Cesare Siepi and Hans Hotter perform "Il Grand' Inquisitor!"

[@kennethgarrison7381]

Two giants of the Opera world, in one of the best scenes in Opera. Brilliant.

[@figaro248]

Bravo, both of them! A magnificent contrast between them. Often this scene results in two basses that sound interchangeable. But Siepi, with his magnificent, smooth, deep basso cantante voice, and Hotter, with his rough, snarling, angry old mean bastard kind of timbre ( used on purpose for a great characterization), the qualities of the sensitive and conflicted Fillipo and the bloodthirsty, fanatical 90-year-old Inquisitor work beautifully. Perhaps the most dramatically appropriate performance of this scene that I have EVER heard!

[@Athanael777]

Thanks for expressing that, I loved Hotter characterization, amazing Theatrical work.

[@skakdosmer]

Fillipo was certainly no less bloodthirsty! Neither in real life nor in the opera. And the inquisitor has a good point when he wants the king to get rid of Marquis di Posa. I don't view the inquisitor so much as a fanatic, but rather as an astute political analyst. He also knows all about the king's vices. The blind man who sees all. He attempts to scare the king, but soon realises his mistake in thinking that he could do that.

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

Thank you for your extremely clever and insightful comment! This is worth so much more than just stating that Hotter was „past his prime“ without giving any thought to why he might have chosen to sing and play his role exactly the way he did... or why he was cast for it in the first place!

[@italnsd]

@@skakdosmer They are both bloodthirsty monsters, but at least Filippo is capable of some human feelings, while the Inquisitor is devoid of any of them in his fanatical belief that any whiff of change needs to be destroyed. He is without doubt the winner of this confrontation as he gets from the king the decision of executing both Carlo and Posa, without providing any of the spiritual solace Filippo was seeking

[@marksmith3947]

Hotter still had an enormous ringing voice. I'm sure he adapted the timbre for the role. I've never heard such a harsh sound from him before

[@robbystafford8273]

dear god Siepi you were the greatest Italian bass of all

[@marksmith3947]

This has become my favorite duet of all. It's incredibly emotional, and so unique to have two basses singing together

[@ME-rh2rs]

Amo la voce di Cesare Siepi!

[@jefolson6989]

Fantastic! Hotter sounds like a Ghost! Siepi, as always, beautiful!

[@jefolson6989]

Interesting you would say that. I heard him sing Winterisse very late in his career. When someone asked me if he still had a great voice. " it's the ghost of a great voice" I said. Since then, he sounds ghostlike whenever I hear him.

[@Bravilor]

@@jefolson6989 It is yourself you are replying to, my good man :) Maybe Hotter's voice took on a slightly hollow quality from asthma problems, which made it sound ghost-like. Coupled with his appearance that somehow was otherworldly.

[@jefolson6989]

@@Bravilor oops. Sorry.

[@jordipanadesribera6890]

Bravi both of them. Great duetto in an exceptional Verdi’s opera.

[@tjxpuck]

와우 두 분의 콜라보도 있었군요 내가 제일 좋아하는 두 명의 성악가가 한 무대에 섰었다니 감동입니다

[@_mephisto_pheles_]

Siepi always a class.

[@WotanKlingsor]

Love them both!! Hotter shows exactly how it should be done!! Bravi !!

[@bodiloto]

Due giganti dell'arte lirica ! sublimi entrambi !

[@vincenzoanzoletti6776]

bodiloto Hotter effettivamente è l'unico tedesco con una voce decente, anche se odio la sua pronuncia, così tedesca, che schifo! Siepi è un dio, magnifico, pronuncia il testo con un'espressività meravigliosa. Hans Hotter è solo un urlatore, ma rispetto ad altri suoi colleghi è bravino. Vincenzo. PS:adoro come Siepi urla "No, giammai!" questa sì che è interpretazione.

[@bodiloto]

+Vincenzo Anzoletti senti come cantava Joseph Schwrz e poi mi dici cosa pensi del suo canto e la sua voce ... posso mandarti ancora 5 cantanti d'origine tedesca come lui ... Hoter ''è solo un urlatore'' ? sei sicuro in quello che dici ?!... prima di tutto senti come cantava il giovane Hans Hotter,parleremo dopo ... cordialità

[@HellasItalia4]

...comunque Siepi e' Siepi ! Unico e perfetto!

[@bodiloto]

@@HellasItalia4 Siepi - vocalità raffinata e davvero impressionante sui dischi 💿. Dal vivo era un’altra cosa…

[@HellasItalia4]

@@bodiloto Siepi e' un mondo per se. Vocalita' "strana", unica e perfetta. Nei dischi e' Apollo stesso ! Capisco esattamente quello che dici per il suono dal vivo. Non l'ho mai sentito dal vivo ma ho tanto materiale audio dal vivo. Per criticare Siepi ci vuol coraggio ma se gli mancava qualcosa era quel compattezza del vero suono sfogato da basso. Era il Pavarotti dei bassi (e meglio) e non il Corelli dei bassi, o il Del Monaco, o Masini. Era sempre un "Don Giovanni" nella sua sublime emmissione vocale ! Lo sento come un parente ormai...! Ci fa comunque la vita piu'...vivibile e bella! Ciao caro

[@petergiljum]

❤❤

[@janetkenny1974]

Mighty Verdi!

[@ahmadshokry5945]

Hans Hotter compensated the difference in depth with this terrifying tone of the weak but powerful grande inquisitor. it's subtle but very significant

[@eduardobraivein8496]

I must admit that Hotter's here past his prime; nevertheless, his artistry remains unimpaired and he's a delight to listen to.

[@billhobbins8823]

I rate Cesare Siepi among the very finest bass-baritones of any era! It was a wonderfully round, warm sound with plenty of size and lots of core in it. I have heard very few who could sing this particular scene in his league! Clearly, Hans Hotter was not at his best here, but there are moments of very telling, imposing sound nonetheless. Such a great artist is not defined by a few minutes in an excerpt.

[@daepi199]

I think so!

[@matveykurland7012]

Siepi is a real bass, not a "bass-baritone"

[@bradycall1889]

Siepi is a basso cantante lol

[@falkfink]

@@bradycall1889same thing, bass-bariton is just the german version.

[@eduardobraivein8496]

Ken Ken: yes Hotter DID sing in Italian, though not very often. During his performances at the Buenos Aires Teatro Colon, he sang the title-role in"Don Giovanni" (1949) and the Inquisitor in "Don Carlo" (1962, prior to a complete run of Wagner's RING cycle): both of them in their original language (ITALIAN).

[@matejadjedovic]

"Don Carlo's" original language is French not Italian.

[@СеклитаЛимариха]

Люблю.

[@doGreatartistsgrowontrees]

Wow

[@LardoDiColonnata]

Duetto fra titani! Grandioso! Una curiosità: grossomodo a 5:22 si sente, in leggero sottofondo, la voce del suggeritore che dà la battuta all'inquisitore 😅

[@tenoremodernotecnicavecchi2151]

Cosa diceva?

[@LardoDiColonnata]

@@tenoremodernotecnicavecchi2151 Infrangere tu vuoi

[@eduardobraivein8496]

Is there a complete recording of this performance? If so, post it, please!!

[@OscarLevant1]

This is too late for Hotter. He already recorded the Ring and his voice was pretty rough by then. It is to his credit that he does such a good job here. Hotter was great actor and one of the key figures in opera in the 20th century.

[@andrewmargrave7518]

Both great singers, but at that time Hotter was a baritone and thus sounded higher than Siepi's mainstream low bass. If there is a difference between the two, the Inquisitor should have the deeper sound. (If only the Met could have done Don Carlo about 1934-40 with Ezio Pinza as the Philip and Manny List as the Inquisitor! The Met never did mount Don Carlo during Pinza's years there.)

[@BaroneVitellioScarpia1]

8:17

[@verdiguy]

Nobody sang this like Cesare

[@cherubello9340]

Bravissimo, superlativo Siepi. C'è un velo di malinconia nel tono e forse anche nel colore che avvicina molto Filippo a noi. Hotter oscilla parecchio, i suoni in alto sono aperti, la pronuncia un po' faticosa, non mi piace tanto, ma riesce a rendere l'idea di ciò che canta.

[@petergraham8681]

Perhaps the contrast between these 2 voices is not SO Intentional. Here Hotter is below his best form. I know not when this was recorded but the 1960’s seems likely. This interpretation seems not ALL characterization on his part & like the 1967 performance with Ghiaurov should probably, for the sake of his reputation, also been set aside. Hotter is in much better form in the 1952 MET broadcast with Hines. Maybe he should have discontinued singing the role earlier, I’m not sure, not having heard too many of his late career opera performances. The 1964 PARSIFAL from Bayreuth, however, remains a classic both in terms of voice & characterization.

[@chopinopus28]

hotter is tired here, this is not a good example of his interpretation as inquisitore! there is a recording from metropolitan opera 1952 were i find hotter to be for my taste the best inquisitore ever recorder opposite jerome hines as the king!!! ( with a great cast in general (Richard Tucker, Delia Rigal, Paolo Silveri, Fedora Barbieri,Fritz Stiedry ) if you can find it don't miss it!

[@acacia-bloom]

This was 15 yrs later - by then Hotter wasn't sounding like he did when he was younger.

[@timcallahan6368]

+chopinopus28 I believe this was the time just prior to Hotter's battle with severe asthma, which derailed his career for about a year and a half. Could be the explanation for the vocal fatigue.

[@wdmeinert]

What was that at the beginning? Was the audience laughing at the fast tempo of the conte di lerma?

[@acacia-bloom]

Someone shouted BRAVO after the Herald announced the arrival of the inquisitor. (Probably because he kind of shouted his line with a somewhat unpleasant voice). These kind of intrusions were common place amongst Stehplatz (standing room) audience. If something was bad that let everyone know their dissatisfaction.

[@Amanda-sf3fx]

Bassos rule! Interestingly Hotter is pretty unsteady by this time - but who cares - and the GI is meant to be about 150 years old anyway - still wonderful to hear him in this role. He warms up as he goes - not surprising, since he has to come on and sing this from cold as it were. These big voices - like stegosauruses battling for dominance. ❤️ Of course, Christoff is still Da Man…..

[@haikvoskerchian2857]

Is Hans hotter out of his prime here? His voice sounds strained and seems to wobbling a lot at times.

[@falkfink]

Yes, he's almost 60 here. By that time, he developed a bit of a wobble.

[@hashatz]

Vocally and dramatically this is a wonderful recording. But Hotter tends to sing "sharp" in the heat of the tempestuous exchange. Listen to the difference when Siepi sings - and he is no less dramatic than Hotter.

[@alfredbernasek861]

GROSSARTIG

[@normanjones07]

2

[@fabiocasadeiturroni]

Una cosa è cantare il Grande Inquisitore di Spagna. Un'altra è fare il monaco pazzo de Il nome della Rosa. Urlare come un dannato non sta bene in bocca all'uomo potentissimo, che sapeva maneggiare le successioni dinastiche spagnole.

[@KenKen3593]

OH. MY. GOD. HOTTER SINGEN…ITALIENISCH?

[@timcallahan6368]

+KenKen3593 He performed more than just Wagner.

[@KenKen3593]

+Tim Callahan I prefer his Winterreise to Fischer-Dieskau's.

[@operalover3966]

Some wobble

[@AIdem-ig9fq]

Siepi is great. Hotter... well, kind of demonstrates a senility of his character...

[@jimmychoo1857]

Inaquisitor sound Bad