Verdi - Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio

Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)

Oberto, Conte di San Bonifacio (1839)

Opera in two acts to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera,

based on an existing libretto by Antonio Piazza.

Oberto: Samuel Ramey

Leonora: Maria Guleghina

Cuniza: Violeta Urmana

Riccardo: Stuart Neill

Imelda: Sara Fulgoni

London Voices

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

Sir Neville Marriner

Rec. St.John's Smith Square, London, London 8/1996

"Oberto" was Verdi's first opera, written over a period of four years, and was first performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, on 17 November 1839. The La Scala production enjoyed "a fair success" and the theatre's impresario, Bartolomeo Merelli, commissioned two further operas from the young composer

An exciting cast, suitably vigorous conducting and a lifelike recording make this a spectacular addition to Philips's repertory of Young Verdi, Marriner conducts a direct, forward-moving interpretation that matches the raw energy in the score. His old orchestra offer playing of admirable thrust and delicacy as required. The London Voices sound properly Italianate. All in all, this is an important addition to the Verdi discography.