Was expecting an electric recording from 1928. Too bad but excellent quality for an acoustic (wish Caruso's sounded this good). Nice rendition, though I can see why Gigli came out ahead of him in a singing competition.
@hobo1975 I doubt it. Doesn't sounds clear enough to be electric and if it was why would they have replaced the orchestra with a bunch of brass like they did on acoustic recordings?
There is a reason, why all the great old divas - Ponselle, Muzio, Cigna, Pampanini, Caniglia, Olivera, Arrangi-Lombardi - always claimed that, second only to Caruso, was Merli.
TX for exposing me to this beautiful tenor's voice but I prefer Gigli's rendition which always leaves me breathless (upsets me sometimes when the Met audiences don't remember him as well as announcers who should know better! ) Many thanks for posting.
Trivia Quiz time.... At age 57, Merli appeared as Otello in Trieste alongside a young budding Soprano who was making her debut on that stage...... Who was the Soprano??
I think he actually said "Dago" instead of "wop." :-0 In any event, Gigli was far superior to the vast majority of tenors of any era in vocal quality and vocal technique, but it doesn't change the fact that he often did not sing tastefully, at least by today's standards of taste.
An important piece of operatic history. This aira gives just a preliminary idea of the aristocratic style of Merli's singing, always perfectly controlled, rounded voice, with a golden 'squillo'. He did not indulge in histrionic excesses and represents a more noble school of Italian singing. Listen to his Calaf (but if you 'need' a long high note in Nessun Dorma you probably won't appreciate his fine interpretation) and his Pagliacci. He has something that reminds me of Corelli.
No histrionics!!! Are you serious? And if everything is so perfectly controlled then why does he bend the vowels at the end? Still, great singing, I agree!
Bending vowels? please explain.... I guess we have to first agree on what histrionics are, what I mean is adding extra musical expression, often distorting the musical line with sobs or wild accents and the like, the sort of thing that some people call interpretation, don't get me wrong i do think it can be done, but a little of it goes a long way :-)
E' un ver piacere ascoltare questo brano da una autentica e potente voce di un grande della lirica.Lafca88.
lafca88 7 months ago
Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for posting this treasure.
Bravo!!!
basenjidiva 11 months ago
SUBLIME !!!
31122051 1 year ago
E' la migliore interpretazione di questo stupendo brano.Strowalsky.
strowalsky 1 year ago
Was expecting an electric recording from 1928. Too bad but excellent quality for an acoustic (wish Caruso's sounded this good). Nice rendition, though I can see why Gigli came out ahead of him in a singing competition.
VinylToVideo 1 year ago
@VinylToVideo it is an electric recording.
hobo1975 1 year ago
@hobo1975 I doubt it. Doesn't sounds clear enough to be electric and if it was why would they have replaced the orchestra with a bunch of brass like they did on acoustic recordings?
VinylToVideo 1 year ago
There is a reason, why all the great old divas - Ponselle, Muzio, Cigna, Pampanini, Caniglia, Olivera, Arrangi-Lombardi - always claimed that, second only to Caruso, was Merli.
assindiastignani 1 year ago
TX for exposing me to this beautiful tenor's voice but I prefer Gigli's rendition which always leaves me breathless (upsets me sometimes when the Met audiences don't remember him as well as announcers who should know better! ) Many thanks for posting.
nancywilken 1 year ago
Jussi Bjorling's Dec 1949 rendition (conducted by Giuseppe Antonicelli) is also slow and also superb. God bless you gents.
The99Gambo 1 year ago
Superb
paulostroff99 1 year ago
superb
paulostroff99 1 year ago
Fantastic!
paulostroff99 1 year ago
@paulostroff99
Thank you for sharing this with me, One of the great performances of this aria,
GerardoRosvaenge many many thanks for posting this.
Regards-John
65attila 1 year ago
Bravo!
Cantormatis 1 year ago
Re: comments below. McCormack was certainly impolite towards Gigli; unfortunately for McCormack, Gigli was in a different leaque.
Returning to Merli, this is a most interesting rendition, slower, unstrained and powerful. A very high quality tenor indeed. God bless you Franesceso!
The99Gambo 1 year ago
An enormous voice of wonderful quality. One of the greatest tenors of the 20th Century. Really great singing !!!
30pavlova1 2 years ago 2
..and the best tempo!
MrAndrealisa 2 years ago
Comment removed
bodiloto 2 years ago
excelente interpretacion de uno de los mejores tenores de Italia
IlgruppoDiDocci 3 years ago 5
THIS is REAL singing, Sulfiato Singing!!!!
Not one sings like him today....
Quite a collection you have there....!!!
robertoesquivelzeta 3 years ago 2
Trivia Quiz time.... At age 57, Merli appeared as Otello in Trieste alongside a young budding Soprano who was making her debut on that stage...... Who was the Soprano??
kmillard 3 years ago
Tebaldi
viverito 3 years ago 2
Ding ding ding ding ding!!! You win the grand prize! Where did you find the answer??
kmillard 3 years ago
I think he actually said "Dago" instead of "wop." :-0 In any event, Gigli was far superior to the vast majority of tenors of any era in vocal quality and vocal technique, but it doesn't change the fact that he often did not sing tastefully, at least by today's standards of taste.
kmillard 3 years ago 3
An important piece of operatic history. This aira gives just a preliminary idea of the aristocratic style of Merli's singing, always perfectly controlled, rounded voice, with a golden 'squillo'. He did not indulge in histrionic excesses and represents a more noble school of Italian singing. Listen to his Calaf (but if you 'need' a long high note in Nessun Dorma you probably won't appreciate his fine interpretation) and his Pagliacci. He has something that reminds me of Corelli.
CzarDodon 4 years ago
No histrionics!!! Are you serious? And if everything is so perfectly controlled then why does he bend the vowels at the end? Still, great singing, I agree!
Englishtenor2 3 years ago
Bending vowels? please explain.... I guess we have to first agree on what histrionics are, what I mean is adding extra musical expression, often distorting the musical line with sobs or wild accents and the like, the sort of thing that some people call interpretation, don't get me wrong i do think it can be done, but a little of it goes a long way :-)
CzarDodon 3 years ago
Very pleasent & sweet to listen too. thank you.
BuzzingBeat 4 years ago
What a surprise! Marvelous! I've never heard the voice until now.
BMessemer 4 years ago
Good, but Gigli surpassed this.
796824 4 years ago
Bravissimo spinto Tenore!!!
giannils 4 years ago
Grande tenore italiano, cantava con grande classe e tecnica perfetta.
ceccopisa 4 years ago 2
very particula vibrato
ergvel1 4 years ago
Merli was great tenor with bel canto technic and hart!!!
tomasjuhasz 4 years ago