Gianni Raimondi Vol.2

Gianni Raimondi was the consummate Italian tenor--stylish and elegant with impeccable diction, a large voice, and a pure, warm tone. Unfortunately, he produced very few studio recordings so live recordings such as these are valuable documents of Raimondi's artistry. These performances are from 1953-1967, the years of Raimondi's vocal prime and include his interpretations of the works of composers he was closely associated with: Donizetti, Verdi, and Puccini.
He demonstrates his mastery of bel canto with a sensitive, nuanced rendition of "Se tanto in ira agli uomini" from one of Donizetti's lesser-known operas, 'Linda di Chamounix.' The highlights of the disc are the selections from a 1967 La Scala performance of Gounod's 'Faust' conducted by Georges Pretre and featuring Mirella Freni and Nicolai Ghiaurov along with Raimondi. The collection also includes a finely wrought account of "De miei bollenti spiriti" from 'La traviata' and concludes with a heartfelt reading of "Che gelida manina" from 'La Boheme.'