Verdi's Macbeth & Opera Rara Future Releases

[Collrec]

I just listened to the "World of Opera" broadcast of Macbeth from the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Alain Altinoglu. It's one of my favorite Verdi operas and I was wondering, are there any commercial recordings, CD or DVD, of the complete opera available which include the Act 3 ballet music in its proper location, not as an added supplement? If there are, please let me know their label and catalog number.

On another subject, I just received an announcement from Opera Rara on their future recording plans in 2016 through 2018.  The following works were listed:

BELLINI - Adelson e Salvini (May 2016 Recording);
ROSSINI - Semiramide (August 2016 Uncut Recording);
GOUNOD - Le Médecin Malgré Lui (February 2017 Recording);
OFFENBACH - La Princesse de Trébizonde (December 2017 Recording);
DONIZETTI - L'ange de Nisida (July 2018 Recording);
LEONCAVALLO - Gli Zingari (No Recording Date Given);
DONIZETTI - Il Paria (No Recording Date Given);
MASSENET - Don César de Bazan (No Recording Date Given);
OFFENBACH - Maître Péronilla (No Recording Date Given);
PUCCINI - Le Villi (No Recording Date Given)

Plus a host of other long lost gems. No titles or composers were mentioned.

[Alan Howe]

Good to see that OR are extending their range to the verismo repertoire.

[Mark Thomas]

And to Massenet,  too.

[mikehopf]

 And more Offenbach. Hurrah!

[BerlinExpat]

From Collrec:

are there any commercial recordings, CD or DVD, of the complete opera (Macbeth) available which include the Act 3 ballet music in its proper location, not as an added supplement? If there are, please let me know their label and catalog number.

I have a complete set of 3 CDs with "Ballo" in act three on DGG 431 412-2 dating from 1976.
Macbeth is Piero Cappuccilli, Lady Macbeth is Shirley Verrett, Banco is Nicolai Ghiaurov and Macduff is Placido Domingo. Coro e orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, conducted by Claudio Abbado. Total timing 153 minutes.

[adriano]

Right, BerlinExpat - and this is a splendid recording indeed 
The bargain re-issue is on 2 CDs (449 732-2)

[strelsa42]

Very good news that "Don Cesar de Bazin" is at least on the radar for a recording. And if "Bacchus" gets on someone's list we will have [at least one way or another] recordings of all the extant, generally accepted, completed Massenet operas [well, there is the early one-acter "La Grande Tante" as well]. I still wonder what happened to the proposed Leon Botstein concert/recording of "Ariane" that was announced and then just vanished into thin air a couple of years ago ?

[adriano]

The Gardelli DECCA recording of Verdi's "Macbeth" has also the ballet music, and in its right place. A very good recording too - and I am daring enough to admit that I like Fischer-Dieskau in this role, as in all other Verdi roles he has immortalized.

[Alan Howe]

I can't agree about Fischer-Dieskau in Verdi. He's intelligent, as always, but the voice is all wrong for this repertoire. When we have a choice between Milnes (for Muti) and Cappuccilli (for Abbado), I can't see the point in going for F-D. But then, voices excite very subjective responses, don't they?

[adriano]

Hi Alan :-)
Could almost bet that yours would be the first reaction... Anyhow, Verdi wanted some "special sounding" voices (and less belcanto-like ones) for some particular parts of his operas, like Macbeth and Othello. That's why, for example, James McCracken's and Ramon Vinay's interpretations are so exciting (and Fischer-Dieskau's Jago). Both Mrs and Mr. Macbeth were conceived for such kind of singers too, that's why I like this recording. The same goes, incidentally, for the part of Puccini's Scarpia: that's why Tito Gobbi and Fischer-Dieskau are also excellently cast. But you are right, it's a subjective matter too.

[Alan Howe]

Gobbi's Scarpia is nonpareil: an extraordinary identification of singer and role. What F-D and Gobbi had in common, of course, was the ability truly to act with the voice - such that, once heard, you can't hear anyone else. Take, for example, the Nile Scene in Aida with Callas and Gobbi: if you've heard them, they spoil you for any other recording. 

Now Vinay is a great Otello, but McCracken's voice has insufficient 'centre' for repeated listening. I'll take Vickers over him any day. Or Domingo. Or Martinelli.

Anyway, I trust that Opera Rara will engage some good singers, otherwise I won't be buying their forthcoming titles...