Best Tenor B flat...who had it? What do you think?

[JussiPaul]

Could only get Caruso, Bjoerling, Pavarotti, Di Stefano and Kraus after one hearing. There were a few ropy ones in there (15 has a terrible wobble) and even the good ones didn't sound great when taken out of context. You could've added a few more of the truly great tenors of the past like Merli or Thill for example. Great fun though! Thanks for posting.

[Etnalleb]

Mario Del Monaco By Far had the very best Bb of any tenor that ever lived, and the other Mario wasn't to shabby for not being a Professional Opera singer.

[fullbuck50]

Is #9 Vickers?

[burgul]

1. caruso 2. bjorling 3. pava 4. domingo 5.bergonzi? 6. di stefano 7. i dunno! 8. gedda 9. dunno 10. lanza 11. gigli 12.MDM 13. corelli (it's good that they're lined up:)) 14. lauri-volpi? 15. tucker? 16. schmidt? 17. no idea 18. kraus 19. no idea!

plz tell me the answers!!

[ChalieChaplin]

what piece is singing lanza?

[derekmcgovern]

@ChalieChaplin It's the "Chi son?" from Lanza's 1949 version of Che Gelida Manina.

[sirinjorge2007]

Mario lanza tooo !!!

[redgrapeskins]

the worst possible B fat you could have chosen from caruso- [an early aida cut] he spit b flats out on his recordings lke tobacco - If you would have chosen a myriad of others he would have won this hands down-- but you knew that -so you rigged it

[GermanOperaSinger]

@redgrapeskins Caruso's my favorite tenor. Why would I rig it against his favor? This isn't rigged at all. I didn't even post this with a favorite in mind. It was just for fun. I know there were literally endless Bb's of Caruso I could've picked for this video - I just picked the 1904 'celeste aida' by chance. And it's not bad - he sings the final Bb piano, with a morendo just as Verdi wrote. It's beautiful.

[jgraif]

thank you for including lanza at #7. he deserves to be #1.

[imlottolady531]

I'll pick #18 as my favorite, even though I don't have a clue who it was. And if Pav was 3, he'd be my second choice.

[imlottolady531]

I'll pick #18 as my favorite, even though I don't have a clue who it was. And if Pav was 3, he'd be my second choice.

[lennpal]

Number two was the most free and clearest B.

[seektheforce]

Who was # 19?

[tobobba]

Björling..

[xarenir]

#19 is Kurt Baum

[phatphace]

#1 Caruso #2 Bjorling #3 Pavarotti #4 Domingo #5 Bergonzi #6 di Stefano #7 Lanza #8 Gedda #9 Vickers #10 Peerce #11 Gigli #12 Bonisolli #13 Corelli #14 ? #15 Carerras #16 Schmidt #17 Roswaenge #18 Kraus #19 ?

[iltenorecubano]

Mario Lanza in my opinion had the best and purest B flat of all tenors combined. Thank you for posting this.

[gaemp]

del Monaco #12!

[tomzoricic]

Giacomo Lauri Volpi said once that Mario Del Monaco has the most beautiful B in history

[Olllieh]

4 is beautiful

[MusicalTenor23]

18 was kraus, 1 was bjoerling, 3 was LP, 5 was bergonzi, 4 im confused domingo??, 6 was gigli?, 9 was definitely vickers! , 11 was carreras???????? , 12 was Del Monaco, 13 was correli, 14 was lauro-volpi, 19 was hmmmmmmm ME???? hahahahah! pls send me the answers........

[raigekimaru]

1) Bjorling

2)

3) Pavarotti

4) Kaufmann

5) Lanza

6) Corelli

9) Vickers

12) Del Monaco

[seektheforce]

i recognize bjorling, and pavarotti and gedda, but i dont recognize many of the others, could ya send me the cheat sheet? lols

[bigus]

the greatest tone on any note will always be pavarotti, it just doesn't get any more perfect sounding than that.

[EnzoBelcanto]

The 14th is very good, it's Monaco?

[PosasPizza]

2 Björling!

3 Pavarotti!

4 Domingo!

5 Bergonzi!

6 Kraus?

7 Corelli?

8 Gedda??

9 Vickers

12 Bonisolli?

16 Gedda??

[halavey]

Bjorling even if you do not know the voice had a very distinct vibrato that was unique #2 so it is easy.

[halavey]

I am very curious about #10 the attack sounds like Peerce.

[BJustinBrasfield]

1. Caruso

2. Bjoerling

3. Pavarotti

4. Domingo

7. Lanza

13. Corelli

Pavarotti and and Corelli have the most exciting in this one.

[Thriller94]

0:30 it has to be pavarotti... because the note MIMI, is from la boheme... and he played rudolpho

[operamaniak81]

1 Caruso 2 Del Monaco 3 Pavarotti 5 Bergonzi 7 Lanza 9 Vickers 13 Corelli 15 McCracken? 18 Kraus

Latter Corelli used to blow whole theatres away... love his intense voice :-)

[dangmills]

@operamaniak81 did you know he used his entire voice as in the chest tone? No head voice expect maybe he slipped into it for the Ds once in a while

[24yotenor]

Caruso, Bjoerling, Pavarotti, idk, Bergonzi, Gigli, del monaco, idk, Gedda?, idk, idk, Pavarotti again?, Corelli, idk, Gedda?, idk, idk, idk but I like it.

[seektheforce]

My god Bjoerling, Caruso, Corelli.

[Lordandmasterpa]

So when/where do we get the answers?

[bloydaage]

No doubt nr 13!!! If you listen beyond sound quality of the recording. That is free, rich and vibrant. Who can it be? Corelli... think so

[petrof4056]

1) Caruso

2) Björling

3) del Monaco?

4) Corelli, at least this period of tenor

7) Lanza

Lanza, Caruso and Björling are the best.

[yonkoff]

I don't understand what is your point, but the last one was definately not the best. And the quality of the most of this recordings is so bad, that you can't judge based on that. Sollen wir raten wer Nummer 19 ist, oder...?

[AGM1951]

I sure liked #2 Bjorling #6 DiStefano and 13Corelli

Sounds also like Tucker is in there....Let me listen again

[caazguy]

#7 is Mario Lanza

[MrAlexito19]

haven't you heard the david phelp's voice range??? that is really awesome!

[Heartofclay]

David rocks a D for 13 seconds at the end of "No More Night" Ain't but a few ever that could do that very well. I passed out trying. David's not an opera guy but arguably the best pure tenor of our time.

[kennymontejano]

i rock high Ds and up to G5 in my bands demo.seriously. We are called Heralds of the Sword.check us out on Myspace. listen to the song 'Kingdom of Old" leave comment if possible

[Zebelon1Hedlund]

Can you do it 5 times a week for 20 years?

[AGM1951]

1 Caruso 2 Bjorling 3 Pav 4 Domingo 5 Bergonzi 6 DiStefano 7 ? 8 Gedda 9 Vickers 13 Corelli 18 Kraus

More will be revealed~

[Huljic]

7-Lanza

[Los3JInetes]

12 del monaco

[AGM1951]

ok 7 is Lanza

[smemr]

is 10 Jan Peerce?

[AGM1951]

I think that is Peerce

[AZo9jojo]

7 Mario Lanza.

[musclemaggg]

#6 was the best

[badside26]

i can do it... and im not italian

[jazztom86]

I can't... and I'm italian ^^

[castorp278]

Pavarotti - so distinctive !

[KenneRon]

plz msg me the answers

[madisonelectronic]

Please leave opera alone and stick to butt fucking your boyfriends.

[Etnalleb]

Well i'll give it a try . 1. Caruso . 2. Bjorling 3. Pav (unmistakeable) 4. Domingo. 5. Bergonzi. 6. Di Stefano. 7. LANZA ( also unmistakeable). 8. Gedda. 9 . humm maybe Vickers. 10. Peerce

11. got me dont know. 12 MDM and the Best of All

13.Corelli on steriods. 14. tough one maybe Martinelli ? 15. got me again dont know. 16. tough one again could be either Tucker or Schmidt. 17. this is an oldie but it sounds like Pertile. 18. Kraus 19. Baum???

My Top 3 ; MDM, Lanza and Corelli.

[alumian]

1. Carusso 2. Bjorling 3. Pav 4. Domingo 5.Bergonzi 6.Di stefano 7. Lanza 8. Gedda 9. Tucker or Vickers 13. Corelli 15. Gigli 17. Bonsiolli 18. Kraus most recognizable lol Thats all that I know cuz im only 19 haven't heard everyone yet lol

[steakopera]

Hey, GOS I suggest you try " Quiz-Guess the tenor by a high note" by AfrPoli. Show us if your knowledge is pure. Don't take too long. =)

[steakopera]

No body can get all right. I should have had Peerce, Del Monaco, Tucker and Schmidt. It would help if they all sang the same vowel from same aria.

[GermanOperaSinger]

Where did I say they were easy to guess? I know that if I didn't have the answers in front of me I wouldn't have been able to get them all. And AfroPoli's quiz was much more difficult than mine, although I can say that I should have gotten at least half correct.

[steakopera]

On your "info" > (most of these are easy, some of you should get them all). These quiz are very hard. You might want to be bit more considerate to people's effort.

[GermanOperaSinger]

I certainly was not meaning to put down anyone's effort, I was assuming that most people here are much better at discerning voices than myself. If I sounded arrogant, I apologize. Have you taken AfroPoli's quiz yet?

[steakopera]

Yes I have. It didn't get posted earlier. I will try again now.

[steakopera]

GOS, you've really made this challenging. 1. Caruso 2. Bjorling 3. Pavarotti 4. Domingo 5. Bergonzi 6. Di stefano 7. Lanza 8. Gedda 9. Vicker 10. Pertile or Schmidt, 11. 12. Spiess, 13. Corelli 14. 15. Gigli 16. 17. Bonisolli 18. Kraus 19. Merli. I think I am more than half right.

[ShawDAMAN]

I think 10 is Peerce but most of those I think are right :)

[AfroPoli]

#6 is Di Stefano

[tombaker1222]

2 sounds too harsh for Bjorling

3 is Pavarotti

5 Sounds like Carreras

8 Possibly Domingo? not sure.

16 and 17 are Mario Lanza

[raigekimaru]

2 Bjorling, 3 Pavarotti,13 Corelli

[TomKowalski101]

1 is caruso, 2 bojrling, 3 Pavararotti, 7 is lanza, 8 is Gedda, 10 Corelli 14 caruso and 18 is kraus i think

[flaze3]

18 sounded like Kraus. I'm pretty sure 2 is Bjorling and 3 is Pav. otherwise I dunno :(

[julesv307]

#6 alain vanzo?

[romanazazel]

7. is Lanza, though in my opinion he had the best top of them all.

[karkowri89]

freddie mercury

[zwischensopran]

@karkowri89 ha ha ha ha

[Jan2ek]

Kiepura is the one -

[halavey]

#10 sounds like peerce not del monaco

[gaytenor]

This may be an internet substitute for a bullfight but its not very musical. The best b-flat may have been DelMonaco or Tucker or who cares. Enough already!!!!

[ddevicente]

1. Caruso 2. Bjorling 3. a huge Pavarotti

4. rare Domingo 5. Bergonzi - boheme 6.Sounds like Kraus 7. Di Stefano

8. Gedda boheme 9. Vickers aida

10. Lanza 11. Gigli 12. Del Monaco

13. Corelli 14. Martinelli maybe

15. McCracken? 16. too short to tell

17. cecchele 18. Kraus 19. Kurt Baum

[johnhoie]

Not familiar with Cecchele or Baum. Of the others, I wouldn't argue any of them, though I thought #4 might be Di Stefano.

Number 9 does sound like Vickers, and though I'm not a huge fan of his, that may be the best. Of course, you have to make allowances. Assuming #1 is Caruso, it might have sounded the best if recording equipment of 40 years later had been used.

You also have to allow for different songs and intent. Bjorling sounded like he was going for dramatic effect, not beautiful tone.

[jtanner78]

#3 is clearly the best.

[alumian]

#10 is del monoco. #14 is caruso

[RudySunseeker]

Come on, four of them don´t even hit the note, how good is that?

[greattenors]

who are they?

[greattenors]

In my opinion #9, 12, 13 and 15 are off pitch, very clearly. I have doubts about Di Stefano.

[wwjacod13]

Well I like Caruso's the best. If you listen again you'll notice he's the only one who hit the note, pulled off, and then intensified it again.

[jojomusic69]

Number 3 I think is the very best.

[Salsero12]

what song are most of those tenors singing in those clips? because i lot of them had the same jump from the low to high note. just curious.

[Lordandmasterpa]

@Salsero12 I'm guessing you're thinking of the end of "Celeste Aida," from Verdi's opera. Many of these clips are taken from that aria. #1 is Caruso singing it (to piano accompaniment, not orchestral) in 1904.

[Salsero12]

thanks a lot! :o) i didn't even remember commenting on this vid. lol.

[xarenir]

@Salsero12 for the most part it sounds likethe Bb in Che gelida manina (with the 'jump') and the final note of Celeste Aida

[MarioLanza2]

Where you said what a voice, is Gigli.

And I think all are beautiful.

[GermanOperaSinger]

Not Gigli, better than Gigli! Guess agian.

[MarioLanza2]

Sorry but nobody can sing Je crois entendre encore better than Gigli whoever is that. Is it Alfredo Kraus by the way?

[johnhoie]

Again, I'm not a huge fan (in this case, of Gedda), but I've never heard a better performance of Je Crois Entendre Encore than he recorded in 1960(?).

[LegioAlaudaeV]

¿Pretendes que juzguemos a los tenores por una sóla nota aguda de una sola grabación? Menuda idiotez. Lo único que se puede decir al escuchar esto es, como mucho, "el nº 1 el día que hizo su grabación tuvo mejor dia que el 10 cuando hizo la suya". Es una tontería.

[bigus]

best tenors period were luciano pavarotti and jussi bjorling for pure vocal technique everyone else unfortunately comes after and both had equally easy b flats.

[wwjacod13]

bigus is a douche bag!!!

[leoperarm]

hm...

3. Pavarotti

8. Gedda

9. Vickers

Great ones!

[dimofleto]

1.Caruso2.Bjorling3.Pavarotti4­.Domingo5.Bergonzi6.Di Stefano7.Tucker8.Campora9.Vick­ers10.Peerce11.-12.Del Monaco13.Corell14.-15.Del MOnte16.-17.Kiepura18.Kraus19.­Baum (please let me know...thanks for posting this...!!)

[ExVash]

1:Caruso! (Too obvious.) 2: Bjorling 3:Pavarotti (WAY too obvious, lol) 4: Domingo (I agree, a shame) 5: Bergonzi? 6: Di Stefano (What a decrescendo! On such a difficult note to do that, too.) 7: Lanza 8: Gedda (Haha, you're right.) 9: Vickers (?) 10: Peerce (Perfect, as always with Peerce.) 11: Baum 12: Del Monaco 13: Corelli

14: Martinelli (Bad day, maybe?) 15: Tucker (?)

16: Schmidt 17: Del Monaco

18: Not certain. 19:Del Monaco

[ExVash]

I change #19 to Peerce. It just sounds like his tone.

[phantom4087]

1:Caruso, 2: Bjorling, 3:Pavarotti, 4: Domingo, 5: Bergonzi, 6: Di Stefano, 7: Lanza, 8: Gedda, 9: Vickers, 10: Peerce, 11: Baum, 12: Del Monaco, 13: Corelli, 14: Martinelli (not on a good day), 15: Tucker(?), 16: Schmidt(?), 17: Del Monaco(?), 18: Kraus, 19: Mario Del Monaco (live with Maria Callas at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City in 1951).

[xarenir]

@phantom4087 if you're thinking of Norma, that was Baum. And she was only 27!!!

[nickpug]

#6 is Di Stefano for sure and the best.

[ConnonTenor]

1:Caruso 2: Bjorling 3:Pavarotti 4: Domingo 5: Gedda 6:Schmidt?: Lanza 8: I've heard it but I can't place it. 9:Vickers. 10:Peerce, 11: Another one I've heard but can't place. 12:DEL MONACO! 13: Corelli going mad 14: Volpi maybe 15: Tucker 16: Nope 17: No idea 18: Kraus 19: For the love of God TELL ME!

[ExVash]

When I listen to 1, 9 and 12, and other clips from the same song, Caruso definitely owned that part.

[MsieuTondeleo]

Not Italian, big voice? Latter rules out Bjorling, most like Pavarotti in having that distinctive, immediately recognizable sound, but not big. Must be Swedish-Russian Gedda, especially hearing the note so exquisitely tapered to quadruple pianissimo. All said, greatest Bflat in all of opera, my choice, is Bjorling's "A, gran dio!" in his divine Don Carlo duet with Merrill with chorus backup. Will you tell, or have you already?

[MsieuTondeleo]

Changed my mind! Almost positive, Alfredo Kraus. It is the attack, I'm sure. Well, 99% sure. Thanks, GOS, right or wrong, this is fun.

[smemr]

Non Italian with big voice? Could it be either McCracken or Vickers?

[ShawDAMAN]

I like Lanza's and Caruso's the best probably. Caruso's power and fast vibrato makes his Bb sound almost like a higher note sometimes. They're all good though!

[francescaemc2]

Fantastic! I am as paralyzed as when I took orals in school. But I adore the quiz, the great work you did to put it together. Wow.

I'm out of my league. I just B flat myself tonight. Compliments to those who guessed.

peace,

F

[OettingerCroat]

and personally, in NO specific order, I like Lanza, Björling, and Corelli's Bb's

[OettingerCroat]

1. Caruso 2. Björling 3. Pavarotti 4. Domingo 5. Bergonzi 6. DiStefano 7. Lanza 8. Gedda (totally right about the attack on the upper register, I myself have used that to describe it) 9. Vickers 10. Peerce 11. Baum 12. Del Monaco 13. Corelli 14. Lauri-Volpi? 15. no idea 16. Tucker??? (GOS please don't hate me if I'm wrong... ;-D) 17. no idea 18. Kraus 19. no idea

[moorfan1]

1 Caruso, 2 Bjorling, 3 Pavarotti, 4 Domingo, 5 Bergonzi, 6 Di Stefano 7 Lanza, 8 Gedda, 9 Vickers, 10 Peerce, 11 cant get it 12 Del Monaco, 13 Corelli, 14 Martinelli, 15 Schicoff? 16 Schmidt 17 Pertile? 18 Kraus, 19 Baum (the best?)

By the way I love these quizzes...keep em coming!

[pearlmuth3]

15 SOUNDS LIKE TUCKER

[pearlmuth3]

i MUST HAVE BAUM ON THE BRAIN CAUSE THE LAST ONE ALSO SOUNDS LIKE HIM.

[pearlmuth3]

#14 IS BAUM I GUESS

[Mooorhe]

#1 Caruso #2 Bjorling #3 Pavarotti #4 Your clue makes me think Domingo #5 Sounds like Bergonzi #6 Schmidt? #7 Lanza #8 Gedda #9 No clue, I'll guess Vickers #10 Peerce #11 Baum? #12 del Monaco #13 Corelli #14 Lauri Volpi? Lol #15 Tucker #16 Araiza? #17 Araiza? #18 Kraus #19 Wunderlich?

:p

[cantorandopera]

Yoni 89 is quite accurate in my opinion, and my guesses are a lot like his/hers/ I think we differe here

7. Tucker

9 Vickers

10. Peerce

13 - Wild guess - Corelli

14 - another wild guess - Thill

19 - Schmidt close to the mike?

Fun for the morning!

[Yoni89]

No no no, 7 is 100% lanza, I have that recording, trust me. :P

you're a cantor? That's awesome! I plan on doing some cantorial work along with Opera when I finish school :)

[terumino]

12: Del Monaco!

[terumino]

12. Del Monaco!

[VinylToVideo]

10 was best of course!

[Yoni89]

1:Caruso, 2: Bjorling, 3:Pavarotti, 4: Domingo??, 5: Not sure, Gedda?, 6:Kraus? Bergonzi? I'm stumped. 7: LANZA!, 8: Sounds a bit like Di Stefano, Not sure. 9:No idea. 10:Jan Peerce 100%, 11:haven't heard him, i don't think. 12:Stumped again! 13:..Stumped.. 14:I THINK I LOST MY EAR, NO IDEA! 15:... :( 16:audio cut out, but sounds like Schmidt. 17:Blargh, not sure.. 18: Sounds a bit like Caruso, but I don't think so, voice has a darker sound.. Send me the list! :(

[Mooorhe]

I'm going to sound so biased... But #3 is definitely my favourite, gorgeous, beautiful ring... Then #8... If it's who I think it is, I don't like his Italian repertoire that much, but that note there is just wonderful. They were all pretty good, I couldn't name them all though. Nice compilation, thanks.

[GermanOperaSinger]

Just name the ones you can and I'll message you with the list.

[ShawDAMAN]

Moorhe....LOL. You said it was his diction and phrasing that drew you to him, not so much his natural voice- but here, where diction and phrasing aren't being compared, you still pick him... you do sound a bit biased. =D :P

No offense just messing with you ;-)

[Mooorhe]

Lol :P I chose him this time because of the sun in that voice, so bright. I'll take him in many roles over other singers because of that unique ability to light up any note with brightness. It's hard to explain... Lol... When looking for an achingly naturally beautiful voice, I'll go to Lanza or di Stefano, but often Pavarotti's sound wins me over because of the bright happy sound AND the phrasing/technique.

^ Yeah... that probably didn't make much sense, lol

[GermanOperaSinger]

I understand. The unique thing about Pavarotti's voice for me is that it is instantly recognizable, meaning no other singer's voice resembled his in any way. When we do quizzes and things like that there is nobody who misses Pavarotti. It is an addicting sound...sometimes when I get into my 'Pavarotti' mode I find it hard to leave his singing and listen to someone else...but Caruso, Ponselle, Merrill, Ruffo, Tucker, Corelli, and Wunderlich among others also have that effect on me.

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

Another (and most important) uniqueness of Pava's voice: Harmonic tuning. I remember sending your the link.

[pearlmuth3]

what was the remark about #10? sounded like Peerce to me.

[maggeo78]

N. 10