Gluck / Verrett / Raskin Orfeo Ed Euridice CD

Sony Classical announces a further batch of complete recordings from the CBS/Sony and RCA Victor catalogues. The newest installment of this popular series features some unusual repertoire as well as documents of the New York Metropolitan Opera in it's postwar heyday. In Rome in 1965, RCA produced a benchmark set of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, with an outstanding all-American cast led by Shirley Verrett as Orpheus and Renato Fasano conducting the Virtuosi di Roma. "This is undoubtedly the best performance and recording of the opera we have had," wrote the Gramophone reviewer. Penguin Guide concurred: "If you have a mezzo as firm and sensitive as Shirley Verrett, then everything is in favour of your using the original Italian version. Fasano also uses the right-sized orchestra... and adopts an appropriately classical style. Anna Moffo and Judith Raskin match Verrett in clean, strong singing... The recording is vivid and atmospheric."