Simon Boccanegra: Vladimir Chernov Gabriele Adorno: Plácido Domingo Maria Boccanegra: Kiri Te Kanawa Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Conductor: James Levine MET, 1995.
Absolutely gorgeous Boccanegra. Verdi must have written this part with Chernov in mind :) Domingo as Gabriele is so-so but then I have never been a Domingo fan.
Not a Domingo fan either but he is working against the astronomical odds of making Gabriele in any way memorable when he's distinctly in the camp of Verdi tenors whose existence you forget about the second they leave the stage.
Lyrics Italiano Plebe! Patrizi! Popolo dalla feroce storia! Erede sol dell'odio dei Spinola, dei Doria, Mentre v'invita estatico Il regno ampio dei mari, Voi nei fraterni lari vi lacerate il cor. Piango su voi, Sul placido raggio del vostro clivo Là dove invan germoglia il ramo dell'ulivo. Piango sulla mendace festa dei vostri fior E vo gridando : pace! E vo gridando : amor! English Plebs! Patricians! People, with a fierce history! Heir only of the hatred of the Spinolas, of the Dorias, While he invites you ecstatically The wide kingdom of the seas, You tear your heart apart in your brotherly lares. I cry over you, On the placid ray of your clivus There where the olive branch sprouts in vain. I cry at the mendacious celebration of your flowers And I'm shouting: peace! And I'm shouting: love!
