Merrill has told that "Rigoletto" story several times in slightly different variations. The one I liked (in Merrill's book) is that when he asked Jussi about it, Jussi said, "But you see, the quartet it is my solo!)
Thanks, Airbuzz ... and to Robert Merrill. Robert explained the hows/whys of how certain takes were made, when there were options to accepting/rejecting them!
@wattever333 they are saying something like (in swedish) : then he went in to the control room and wanted to hear a tune, and said "great" then we went and it was nothing more to it
Onegiin-- Merill was an American Jew born in New York . His name was Morris Miller and he became Robert Merrill. His parents where Polish/Russian Jews and came to NY where he was born. Page 7 of his book between acts
Warren could sing very softly also in any song or aria and was the greatest Verdi Baritone in the world. Merrill had the most beautiful of all the Baritones. More lyric then the Dramatic great Warren.
As for Merrill being the best american baritone, I hve been told that the honour should more properly be addressed to Leonard Warren who died prematurely.
I am quite convinced Merrill was the greatest US (opposed to American) baritone, To me Warren was much too loud at all time, even while singing Caccini's Amarilli!
Yes, Merrill and Bastianini, the two greatest baritones of all time, for sure!
@99Gambo I've come around on Gobbi. Don't get me wrong; I always regarded him as a great artist. But for many years, I didn't rate him so high as a singer, because his acuti weren't so free and ringing as those that some of his contemporaries enjoyed. But upon hearing Gobbi's top again, it's certainly serviceable; and his intense, precisely-developed characterizations are some of the best in operatic history. Not to mention his voice's sheer thrust and (also) its fine mezza voce:) --
Robert Merrill had an incredibly rich voice and one that I truly appreciate. I have a very precious, fragile, ancient tape recording of him singing, "Begin the Beguine" that I recorded in South Africa over the Radio 20 years ago.
Does someone have a recording they can upload to youtube?
Merrill wasn't Italian-American, he was of Russian ancestry. But he did have an Italian sound, and had one of the most beautiful baritone voices of the past century.
Smartass joking Merrill amazingly describing one of the best tenors of all time at the same time he belongs in the same class as Bjorling as a baritone.
That's precisely what struck me, but I quickly discarded that thought and slapped myself for making the connection probably just because he's Italian-american. But there might be something there beyond that after all.
I began listening to Bjorling about 25 years ago on the radio. I had heard him before on an RCA LP with Anna Moffo doing La Boheme. But, it was after those programs that I really began to listen.
I continue to listen to all the tenors, and most have a few amazing performances, but I think he has the highest number of great performances.
His 3:30 Nessun Dorma continues to astonish me. Once (or twice), when I was seriously heartbroken, he could always bring me to tears.
I am talking below about merrill not jussi, merrill was about five nine or ten and 180 pounds in middle age, Jussi was not tall but was of stocky build.
Yes you are correct he was NOT a small man at least five ten and more like 180 then 150, not small at all and neither was his voice, so very beautiful, for tone none better!
He has an indented chest. I was made fun of for having a indented chest ( Bone Beasts ) in school. Now I'm finding that what I hated is really a blessing for singing.
Geez, my comment seems so out of place... but i got to be me ;): i love watching & hearing about Mr. Bjorling. I don't know if it's just me, but i think he's soooo adoooorable )!
Jussi Bjoerling was considered to be "charismatically challenged." I don't know by whom, but I do know Clyde Gilmour (late Canadian musicologist) thought he was the best. Not that Gilmour dismissed the likes of Pavarotti or Domingo. But the idea a guy from Sweden could join with a guy from Brooklyn and produce great art I just love.
Thank you so much for sharing that most wonderful, moving duet...and thanks to the posters for sharing their wisdom and their experiences...great reading.
Years ago I read an autobiography (don't know which one) that had a line I've always remembered. I believe he was explaining the story of an opera to his young son. He said, mock-sadly, "Remember, my boy, the tenor always gets the girl!" LOL
Many years ago, I read "Once More from the Beginning," Merrill's first autobiography. If memory serves, he was preparing in the first chapter to give his 20th anniversary performance at the Met as what's his name in "Lucia" -- I'm drawing a blank about the baritone character's name -- Enrico Ashton? Anyway, Merrill was about to leave for the Met when his son said, "You're the rat again, aren't you, Daddy?" To which he replied, "The baritone is ALWAYS the rat, my boy!"
Merrill might have had the best baritone voice, balancing power and beauty perfectly, ever produced in America (I heard him live once, and he was wonderful, although this was late in his career and he was past his prime). And I love his Brooklyn accent! An all-American boy!
I saw him when the met toured and he was as great as thought he was! Beautiful richness of tone, sang in key always, with an unmatched musicality in the rendering of all his arias!! merrill warren tibbett and john charles thomas:take your pick They don't produce baritones like this any more! haven't for half a century or more!! PERIOD!!
when I think of the most pleasant people I've met on earth I think of Robert Merrill. When I want to hear America's greatest baritone sing I listen to Robert Merrill. If I had one friend I could pick I would have Robert Merrill first in mind. It has alweays been that way for me. Several baritones come close but my goose is cooked when it comes to Americas greatest basball player!
Merrill, honestly speaks. I believe he really cared for Bjoerling, read his book. The recording is fine and Peters was terrific, especially in her Aria where she does a terrific Diminuendo, not too take anything away from Merrill and Jussi.
135 pounds? That a typo? Merrill was a big man like all baritones. I met him when I weighed 150, and he was much taller and wider than I.
He was also cheerful and pleasant. Never like the crazy ego -driven tenors. I told him he and Ettore Bastianini were my favorite baritones. He looked a bit startled, but didn't say anything.
I talked to him in his dressing room before the performance. He had one leg on a chair. Hurt it somehow getting off a plane.
No its not a typo but of course my memory could just be faulty. As I remember it, in his first autobiography he wrote that he went on a mostly fruit diet at one point and never again weighed more than 135 lbs. I still have his second autobiography but alas not his first.
An interesting interview with a pleasant personality. The joking rivalry between a baritone and a tenor is amusing. Mr Merrill comes across as a very nice man. He certainly was a great singer.
I've often wondered who leads and who follows in famous quartets in opera or in the sextet from lucia or in various duos--who is understood to have the lead, who yields to this "understanding" and what if the naturally stronger voice if off. I do kind of agree with Jos. Shore and that it's every one for themselves...so to speak...or sing.
what a fantastic snippet into the character of one of my favourite baritones ever. first heard his voice in a recording of ballo, (leinsdorf) and foolishly tried to shape my own sound on his!! haha
as i learn more about his life, his voice takes on an ever greater personality of it's own, and boy could this guy sing,
he's probably the most italian sounding, non-italian baritone i've heard, and yes, we can be grateful we didn't lose him to baseball, could he play?
Lucky for us we did not lose Robert Merrill to baseball or Hollywood(HAHA). The story he tells is true and Merrill did not have a mean bone in his body. What Mr. Merrill does not tell you is that Bjorling was sorry when he heard the loud recording of himself. Just to show you what sort of a man Bob Merrill was. he did not want to speak unkindly about his friend. The good recording was released unedited, not that Jussi could be stubborn in other ways.
well jussi could've meant the fact that it's his character leading the whole idea in this quartet, but it really looks like merrill didn't mean much by the comment anyway. he seems awesome
Björling and Merrill were personal friends, so I guess Merrill didn't mean anything with his comments, no. It's all said with great love and respect I think.
Merrill has told that "Rigoletto" story several times in slightly different variations. The one I liked (in Merrill's book) is that when he asked Jussi about it, Jussi said, "But you see, the quartet it is my solo!)
diarci 11 months ago
Can somebody tell me the name of the four part aria at the end of this interview?
tac
tacfoley 1 year ago
@tacfoley Bella figlia dell'amore from Rigoletto.
lawdavisut 1 year ago
Merril cantaste con Bjorling, un lujo que pocos tuvieron. Un baritono acorde para el que fue el mas grande de los tenores de la historia de la Opera.
lpizzella 1 year ago
Thanks, Airbuzz ... and to Robert Merrill. Robert explained the hows/whys of how certain takes were made, when there were options to accepting/rejecting them!
jhb134 1 year ago
0:15-0:20 WTH was that?
wattever333 2 years ago
@wattever333 they are saying something like (in swedish) : then he went in to the control room and wanted to hear a tune, and said "great" then we went and it was nothing more to it
semicroma 9 months ago
Onegiin-- Merill was an American Jew born in New York . His name was Morris Miller and he became Robert Merrill. His parents where Polish/Russian Jews and came to NY where he was born. Page 7 of his book between acts
halavey 2 years ago
Gobbi the great Baritone actor on stage. He really could act out a role, like Tosca.
halavey 2 years ago
Warren could sing very softly also in any song or aria and was the greatest Verdi Baritone in the world. Merrill had the most beautiful of all the Baritones. More lyric then the Dramatic great Warren.
halavey 2 years ago
Lovely bit of information. Thank you.
As for Merrill being the best american baritone, I hve been told that the honour should more properly be addressed to Leonard Warren who died prematurely.
99Gambo 2 years ago
I am quite convinced Merrill was the greatest US (opposed to American) baritone, To me Warren was much too loud at all time, even while singing Caccini's Amarilli!
Yes, Merrill and Bastianini, the two greatest baritones of all time, for sure!
Apollogranforte 2 years ago 2
And what of Tito Gobbi? Where does he fit in with these greats?
99Gambo 2 years ago
@99Gambo
no. great acting singer, but not so great a singing singer.
jojojo943 1 year ago
@99Gambo I've come around on Gobbi. Don't get me wrong; I always regarded him as a great artist. But for many years, I didn't rate him so high as a singer, because his acuti weren't so free and ringing as those that some of his contemporaries enjoyed. But upon hearing Gobbi's top again, it's certainly serviceable; and his intense, precisely-developed characterizations are some of the best in operatic history. Not to mention his voice's sheer thrust and (also) its fine mezza voce:) --
stevevandien 1 year ago
Robert Merrill had an incredibly rich voice and one that I truly appreciate. I have a very precious, fragile, ancient tape recording of him singing, "Begin the Beguine" that I recorded in South Africa over the Radio 20 years ago.
Does someone have a recording they can upload to youtube?
waihuhu099 2 years ago
Merrill wasn't Italian-American, he was of Russian ancestry. But he did have an Italian sound, and had one of the most beautiful baritone voices of the past century.
Onegiin 2 years ago
Smartass joking Merrill amazingly describing one of the best tenors of all time at the same time he belongs in the same class as Bjorling as a baritone.
madisonelectronic 2 years ago
Thanks so much. Really precious footage.
vstasov 2 years ago
246-- I saw your comment but I think if you mean the RCA recording in 1956 of Boheme complete, it is not Moffo but De Los Angeles and Merrill.
halavey 2 years ago
Merril has been dead for at least 3 yrs and he's still the greatist American Baritone
tenorismo 2 years ago
Merrill reminds me of DeNiro
Hailstone47 2 years ago 8
That's precisely what struck me, but I quickly discarded that thought and slapped myself for making the connection probably just because he's Italian-american. But there might be something there beyond that after all.
sture8808 2 years ago
@Hailstone47 I know, right?
TS57ovr4 7 months ago
I began listening to Bjorling about 25 years ago on the radio. I had heard him before on an RCA LP with Anna Moffo doing La Boheme. But, it was after those programs that I really began to listen.
I continue to listen to all the tenors, and most have a few amazing performances, but I think he has the highest number of great performances.
His 3:30 Nessun Dorma continues to astonish me. Once (or twice), when I was seriously heartbroken, he could always bring me to tears.
246zxc12 2 years ago
I am talking below about merrill not jussi, merrill was about five nine or ten and 180 pounds in middle age, Jussi was not tall but was of stocky build.
halavey 2 years ago
Yes you are correct he was NOT a small man at least five ten and more like 180 then 150, not small at all and neither was his voice, so very beautiful, for tone none better!
halavey 2 years ago
Merrill is a legend too.
Siriussupporter 2 years ago
He has an indented chest. I was made fun of for having a indented chest ( Bone Beasts ) in school. Now I'm finding that what I hated is really a blessing for singing.
OperaBaritoneJoe 3 years ago
Geez, my comment seems so out of place... but i got to be me ;): i love watching & hearing about Mr. Bjorling. I don't know if it's just me, but i think he's soooo adoooorable )!
kittycrunch456 3 years ago
Jussi Bjoerling was considered to be "charismatically challenged." I don't know by whom, but I do know Clyde Gilmour (late Canadian musicologist) thought he was the best. Not that Gilmour dismissed the likes of Pavarotti or Domingo. But the idea a guy from Sweden could join with a guy from Brooklyn and produce great art I just love.
lskarin 3 years ago
He was a serious alcoholic and that he could still sing as he did was amazing!
What a stunning voice he had.
buttsyrc8 3 years ago 2
Totally agree. He is such a fascinating and amazing man. Adorable too
kittycrunch456 3 years ago
Thank you so much for sharing that most wonderful, moving duet...and thanks to the posters for sharing their wisdom and their experiences...great reading.
dontlooknowtooscary 3 years ago 2
Years ago I read an autobiography (don't know which one) that had a line I've always remembered. I believe he was explaining the story of an opera to his young son. He said, mock-sadly, "Remember, my boy, the tenor always gets the girl!" LOL
FlyingTiger5 3 years ago
Many years ago, I read "Once More from the Beginning," Merrill's first autobiography. If memory serves, he was preparing in the first chapter to give his 20th anniversary performance at the Met as what's his name in "Lucia" -- I'm drawing a blank about the baritone character's name -- Enrico Ashton? Anyway, Merrill was about to leave for the Met when his son said, "You're the rat again, aren't you, Daddy?" To which he replied, "The baritone is ALWAYS the rat, my boy!"
stevevandien 3 years ago
Merrill might have had the best baritone voice, balancing power and beauty perfectly, ever produced in America (I heard him live once, and he was wonderful, although this was late in his career and he was past his prime). And I love his Brooklyn accent! An all-American boy!
stevevandien 3 years ago 7
I saw him when the met toured and he was as great as thought he was! Beautiful richness of tone, sang in key always, with an unmatched musicality in the rendering of all his arias!! merrill warren tibbett and john charles thomas:take your pick They don't produce baritones like this any more! haven't for half a century or more!! PERIOD!!
lpvcrcd 3 years ago 2
They sure don't, and more's the pity!
stevevandien 3 years ago
Amen - and ain't it a shame. I miss this guy so much!
bevsoprano 3 years ago
Yes he was a real good guy on top of the most beautiful Baritone sound ever, met him a couple of times, down to earth and great sense of humor.
pearlmuth3 4 years ago 3
when I think of the most pleasant people I've met on earth I think of Robert Merrill. When I want to hear America's greatest baritone sing I listen to Robert Merrill. If I had one friend I could pick I would have Robert Merrill first in mind. It has alweays been that way for me. Several baritones come close but my goose is cooked when it comes to Americas greatest basball player!
blakemooney 4 years ago 2
Merrill, honestly speaks. I believe he really cared for Bjoerling, read his book. The recording is fine and Peters was terrific, especially in her Aria where she does a terrific Diminuendo, not too take anything away from Merrill and Jussi.
pearlmuth3 4 years ago
Read which book? Merrill wrote two autobiographies - one bawdy, the other sentimental.
The most amazing fact about Merrill? He only weighed 135 pounds. He was fat as a kid and resolved to lose weight. He kept it off for life.
Agorante 3 years ago
135 pounds? That a typo? Merrill was a big man like all baritones. I met him when I weighed 150, and he was much taller and wider than I.
He was also cheerful and pleasant. Never like the crazy ego -driven tenors. I told him he and Ettore Bastianini were my favorite baritones. He looked a bit startled, but didn't say anything.
I talked to him in his dressing room before the performance. He had one leg on a chair. Hurt it somehow getting off a plane.
ts 4 posting.
rockgor 3 years ago
No its not a typo but of course my memory could just be faulty. As I remember it, in his first autobiography he wrote that he went on a mostly fruit diet at one point and never again weighed more than 135 lbs. I still have his second autobiography but alas not his first.
Agorante 3 years ago
An interesting interview with a pleasant personality. The joking rivalry between a baritone and a tenor is amusing. Mr Merrill comes across as a very nice man. He certainly was a great singer.
Ivanhoe2 4 years ago
I've often wondered who leads and who follows in famous quartets in opera or in the sextet from lucia or in various duos--who is understood to have the lead, who yields to this "understanding" and what if the naturally stronger voice if off. I do kind of agree with Jos. Shore and that it's every one for themselves...so to speak...or sing.
blakemooney 4 years ago
what a fantastic snippet into the character of one of my favourite baritones ever. first heard his voice in a recording of ballo, (leinsdorf) and foolishly tried to shape my own sound on his!! haha
as i learn more about his life, his voice takes on an ever greater personality of it's own, and boy could this guy sing,
he's probably the most italian sounding, non-italian baritone i've heard, and yes, we can be grateful we didn't lose him to baseball, could he play?
carpark1009 4 years ago
Lucky for us we did not lose Robert Merrill to baseball or Hollywood(HAHA). The story he tells is true and Merrill did not have a mean bone in his body. What Mr. Merrill does not tell you is that Bjorling was sorry when he heard the loud recording of himself. Just to show you what sort of a man Bob Merrill was. he did not want to speak unkindly about his friend. The good recording was released unedited, not that Jussi could be stubborn in other ways.
madisonelectronic 4 years ago
well jussi could've meant the fact that it's his character leading the whole idea in this quartet, but it really looks like merrill didn't mean much by the comment anyway. he seems awesome
devastaticon 4 years ago
Björling and Merrill were personal friends, so I guess Merrill didn't mean anything with his comments, no. It's all said with great love and respect I think.
Airbuzz 4 years ago
Robert Merril is so NOT full of himself. What a pleasure! Just your normal Brooklyn kid who loved baseball.
sgnmath1234 4 years ago 3
Merrill seemed like a very nice and down to earth guy indeed!
Airbuzz 4 years ago 6