Turandot is for me defnitively the summum of Puccini’s work. He achieved a really interesting mixture between modernism and melodic facility I appreciate. It’s only a pity that Puccini could’nt finish it.
My preferred recording is the Mehta recording. Even if I’m not sure the singers would have sung these roles on stage, the recording is perfectly balanced. Even if Corelli is certainly the best Calaf, Nilsson a colder than ice Turandot, …
| Recording | Comments | Musical quality | Technical quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conductor: Joseph Keilberth | ++ Maria Cebotari as Turandot + Hauss as Calaf - Sung in german - Not complete | **** | ** (Mono, pre WWII) |
| Conductor: Franco Ghione | ++ Merli as Calaf | *** | ** (Mono, pre WWII) |
| Conductor: Mario Rossi | ++ Great conducting by Mario Rossi = Karl Terkal is a little lightweighted for my taste | *** | *** (Mono, Live) |
| Conductor: Sir Georg Solti Recording Date: 1956 | ++ Hopf as Calaf - Sung in german | *** | *** (Mono) |
| Conductor: Tullio Serafin Recording Date: 1957 | ++ Tullio Serafin as conductor = Eugenio Fernandi as Calaf. = Maria Callas as Turandot | **** | *** (Mono) |
| Conductor: Erich Leinsdorf Turandot: Birgit Nilsson Liù: Renata Tebaldi Calaf: Jussi Björling Recording Date: 1959 Reference: RCA | ++ Birgit Nilsson as Turandot ++ Mario Sereni as Ping + Jussi Björling as Calaf - A little too much studio feeling | **** | **** |
| Conductor: Leopold Stokowski | *** | *** (Mono, Live) | |
| Conductor: Alberto Erede | ++ Borkh as Turandot on par with Nilsson ++ Del Monaco as Calaf + Erede as conductor - Recording quality is early stereo - Orchestra | **** | *** (early decca Stereo) |
| Conductor: Gianandrea Gavazzeni Recording Date: 1964 | ++ Corelli as Calaf ++ Nilsson as Turandot = Gavazzeni is OK | *** | *** (Mono, Live) |
| Conductor: Zubin Mehta Recording Date: 1972 | ++ Global balance between singers, | ***** | **** |
| Conductor: Herbert von Karajan Turandot: Katia Ricarelli Liù: Barbara Hendricks Calaf: Placido Domingo Recording Date: 1982 Reference: DG | ++ Placido Domingo as Calaf ++ Some orchestral details worked out by von Karajan -- Katja Riciarelli as Turandot | *** | **** |
