Giulietta Simionato is most know for the late Verdi roles, some verismo (Carmen, Santuzza), and the occasional bel canto with Callas – Anna Bolena (Donizetti) and Norma (Bellini). Who knew that she was so excellent in the Rossini coloratura repertoire?

This rep was still fairly rare when when she recorded these three arias – except for the Barber, which is from a 1949 live performance with Siepi and di Stefano.

Her voice is even throughout her over 2-octave range with a dark rich color that resembles a fine merlot, fruity but not weighty. Her contemporary Ebe Stignani also recorded much of this repertoire and is excellent, but I prefer Simionato. Stignani’s basic sound is much brighter with such an easy upper range that, to my ears, sounds more like a soprano with low notes. Simionato has the fullness and weight of tone to really sound like a true coloratura contralto. It has a “butch” element that was a model for “General Horne,” who is recognized for revising this repertoire. Well, honey, General Giulietta was there first!

I particularly enjoy her in the pants role such as “Di tanti palpiti.” For a great example of this, check out the 1962 completed Semirade (from a live performance at La Scala) with Simionato and a young Sutherland. They really blew the roof off in that one!