's Turandot. In his younger days, Martinelli portrayed the swain Calaf, but now, costumed like a mandarin Lear, he sang the aged emperor. He was still in good voice, and the audience gave him two standing ovations. Was he satisfied with his performance? Of course not, said Martinelli. "As an artist, you are never satisfied...
...role of the icy Oriental princess. Seven years ago, Nilsson recorded Puccini's last opera for RCA Victor, and now has repeated her triumphal performance. The plus value in the new set is Tenor Franco Corelli, who in brilliance and power is Nilsson's match, and as Calaf can credibly convert the cruel princess into a woman in love. The earlier recording is superior, however, having Erich Leinsdorf as conductor and a generally better cast, including Renata Tebaldi as the second female lead and Georgio Tozzi as the Tartar king...
...form. His battle of high notes with Turandot at the end of their last duet (itself the one truly exciting moment in Alfano's scoring) is a most extraordinary display of vocal power. His lyric rendition of much of the first act music makes his Calaf more sympathetic and more credible than any other I have heard...
Erich Leinsdorf elicits a stirring performance from the Rome Opera House Orchestra. The somewhat slow tempi he chose for the first act arias of Liu and Calaf seems to have proved a bit difficult even for Bjoerling and Tebaldi to sustain. But certainly the finale of that act becomes more effective at that pace. The Rome Opera House Chorus is positively magnificent; even their highest-lying passages in the second and third acts seem to pose no problem for them...
...Metropolitan is bringing its sumptuous revival of Turandot to Boston this spring--with Nilsson, France Corelli, a great new Calaf, Anna Moffo as Liu, and Tozzi in his first performance as Timur. If it is at all possible that any seats still remain, snap them up: It will prove--I am absolutely sure--an unforgettable evening. However, if you discover that others have beaten you to it, console yourself by obtaining this recording. It, too, has its unforgettable moments...