Vittorio Gui
While lacking the celebrity of certain other more glamorous figures, Vittorio Gui was a conductor of exceptional gifts, a knowledgeable leader and supportive accompanist to the hundreds of singers whose careers were enhanced by his tutelage and care, and a vivid and musically sound conductor of the symphonic literature. During a long career, he helped establish one important music festival and greatly influenced another, even while appearing in numerous other venues to great acclaim.
Gui was trained at Rome's Academy of Saint Cecilia, following piano instruction from his mother. Study in composition was accompanied by courses in the humanities at Rome University from which institution he obtained his degree. On short notice, Gui was summoned to take over a December 1907 performance of La Gioconda at the Teatro Adriano in his native city. The success he enjoyed led quickly to engagements at Turin and Naples. Within three years of his debut, Gui was appointed principal conductor at the San Carlo Opera in Naples. During this time, he also led a number of symphonic programs, most prominently at the 1911 Turin Exposition and, in 1912, at the Augusteo in Rome.
Gui's early achievements gave considerable luster to his name. Termed "a young Toscanini," he was celebrated for his meticulous preparation. Mastering a broad repertory of operatic and symphonic works, he invariably conducted from memory. In 1923, he was engaged by Toscanini to make his debut at La Scala in Strauss' Salome, therein being entrusted with the opening of the theatre's 1923 - 1924 season. In 1925, Gui was appointed music director of the Teatro Torino, instituting a regime of revitalized repertory and carefully restudied performance, and conducting many of the productions himself. An example of his intentions in managing the theatre came with a first-year revival of Rossini's L'italiana in Algeri featuring Conchita Supervia.
Three years into his work at Turin, Gui established the Orchestra Stabile in Florence, leading in 1933 to the beginning of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Also in 1933, Gui received an invitation from Bruno Walter to appear at Salzburg where he would become the festival's first Italian guest conductor. At Salzburg, he arrived with a reputation as not only a superb conductor of opera, but also as a symphonic director with particular abilities in the music of Debussy and Brahms.
Gui's warm relationship with the English public began with his debut at Covent Garden in 1938, when he conducted productions of Rigoletto, La bohème, and Tosca. Although his return there was delayed until a 1952 Norma with Callas and Stignani, he had followed wartime appearances in Vienna and Berlin with a debut at the Glyndebourne Festival in 1948. His sparkling manner and thorough preparation in both Mozart and Rossini made him a welcome part of that company. Assuming duties as music director in 1952 following the death of Fritz Busch, Gui remained at Glyndebourne until 1964 when he was approaching 80. Several recordings preserve his work, notably La Cenerentola, Le comte Ory (a brilliantly conducted, well cast production from 1952), Le nozze di Figaro from 1955 (with Jurinac, Bruscantini, and Stevens) and Il barbiere di Siviglia from 1962 (Bruscantini and de los Angeles).
Vittorio Gui also gained favorable comments for his composing. Writing in a neo-impressionistic style, he produced two operas of some merit, a symphonic poem, and several cantatas. Gui made substantial contributions to musicology as well, with numerous articles and editions of important scores.
© TiVo
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Rossini · Le comte Ory
Michel Sénéchal, Sari Barabas, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI
Classique - Paru chez G.O.P. le 6 mai 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
CHERUBINI: MEDEA
Opéra - Paru chez Nar Classical le 30 sept. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Rossini : Il barbiere di Siviglia - Vittorio Gui/Victoria de los Angeles
Opéra - Paru chez Warner Classics le 15 févr. 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro
Classique - Paru chez Warner Classics le 8 sept. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Verdi: Nabucco
Gino Bechi, Gino Sinimberghi, Maria Callas, Luciano Neroni, Amalia Pini, Vittorio Gui
Classique - Paru chez NAR International le 1 janv. 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro & Symphonie No. 40 (Mono Version)
Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra, Vittorio Gui, Sesto Bruscantini, Graziella Sciutti
Divers - Paru chez BNF Collection le 1 janv. 2013
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bellini: Norma
Maria Callas, Vittorio Gui, Royal Opera House Orchestra, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Classique - Paru chez Warner Classics le 28 nov. 2005
Diapason d'or16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cetra Verdi Collection: Aida
Opéra - Paru chez WMI Italy le 1 janv. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Verdi: Macbeth
Vittorio Gui, Giuseppe Taddei, Leyla Gencer
Opéra - Paru chez Urania le 3 févr. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Verdi: Il Trovatore
Vittorio Gui, Jussi Björling, Gina Cigna
Opéra - Paru chez Urania le 30 nov. 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La Cenerentola
Classique - Paru chez Warner Classics le 1 janv. 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 38 "Prague" & 39 (Mono Version)
Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra, Vittorio Gui
Divers - Paru chez BNF Collection le 1 janv. 1956
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Le Vaisseau fantôme (Intégrale)
Intégrales d'opéra - Paru chez Myto Historical le 24 nov. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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La Battaglia di Legnano (Intégrale)
Intégrales d'opéra - Paru chez Myto Historical le 25 mai 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nabucco (Intégrale)
Intégrales d'opéra - Paru chez Myto Historical le 1 janv. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
VERDI: LA TRAVIATA
Opéra - Paru chez Nar Classical le 28 juin 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 3 (Live)
Dino Ciani, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI di Torino, Bruno Bartoletti, Vittorio Gui
Classique - Paru chez DOREMI le 2 nov. 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Verdi · aida
Antonietta Stella, Umberto Borsò, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra dell'Opera di Tokyo
Classique - Paru chez G.O.P. le 10 août 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo