Andrea Chénier - Del Monaco, Stella, Taddei (1955, DVD)

UPC: 789984000366

Product Features

• Title: Andrea Chénier
• Lead Performers:Conductor: Arturo Basile
  • Andrea Chénier: Mario Del Monaco
  • Maddalena di Coigny: Antonietta Stella
  • Carlo Gérard: Giuseppe Taddei
• Orchestra and Chorus: RAI (Radio Televisione Italiana)
• Recording Date: October 15, 1955 (from a kinescope)
• Running Time: 115 minutes
• Audio Format: PCM Mono
• Picture Format: NTSC, Black & White, Full Screen
• Region Code: 0 (All regions)
• DVD Format: DVD-9
• Language: Italian (No subtitles)
• Included Material: Detailed synopsis enclosed

Overview

This Bel Canto Society release presents the legendary 1955 performance of Giordano’s Andrea Chénier featuring Mario Del Monaco in the title role, alongside Antonietta Stella as Maddalena di Coigny and Giuseppe Taddei as Carlo Gérard. Directed by Arturo Basile with the Chorus and Orchestra of RAI, this production is considered by many to be the finest Andrea Chénier available on video. The recording, derived from a kinescope, offers a rare glimpse into the passionate performances of these opera greats during their prime.

Del Monaco’s portrayal of the revolutionary poet Andrea Chénier is noted for its intensity, combining his powerful vocal technique with emotionally charged acting. He delivers a masterful balance between forceful outbursts and tender passages, particularly in the aria "Si, fui soldato". Antonietta Stella’s interpretation of Maddalena brings both tenderness and abandon, especially moving in her aria "La mamma morta". Giuseppe Taddei's performance as Carlo Gérard, a man conflicted between power and compassion, is equally praised for its depth and warmth.

Interesting Facts

• Mario Del Monaco’s portrayal of Andrea Chénier is credited with revolutionizing the tenor role in opera, thanks to his use of a technique taught by Arturo Melocchi, which emphasized singing with a lowered larynx. This created a powerful, penetrating sound that became Del Monaco’s signature and inspired other prominent tenors like Franco Corelli.
• Giuseppe Taddei’s performance as Gérard is hailed for its emotional impact, with his rich, warm voice adding complexity to his portrayal of a character torn between love and revolutionary ideals.
• The performance is captured in black and white from a 1955 broadcast, making it a rare historical document of mid-20th-century operatic greatness.
• Andrea Chénier is based on the real-life French revolutionary poet André Chénier, who was executed during the Reign of Terror.

Track Listing

1. Act I: The aristocratic life in pre-revolutionary France is disrupted as Chénier speaks out against injustice.
2. Act II: Chénier's revolutionary sympathies put him in danger as Gérard confronts his own moral dilemmas.
3. Act III: Maddalena pleads for Chénier's life, leading to their final tragic fate.

Reviews

• Albert Innaurato (The Metropolitan Opera Guide to Opera on Video): "Del Monaco's Chénier is above all a person: ardent, needy, and sensitive. Stella matches him for tenderness and abandon."
• Alan Blyth (Gramophone): "Del Monaco is perfect casting for the title role... Stella was also at the height of her appreciable powers, and Taddei acts with patent sincerity."
• Stefan Zucker (Bel Canto Society): "Del Monaco’s performance in Chénier marked a turning point in operatic history, influencing generations of tenors."

Publishers

• Bel Canto Society
• Produced by: Classic Series, Bel Canto Society

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