Release Date: 25 October 2024
Label: Pan Classics
Packaging Type: Box Set
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 7619990104648
Description
The Italian soprano Anita Cerquetti (3rd April 1931- 11th October 2014) was a phenomenon.
Her operatic career began in 1951 in Spoleto, debuting as Aida (!), and took her to the world's great opera houses before ending in Holland in 1960. After just nine seasons, the then 29-year-old singer retired from the stage. There are only two commercial records of her (on Decca); the record companies at the time filled the major soprano roles with Callas or Tebaldi.
But thanks to numerous live recordings which circulated on the black market from the very beginning, Anita Cerquetti is still held in honour today. Why? Because here is a voice that exudes pure sensuality with the most opulent femininity. Because her voice is one of the most beautiful that opera has ever heard: never aggressive, sharp or shrill, but round, soft, lyrical and emphatic. Her voice was practically made for Giuseppe Verdi's romantic heroines - perfectly
suited to the softly swinging, melancholy melodic arches of Ernani and Vespri siciliani-Elvira, Amelia in Un ballo in maschera, Don Carlo's Elisabetta, and Leonora in La Forza del destino, even for the formidable octave leaps of the imperious Nabucco-Abigaille.
This special priced box set, which honours Anita Cerquetti as the leading Verdi interpreter of her time, is now being released on the 10th anniversary of her death.
Tracklisting
Soloists, Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Joseph Keilberth
The Royal Wind Music
Anita Cerquetti
Tercia Realidad; Jorge Jimenez
Thomas Sanderling, Orchester des Nationaltheaters Mannheim
Soloists; Eroica Berlin; Jakob Lehmann
Leonor de Lera; Nacho Laguna; Pablo FitzGerald
Iskrena Yordanova; Zefira Valova
Francesco Ledda, Opera Discovery Orchestra, Stefanna Kybalova, Valer Borin, Marcello Lippi, Paolo B
Horst Wolf
Sophie Gordeladze, Hector Sandoval, Luca Grassi, Martin Piskorski, Rory Dunne, Cappella Aquileia, T
Tina Gorina; Vivica Genaux; Giulio Pelligra; German Olvera; Riccardo Novaro; Ugo Guagliardo; Pawel
Marta Torbidoni; David Astorga; German Olvera; Aleksey Bogdanov; Matheus Pompeu; Paulina Boreczko;
Anita Cerquetti
Bayerischer Staatsopernchor & Orch, Keilberth
Marina Rebeka, Orquesta y Coro del Teatro Real, Madrid, John Fiore
