The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 1993 – A Verdi Ballet Music Recording
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The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 1993 – A Verdi Ballet Music Recording was one of the most popular ballets of the 20th century.
Introduction
The Verdi ballet music recording by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 1993 is a wonderful way to experience the beauty of this music. The recording includes fourteen pieces of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi’s opera music that were written for ballets. These pieces were composed between 1845 and 1887, with the majority being written in the 1870s. The music is performed by an eighty-piece orchestra and conducted by Richard Bonynge.
The piece “Prelude to Act I” from Verdi’s opera “La Traviata” is one of the most popular selections on this recording. It starts off with a beautiful melody that is played by the strings. The oboes and flutes join in, and the whole piece has a very light and airy feel to it. The next selection, “Prelude to Act III” from “La Traviata”, has a different mood. It starts off with a somber cello solo, followed by the rest of the string section playing a slow and mournful melody. This is followed by a section where the winds play a very fast and lively melody.
Overall, this recording is a great way to experience the beauty of Verdi’s ballet music. The performances are top-notch, and the recording quality is excellent. If you are a fan of Verdi’s music, or if you simply enjoy listening to beautiful opera music, then I highly recommend this recording.
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 1993
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 1993 under the direction of James Levine gave a series of four performances of Giuseppe Verdi’s ballet music from the operas Otello and Aida. These were the first performances of this music in over fifty years.
The Orchestra’s Verdi Recording
Conducted by Riccardo Muti, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 1993 produced a critically acclaimed recording of Giuseppe Verdi’s music for the ballet “Les Vêpres Siciliennes” (The Sicilian Vespers). The work had not been performed in its entirety since 1855, when it was last seen at the Paris Opera.
“The Verdi recording is an extraordinary performance that gives great hope for the future of this magnificent company.” – Anne Midgette, The New York Times
The two-act ballet, with a libretto by Eugène Scribe and Émile Deschamps, was based on a historical event, the Sicilian uprising against the French in 1282. The story was popularized by Giacomo Leopardi in his poem “Canto notturno di Palermo” (1819) and by Giovanni Verga in his novel “I Malavoglia” (1881). It was also the basis for an opera by Verdi, “I Vespri Siciliani” (1855), which was a success at its premiere but has since fallen into comparative obscurity.
The Orchestra’s Verdi Ballet Music
The Orchestra’s Verdi Ballet Music, was released in 1993 by BMG Classics. It features the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra conducted by James Levine. The recording includes three complete ballet sequences from Verdi operas, as well as an overture and several standalone pieces.
The first sequence is from Act III of Verdi’s opera “Don Carlos”. It begins with the dramatic “Auto-da-fe” scene and concludes with the famous “Grand March”. The second sequence is from Verdi’s “La forza del destino” and features the “Gypsy Dance” and the “Pace, pace mio Dio”. The final sequence is from Verdi’s “Aida” and includes the grand Triumphal Scene from the opera’s finale.
In addition to the three ballet sequences, the recording also features the overture to “La forza del destino” and several standalone pieces, including the “Grand March” from “Aida” and the famous “Anvil Chorus” from “Il trovatore”.
Conclusion
The 1993 Metropolitan Opera Orchestra recording of Verdi ballet music is a fine example of the genre, and it is recommended for both its musical and historic value.
