Happy (belated) birthday Giulietta Simionato
The legendary mezzo-soprano celebrated her 97th birthday on May 12. In this clip she is seen rehearsing with Franco Corelli for a 1963 production of Cavalleria Rusticana, and then in an interview from 2003.
I remember reading some British guide to opera recordings that said that Giulietta sounded a great deal like Amneris as Cenerentola, and could have ’rounded on all of her relatives’ as a result. My guess is that what we think of as lithe, agile Rossini singing now isn’t quite what was heard in the 50s, particularly in this one recording. But Giulietta and Barbieri, not to mention Cossotto, certainly are of a vanishing breed…
Here is short rough summary of Simionato’s intreview. She says that she always found this duet incredibly intense and upsetting, so much so that after the following duet with Alfio she would go to her dressing room and have a good cry before coming out again for the finale. She would be so involved in her character that she would cling very hard to Turiddu at the end of the duet. One time when she had been particularly forceful in her clinging Di Stefano told her “be careful or you’ll pull my trousers down”, so after that she would be careful to cling to Turiddu’s hand and not his trousers.
Her Cenerentola and Isabella (L’Italiana) lacked what we would consider today the ultimate in Rossini coloratura technique but her sense of character and mischiev ((particularly as Isabella) are huge rewards just in themselves.
I saw her once–as Amneris at the old MET opposite Rysanek’s Aida. GREAT STUFF from both ladies.
The Cavalleria has been released, as a couple of others have mentioned, and it’s well worth getting. At “E poi, Mamma, sentite” Corelli becomes intimate, tender and absolutely heartbreaking. Simionato is tremendous throughout. And one incredibly skilled performer isn’t mentioned in the cast list–the La Scala audience. They know EXACTLY when to come in with applause and when to end it; their presence on the recording gives the occasion an electric thrill.
GS appeared at the Met in the 59-60 season and her only broadcast was on 27 Feb.’60 in Trovatore–with Bergonzi, Stella, and Bastianini. Someone please please find the tape of that performance with a cast like that. We want to hear next year during the winter break.