Gigli Sings de Crescenzo's "Rondine al Nido," Live in New York Farewell Concert, 1955

[EdmundStAustell]

Yes, you are right. This was indeed his farewell concert. He died not long afterwards. He suffered from severe diabetes.

[31operafan]

Good, but I definitely notice some aging in his voice. He probably wasn't feeling good; listen to him cough a few times. I think his health was deteriorating right around this time. Still, this is the Gigli I love. :)

[kiwihans]

you listen to modern day tenors on classic FM and then you say to yourself;" Why dont they play Gigli's version!" I have the 10inch LP 'Jewels of song' The best recording i have ever heard of the Besause by Benjamin \Goddard, 1946. What a 'Gem' have you heard this recording?

[EdmundStAustell]

@kiwihans I have a recording of the song, but it is from his album "Canti Sacri." I don't know if it is from the same recording session or not. It is posted on my channel.

[kiwihans]

thanks again. I read Gigli's life story. His opening words were " If God had not given me this voice, I would not be writing this book"...Ive never forgotten those words. They teach us all much. Also, Gigli trained for TEN years before his debut, aged 24 and one first prize over `149 other tenors!

[EdmundStAustell]

@kiwihans Thanks for an interesting comment. Yes, he was a boy soprano, and widely regarded even then. At the beginning, he sang very much as a woman sings, and his voice sometimes sounds like a female. That early reliance on the very finest and thinnest edges of the vocal cords paid him back over the course of his entire life. He never pushed that voice and never strained it unduely. He always sounded like a lyric tenor, no matter what he sang. There is so much to learn from him!

[kiwihans]

there is a wonderful LP of this faiwell concert. Is it on DVD. after this, Gigli returned to his villa in Italy and sadly died the same year! There is nothing like work to keep you alive! thanks, for allowing me to hear to best tenor ever! x

[EdmundStAustell]

@kiwihans Thank you very much. This is from the LP, and I agree with you. I think he probably was the best tenor ever. Certainly one of the most popular!

[31122051]

+ 1000 !!! SUBLIME !!!

Uno dei più grandi tenori mai esistiti : voce, tecnica, stile e passionalità !

Grazie !!!

[EdmundStAustell]

@31122051 Sì, sono assolutamente d'accordo con te!

[31122051]

@EdmundStAustell : grazie per il video ! CIAO !!!

[younglemeshevist]

The performance is beautiful. Thanks for the video. I never heard this song before, and I never heard Gigli of the 1950's. How old is he? Perhaps in his 60s? His voice sounds very well and he sings very expressively as usual.

[EdmundStAustell]

@younglemeshevist Yes, this was Gigli's farewell concernt in New Your in 1955, when he was 65 years old.

[tenorschofield]

Thanks EdmundStAustell, my grandfather was the grandson of the Marques Don Joaquín Cavero y Alvarez de Toledo, cousin of the King of Spain...me,I am just a humble tenor with a lovely family that even still remembers, looks on foward for a better future for all of us!!!!. Gracias por sus atentas palabras. Saludos de su amigo y admirador, John Schofield.

[tenorschofield]

Like my grandfather, don César Cavero y Alvarez de Toledo would have said:"Qué lindo!!!!". Thanks for sharing this wonderful master class...Gigli was one of those superdotated singers, best of all times with caruso, Schipa, Fillipesci,etc. Bravooo!!!

[EdmundStAustell]

@tenorschofield Again, thank you very much. Y a proposito de "lindo," !que lindo el nombre aristocratico del abuelo!

[Geirrendour]

Pure gem, thanks for the upload!

[EdmundStAustell]

@Geirrendour  My pleasure, thanks for your comment!

[serenaluce]

Wonderful! I agree, thanks for the opportunity to hear it. Gigli is one of my very favourite tenors of all time too. I just can't name who is THE favourite for me. But it's "my" voice. I like him much more than e.g. Caruso. A warmer voice for me.

[EdmundStAustell]

@serenaluce  Thank you!. Yes, I know exactly what you mean.

[racheleleeba]

Thanks for the opportunity to hear this; it's quite lovely.

[EdmundStAustell]

@racheleleeba My pleasure. Gigli is pretty much my favorite all time tenor. I've never even counted the recordings of his that I have. Very, very many.

[racheleleeba]

@EdmundStAustell Well, I'm glad; that means there will be more for us, hopefully.

[meltzerboy]

With practice and devotion, this tenor sounds like he's really going places! (Alice to Ralph in The Honeymooners : As long as you're going places, would you mind taking out the garbage?) Sorry, I couldn't resist. Seriously though, the pure honeyed tone, beautiful line, communicative feeling, and sense of style are still there in this performance of Gigli's in his 65th year. A truly eternal artist! Thanks, Edmund.

[EdmundStAustell]

@meltzerboy :-) I was a big Honeymooners fan too. I guess that dates us a bit. Yes, he was sui generis. He really was THE tenor. The old time judges were right.