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These are not Tebaldi’s only recordings; numerous other recordings of her in these operas are available. But I have selected one recording of each to list here, and they are—for the most part—the studio recordings Tebaldi made for the London (Decca) label.
Certain recordings listed here may or may not be available at this time. Also, many of them are also available in highlights-only versions on a single CD.
MEFISTOFELE
With Siepi, del Monaco, Cavalli
Serafin; Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia
London (Decca), 440 054-2
Catalani
LA WALLY
With Marimpietri, del Monaco, Diaz, Cappuccilli
Cleva; Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Coro Lirico di Torino
London (Decca), 425 417-2 (2 discs)
Cilea
ADRIANA LECOUVREUR
With Simionato, del Monaco, Fioravanti
Capuana; Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia
London (Decca), 430 256-2 (2 discs)
Giordano
ANDREA CHÉNIER
With del Monaco, Bastianini
Gavazzeni; Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia
London (Decca), 425 407-2
FEDORA
With di Stefano, Sereni
Basile; Orchestra e Coro del Teatro San Carlo di Napoli
Legato Classics LCD-158-2
Mascagni
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA
With Björling, Corsi, Bastianini
Erede; Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
London (Decca), 425 985-2 (1 disc)
Ponchielli
LA GIOCONDA
With Horne, Bergonzi, Merrill, Ghiuselev, Dominguez
Gardelli; Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia
London (Decca), 430 042-2
Puccini
LA BOHÈME
With Bergonzi, Bastianini, D'Angelo, Cesari, Siepi
Serafin; Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia
London (Decca), 425 534-2 (2 discs)
LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST
With del Monaco, MacNeil
Capuana; Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia
London (Decca), 421595-2 (2 discs)
GIANNI SCHICCHI
(see Il Trittico)
MADAMA BUTTERFLY
With Bergonzi, Sordello, Cossotto
Serafin; Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia
London (Decca), 425 531-2
MANON LESCAUT
With del Monaco, Boriello, Corena
Molinari-Pradelli; Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia
London (Decca), 430 253-2
SUOR ANGELICA
(see Il Trittico)
IL TABARRO
(see Il Trittico)
TOSCA
With del Monaco, London
Molinari-Pradelli; Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia
London (Decca), 411 871-2 (2 discs)
IL TRITTICO
With del Monaco, Merrill, Simionato, Corena, Lazzari
Gardelli; Orchestra e Coro des Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
London (Decca), 411 665-2 (3 discs)
TURANDOT
With Nilsson, Björling, Tozzi
Leinsdorf; Orchestra e Coro dell'Opera di Roma
RCA RCD2-5932, RCA RD 85932 (2 discs)
Verdi
AÏDA
With Bergonzi, Simionato, MacNeil, van Mill
Karajan; Wiener Philharmoniker, Wiener Staatsopernchor
London (Decca), 414 087-2
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA
With Pavarotti, Milnes, Resnik, Donath
Bartoletti; Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia
London (Decca), 440 042-2
DON CARLO
With Bergonzi, Ghiaurov, Fischer-Dieskau, Bumbry, Talvela
Solti; Orchestra and Chorus of Covent Garden
London (Decca), 421 114-2
FALSTAFF
With Gobbi, Moffo, Simionato, MacNeil
Serafin; Misciano Orchestra e Coro
Legato
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO
With del Monaco, Bastianini, Siepi, Simionato, Corena
Molinari-Pradelli; Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia Santa Cecilia
London (Decca), 421 598-2
GIOVANNA D'ARCO
With Bergonzi, Panerai, Susca
Simonetto; Orchestra e Coro della RAI di Milano
Melodram MEL 27021
OTELLO
With del Monaco, Protti
Karajan; Wiener Philharmoniker, Wiener Staatsopernchor
London (Decca), 411 618-2 (2 discs)
SIMON BOCCANEGRA
With MacNeil, Flagello, Iglesias
Levine; Miami Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Legato LCD 189-2
LA TRAVIATA
With Poggi, Protti
Molinari-Pradelli; Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia
London (Decca), 430 250-2
IL TROVATORE
With del Monaco, Simionato, Savarese, Tozzi
Erede; Orchestra du Grand Théâtre de Genève, Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
London (Decca), 411 874-2
Especially for one’s first introduction to Tebaldi, a collection can serve as a fine sampler. Here are a few that I’d recommend:
This is the best collection, featuring a wide array of Tebaldi’s greatest moments from many of the complete opera recordings listed above. A great introduction to the artist and her art.
RENATA TEBALDI (“Opera Gala” series)
Arias by Puccini, Verdi, Mozart, Catalani, Cilea, Refice, Boito, Mascagni
Various
London (Decca), 421 312-2 (1 disc)
A smaller alternate on one CD—but the Willow Song and Ave Maria from Otello are from a far inferior version to the one on the “La Tebaldi” set.
A TEBALDI FESTIVAL
Arias by Wagner, Bizet, Saint-Saëns, Massenet, Verdi, Puccini, and Bellini, as well as Italian, Spanish, and American songs
Bonynge, Guadagno; New Philharmonia Orchestra
Cleva, Orchestre National de l’Opéra de Monte-Carlo
London (Decca), 452 456-2 (2 discs)
This serves as an excellent follow-up to the La Tebaldi set. It features Tebaldi’s foray into the German and French repertoires (in Italian translations), which she tackles surprisingly well. Also featured are numerous songs (including one from Rogers and Hammerstein!), more familiar Italian repertory, and arias from roles she never sang on stage (eg, Norma).
TEBALDI: THE EARLY RECORDINGS (“Historic” series)
Arias by Verdi, Puccini, and Gounod, plus a complete recording of Aïda, act III
Erede; Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and the Orchestra e Coro dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Roma
London (Decca), 425 989-2 (1 disc, mono)
Recorded 1949-52, this is a fine introduction to the early, lighter voice of Tebaldi, including the “Jewel Song” from Gounod’s Faust.
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