Description:

Pros:

• This German-language Rigoletto is about as Italian as Bratwurst. Still the cast manages to play to their strengths, and creates a performance that, although not Italianate, is still musically compelling.
• Anneliese Rothenberger is exquisite as Gilda, bringing lyricism and youthful ardor to the part.
• Hans Hopf’s Duke is a bit heavy-handed, but nonetheless impressively sung given how much lighter this role is than his normal diet of Wagner and Strauss. 

Cons:

• Fritz Jaun conducts a taught performance, but to my ears the orchestra at times sounds a bit too driven and lacks any sense of lightness.

NOTE:
The opening prelude of Act IV is missing as well as the final few minutes of the opera.

In Mono

OD 11584-2