Alfredo Catalani (1854-93) : Loreley & La Wally, Intermezzi from the operas (1888/1892)

[@erlandschneck-holze4476]

... a wonderful recording - the following other intermezzi, too - and maestro Noseda is a very sensitive and skillful conductor of the middle generation, namely of the Italian repertoire ...

[@maxmerry8470]

I'm afraid the only Toscanini recording I've heard of Danza Delle Ondine is a short rehearsal session during which his foul temper gets the better of him. I'm not sure he'd be able to bully like that if he'd been a conductor today! Anyway, I've enjoyed these particular pieces performed with delicacy and grace by Noseda and the BBC Philharmonic. I particularly like the beautiful "La Wally" segments.....moody, atmospheric and very dramatic.

[@yp3424]

There's a full recording of the dance from "Loreley" under Toscanini, without, of course, his temperamental outbursts. Don't forget that he was connected with friendship to Al. Catalani and that's why he named his daughter 'Wally', after the homonymous chef-d' œuvre of the composer, who,unfortunately, died prematurely. The 80 year old G. Verdi wrote in 1893 in a letter to his friend, count Arrivabene: "..povero Catalani, che peccato per l'arte, che vergogna per tutti noi."

[@sheruffa6032]

today Toscanini would be scared, he would think he woke up in the paradise of eunuchs, basically his nightmare!

[@sheruffa6032]

thank goodness you are there to fight the bullies otherwise it would be really hard!

[@fredrickroll06]

Please put the prelude to Act 1 of "Loreley" online, if you can - it's so much better than the "Danza delle Ondine"! On the other hand, I admit that I've never heard the orchestration of the "Danza delle Ondine" this clearly before! Interesting to see you promoting Catalani, as I have always known you as a champion of Tchaikovsky - Catalani and Tchaikovsky are my favorite composers!

[@RoddersClassical]

@Fredric Kroll I am not familiar with the prelude to Loreley. I don't have many Italian operas in my collection, I'm afraid.

[@fredrickroll06]

@@RoddersClassical Thank you very much for answering! Please see kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2KtY4CsnLSthZo. The conductor, Gavazzeni, is great, but the orchestra and the sound reproduction leave much to be desired. Have you checked out the prelude - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIDTe2CMjZlrq7M - and the intermezzo - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZTQeXd9ZZKopac - to my own opera? If you would, I would be most grateful!

[@yp3424]

I recommend the Art. Toscanini performance of the "danza delle ondine", released about 66 years ago, without hesitation. Apart from being like a vivid,live narration, it's also very moving. Nice try by mtro Noseda, but not convincing, very "flat". Especially the 4th act intermezzo from "la Wally", is like eating spaghetti from the fridge. I'm sorry, but this is not Catalani, the tragic, for sure.