On April 6 Capriccio releases a new recording of “Il Tabarro”, starring the late Johan Botha in the role of Luigi and Elza van den Heever as Giorgetta. Wolfgang Koch is Michele and Bertrand de Billy conducts the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. This CD is essential as it is the final recording made by Botha, who passed away in 2016.
With “Il Tabarro” Puccini wrote the first part of his projected opera triptych, with which he ultimately intended to parody and reverse Wagner’s Ring tetralogy by stringing together three completely incoherent short stories. Bertrand de Billy knows how to make the score come alive with a fantastic cast on his side. Tenor Johan Botha was at the top of his career at the making of this album, and the results of the entire ensemble together are historically beautiful.
Purchase your copy here.