Giuseppe Verdi – Un Ballo in Maschera (Arturo Toscanini, RCA Victor Gold Seal Collection, 2-CD Set)

UPC: 0035626030124 

MPN: GD 60301 (2) 

Brand Name: RCA Victor Gold Seal

Overview

This RCA Victor Gold Seal 2-CD set presents Arturo Toscanini’s celebrated 1954 NBC broadcast of Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, featuring the NBC Symphony Orchestra, the Robert Shaw Chorale, and a stellar cast led by Jan Peerce, Herva Nelli, and Robert Merrill.

Originally aired on January 17 and 24, 1954, these performances mark one of Toscanini’s final Verdi interpretations, captured with intensity, precision, and deep emotional conviction. This edition, digitally remastered in 1991, preserves the energy and grandeur of the original NBC broadcast, offering a vivid document of Toscanini’s legendary artistry.

Product Features

• Format: 2 Compact Discs (Mono ADD, Digitally Remastered)

• Total Duration:

  Genre: Classical / Opera
  • Disc 1 – 64:34
  • Disc 2 – 57:10
• Composer: Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)
• Work: Un Ballo in Maschera – Opera in Three Acts
• Conductor: Arturo Toscanini
• Orchestra: NBC Symphony Orchestra
• Chorus: Robert Shaw Chorale (Robert Shaw, Director)
• Recording Date: NBC Broadcasts of January 17 & 24, 1954
• Original Label: RCA Victor / BMG Music
• Catalogue Number: GD 60301 (2)
• Country of Manufacture: Germany
• Copyright: © 1991 BMG Music
• Sound Type: Mono ADD (Analogue to Digital Transfer)
• Includes: Complete libretto booklet

Principal Cast

• Riccardo: Jan Peerce
• Amelia: Herva Nelli
• Renato: Robert Merrill
• Ulrica: Claramae Turner
• Oscar: Virginia Haskins
• Silvano: George Cehanovsky
• Samuel: Nicola Moscona
• Tom: Norman Scott
• Giudice / Judge: John Carmen Rossi
• Servant of Amelia: (Unnamed)

Orchestra: NBC Symphony Orchestra Chorus: Robert Shaw Chorale Conductor: Arturo Toscanini

Interesting Facts

• One of Toscanini’s Final Broadcasts: This Un Ballo in Maschera was part of Toscanini’s last season of NBC broadcasts, recorded when the Maestro was nearing the end of his long and distinguished career.
• Authentic Verdi Tradition: Toscanini, who personally knew Verdi, brought unparalleled authority and discipline to the composer’s works, emphasizing dramatic realism and rhythmic precision.
• Star-Studded Verdi Cast: Jan Peerce, Herva Nelli, and Robert Merrill deliver commanding performances that reflect Toscanini’s rigorous standards and deep understanding of Italian opera.
• Robert Shaw’s Excellence: The Robert Shaw Chorale adds power and clarity to the choral passages, matching Toscanini’s insistence on exactness and expressive control.
• Digitally Remastered Legacy: The 1991 BMG remastering retains the live broadcast’s historic character while improving balance and fidelity for modern listeners.

Publishers

© + ℗ 1991 BMG Music. Distributed in Europe by BMG Ariola, and in the U.K. by BMG Records. Printed in Germany. RCA is a registered trademark of General Electric Company, USA. All rights reserved.

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