I Capuletti ed
I Montecchi
VINCENZO BELLINI
Performances
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29 July 1953 - RAI
Milan - Gavarini, Rizzoli, Massaria, Caselli; Giulini
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10 February 1954 -
Palermo, Teatro Massimo - Carteri, Gavarini, Taddeo/Borghi; Giu
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14 October 1958 - New
York, Carnegie Hall - Hurley, Cassily, Flagello; Gamson
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28 April 1964 - New
York, Carnegie Hall - Costa, Montal, Michalski, Bottcher; Gardelli
Recordings
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14 October 1958 - New
York, Carnegie Hall - Hurley, Cassily, Flagello; Gamson
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28 April 1964 - New
York, Carnegie Hall - Costa, Montal, Michalski, Bottcher; Gardelli
Reviews
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October 1958 "Miss
Simionato, who gave a memorable performance in last years 'Anna Bolena',
sang with amplitude, colour and temperament. She has a gift of lighting up a
stage by the dramatic power she can convey through the voice. One feels that
in the opera house she must be an exceptional singing actress." Howard
Taubman, The New York Times, October
15, 1958
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April 1964 "Simionato
started loud and had trouble getting her voice in focus...[yet still] The
best singing by far came from Giulietta Simionato...in the last act 'Deh tu
bell'anima'...[had] a melodic curve, a feeling for the line, a sensitivity
for the shape of the phrase." Harold C. Shonberg, The New York Times,
April 19, 1964
Anecdotes
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While commenting on
the brilliance of the singing in the 1958 Carnegie Hall performance the
New York Times reviewer noticed that
it was hard to imagine Simionato as the young nobleman Romeo, not because of
her vocal or histrionic powers, but her elegance and distracting hour-glass
figure.
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ROSANNA CARTERI
(soprano) On singing the role of Giulietta
in Capuleti
with Simionato as Romeo - "The funny thing was that...she...Giulietta....was
Romeo and I was Juliet. During rehearsals this was a reason for laughter and
even during the performance while I was singing 'Romeo, where are you?'
Giulietta was backstage and would whisper her address and telephone number.
You can imagine how difficult it was not to laugh! This is how Giulietta
was, always ready for a joke."