I've heard hundreds of sopranos sing the "Vissi d'arte" and this is one of the most moving renderings of the aria I have encountered: so sustained and so poignant.
Immenso Taddei. Il più grande Scarpia con Gobbi. Ogni frase,ogni sillaba cesellata,pesata e accentata in modo impeccabile. Una lezione di teatro e fraseggio. Unico!!
Wonderful Maria Zampieri, a favorite in Bonn. How we raved and applauded her. A supreme actress with a wonderful voice, different from all others. Her high notes form a chromatic rainbow.
I'm not sure about Zampieri, but I know good and well Taddei was a great and legendary baritone. His vocal abilities allowed him to sing into his old age! Neither of them are a disaster.
