DESCRIPTION:
THIS PROJECT IS RESERVED ONLY FOR THE GREATEST! What´s your opinion about Renata Tebaldi? Please comment!

Renata Tebaldi, Soprano (1922-2004)

Giuseppe Verdi - La Forza del Destino
Pace, pace mio dio
(Recorded live 1953)

My personal opinion: When the important reformer of italian opera Arturo Toscanini in 1950 placed Tebaldi for a performance of Verdis Requiem on a position high above the chorus, a legend began. Her voice should sound like a voice from heaven and with this, "La voce d´Angelo" was born, an attribute Renata Tebaldi ever was associated with. But this was only a promotional etiquette for one of the greatest spinto sopranos the world ever knew.
Her first recordings are surprising, we hear another Tebaldi that we expected. In scenes from Verdis "Giovanna d`Arco" (1951) she was a dramatic virtuosa, her voice almost flawless, full, rich and with exciting agility. But then came Callas with her canto fiorito and her own applications of dramatic singing and Tebaldi was intelligent enough, to think it over.
She changed her repertoire and leaves belcanto. Renata Tebaldi was a friendly shy person and to avoided a feud with Callas fans, she focused herself on america. Her admiration for Callas was great, and she confessed she never was fit for roles like Norma or Medea.
So, Tebaldi continued the tradition of verismo and lyrico spinto with a beauty sound unequaled.
Tebaldis first roles were in Faust, Mefistofele (Boito) and in Lohengrin. Early she adapted Aida, probably too soon. After a crisis in 1963 she came back with still a wonderful mezza voce, only affected a little bit in her pitch.
Renata Tebaldi showed us, how wonderful and substantive a repertoire like hers is able to sound. Her Mimi, Leonora (amazing in the 1953 in-house recording), Desdemona, Minnie - did we hear all these equally beautiful again from another spinto soprano?
I would like to present you the live recording of "Pace" I´ve mentioned before, 1953 when Tebaldi was in her prime. Just hear the incredible floating first "pace" followed in the reprise with a magic pianissimo. The conductor is Dimitri Mitropoulos. A document of a great singers career!

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