Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana

The 1950s through the early 1970s were an odd age when it came to Verdi singing. On one hand there were singers who super-imposed their own idiosyncrasies on the music almost to the extent of rewriting it, on the other, there was Bergonzi, who for many, epitomized Verdian grace and style, not only for his generation, but for the entire 20th century. Not only was Bergonzi an impeccable stylist, he was a superb vocalist, who like Alfredo Kraus, could still sing with aplomb and musicianship in his 70s....