Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Francesco Molinari-Pradelli was a leading Italian opera conductor of the 20th century. He studied piano and composition in Bologna, and continued these studies at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, adding conducting studies with Bernardino Molinari (no apparent relation). He graduated in 1938. His first performances were as an orchestral concert conductor. His first operatic performance was a production of Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, a production that traveled to Bologna, Bergamo, and Brescia.
He built a reputation during the war years that enabled him to debut at La Scala in 1946, the year it reopened after its bombing. He quickly became known as a reliable opera conductor capable of strong leadership, ability to accompany the greatest stars on the opera stage, and creator of exciting performances (although not always possessing great individuality or new insight).
He debuted at Covent Garden in London in 1956, leading Tosca with Tebaldi in the title role, and returned in 1960 to lead Verdi's Macbeth, a performance that contributed to a rising interest in Verdi's lesser-heard operas.
He debuted in San Francisco in 1957 and was much in demand there; one of his most memorable performances was a Turandot in 1964 with Birgit Nilsson in the title role. His Vienna debut was at the Staatsoper in 1959, and his first performance at the Metropolitan was in 1966. He returned to that house often during the next two decades.
He also maintained his skills as a pianist, delighting in taking breaks from the standardized nature of the Italian operatic repertory by playing little known pieces. He was also appreciated as a vocal recital accompanist. His recording in that capacity in songs of Rossini with Suzanne Danco attained legendary status. His Turandot performance with Nilsson is one of the three or four top recordings of the opera, and he accompanied some performances on disc by Maria Callas. In 1966, a record of his, Prima Donna with Leontyne Price, won the Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Soloist Performance (With or Without Orchestra). He died in his hometown of Bologna four days after his 85th birthday.
© TiVo
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Puccini · Tosca
Renata Tebaldi, Mario del Monaco, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia
Klassiek - Released by G.O.P. on 5 mei 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Donizetti: Don Pasquale (Mono Version)
Renato Capecchi, Bruna Rizzoli, Orchestra Del Teatro Di San Carlo Di Napoli, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1900
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Pavarotti – The Opera Collection 3: Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (Live in Turin, 1967)
Luciano Pavarotti, Renata Scotto, RAI Symphony Orchestra, Turin , Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Puccini · manon lescaut
Renata Tebaldi, Mario del Monaco, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia
Klassiek - Released by G.O.P. on 20 mrt. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Leoncavallo · Pagliacci
Mario del Monaco, Gabriella Tucci, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia
Klassiek - Released by G.O.P. on 25 apr. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Giacomo Puccini: La Boheme
Coro del Teatro Municipale di Reggio Emilia, Orchestra Del Teatro Municipale Di Reggio Emilia, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Opera - Released by Cantus Classics on 29 apr. 1961
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rossini: 4 Ouvertures célèbres (Mono Version)
Wiener Symphoniker, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1959
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Verdi: La traviata, extraits (Mono Version)
Renata Tebaldi, Gianni Poggi, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Puccini: Tosca, Extracts (Mono Version)
Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia, Renata Tebaldi, Mario del Monaco
Klassiek - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Puccini: Gianni Schicchi (Mono Version)
Orchestra Del Teatro San Carlo Di Napoli, Solisti del Teatro San Carlo di Napoli, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Klassiek - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
L'art de la prima donna, vol. 1 (Mono Version)
Royal Opera House Orchestra, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, Dame Joan Sutherland
Klassiek - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
L'art de la prima donna, vol. 2 (Mono Version)
Royal Opera House Orchestra, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, Dame Joan Sutherland
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Giuseppe Verdi: Aida
Chorus Of The San Francisco Opera House, Orchestra Of The San Francisco Opera House, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Klassiek - Released by Cantus Classics on 21 aug. 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gaetano Donizetti: Don Pasquale
Coro Del Teatro Di San Carlo Di Napoli, Orchestra Del Teatro Di San Carlo Di Napoli, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Klassiek - Released by Cantus Classics on 9 feb. 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Verdi: Un Ballo In Maschera (Remaster)
Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, Orchestra del Teatro Colon
Opera - Released by Nar Classical on 6 mrt. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Art Of The Prima Donna
Dame Joan Sutherland, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, Royal Opera House Orchestra, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Klassiek - Released by Hallmark on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lyrica - Carmen
Georges Bizet, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Klassiek - Released by Ermitage Records on 27 okt. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vocal Recital: Tebaldi, Renata / Del Monaco, Mario - Verdi, G / Puccini, G. (1952, 1954)
Renata Tebaldi, Mario del Monaco, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia, Alberto Erede, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Opera - Released by Naxos Classical Archives on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Famous Love Scenes Series (Mono Version)
Renata Tebaldi, Mario del Monaco, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo