Giuseppe Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Naxos Historical Audio CD 2-CD set)

Simon Boccanegra
Recorded 25th – 30th September and 1st November, 1957 in the Opera House, Rome

Simon Boccanegra . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . Tito Gobbi
Jacopo Fiesco / Andrea . .. . . . . . . . Boris Christoff
Amelia Grimaldi / Maria Boccanegra . . . . Victoria de los Angeles
Gabriele Adorno . . . . . . . . . . . .Giuseppe Campora
Paolo Albiani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Walter Monachesi
Pietro . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paolo Dari
Rome Opera House Chorus and Orchestra
Gabriele Santini


Featuring a near-ideal cast, this recording of Verdi’s darkly dramatic Simon Boccanegra drew high praise from The Gramophone: “Gobbi is…a masterly singing actor and here he has one of his greatest rôles, one that deploys his full range as a singing tragedian. Victoria de los Angeles is an inspired choice for the girlish, ardent heroine, and has so much glorious music to sing…[Gabriele Santini] gives a momentous, carefully paced and constantly illuminating reading of the score of one of Verdi’s most powerful treatments of the fatal entanglements between political intrigue and family history”.

Last but not least, Christoff gives an unforgettable portrayal of the complex and powerful character of Fiesco.

“With her versatility and technique, de los Angeles was one of the finest singers of her time.”
BBC Music Magazine