La donna è mobile - Enrico Caruso 1903, 1904, 1908

[31operafan]

The falsetto on one of the recordings was weird, but I think he did this because he didn't have much confidence in his high notes yet. He gained confidence over time. Like I said, improvement will come with experience.

[tomfroekjaer]

@31operafan Yes, it does sound weird and it WAS because he was not confident with the high notes at the time.

[31operafan]

For many singers, improvement often comes with the passing of time, and this is certainly the case with Caruso.

I like comparing these recordings side-by-side to analyze the evolution of Caruso's voice. Sure, he hit a few bumps here and there on most recordings, especially some of the early ones, but they become less and less noticeable as you go later into his recording career.

[31operafan]

Geez...I really can't say which one is my favorite, but I really like the 1908 version. The sound quality is better.

I wish the man who announced the first recording was Caruso. I don't think it is; I believe it might be a recording engineer or something.

[tomfroekjaer]

@31operafan: the 1908 version I also think is the best. Caruso had worked on his high notes by then.

The announcer is not Caruso

[31operafan]

@tomfroekjaer He certainly did. On the first recording, he lowered that last note. He was still young, so I understand why he did that. The second one was a little better, although I heard a slight (but VERY slight) wobble on the last note (which was raised to how it is usually sung). 1908 is definitely a huge improvement, and his voice had matured by 1908.

[laghimaghi]

Bellissima trilogia.

Sempre straordinaria la voce, mi esalta la semplicità dell'accompagnamento col solo piano, sintesi di un mondo più modesto e di sostanza.

[leadoffeohippus]

Caruso was one of few spinto tenors I like as the duke. Corelli was another.

Is that Caruso talking at the beginning?

[tomfroekjaer]

No, I don't think it is Caruso talking at the beginning.

[GermanOperaSinger]

Really? Corelli's 'la donna' is one of the worst renditions I've ever heard! Caruso's 1908 is probably the best recorded rendition we have by any tenor lyric or spinto, his 1913 'parmi veder' which I prefer to 'la donna' is also spectacular. Caruso didn't record the entire role of course but it was one of his signature roles at the Met, I don't think Corelli ever sang the role live and for good reason, he was terrible in it! I love Corelli in other works though.

[leadoffeohippus]

Ahh thanks for the heads up! I meant FRANCO BONISOLLI, not Franco Corelli.

[alechorseman]

Announcement at the beginning: *Rigoletto, La donna e mobile.* (But I don't know it Caruso speaking voice or speaker). Pale-blue Disco Zonofono X-1555 with crossing back. I owned copy this super-rarity on original 78rpm. And two others also 78rpm. (Victor 1904 & 1908).

[maddy941]

Davvero bella questa incisione classica di Enrico caruso XD

This classic recording of Enrico caruso It's wonderful!!

[bodiloto]

+ 100 !!!!!!! IMMORTALE !!!!!!!

[Mooorhe]

The 1908 ranks among the very best recordings this aria, perhaps the very best.

[tomfroekjaer]

Absolutely one of the best recordings of this aria .... and sadly used here in Europe for selling pizza on TV....

[ShawDAMAN]

Great! You really can hear the progression- he gets the great cadenza on the 1904 and 1908 but the latter is even more exciting.

Thanks!

[GermanOperaSinger]

This is absolutely fabulous. Interesting ending on the 1903 recording, he switches to falsetto and then ends the aria on a low B natural. High notes were something he had to work very hard for I know, his voice was not naturally high placed. Once he developed his top it was magnificent. But from firsthand accounts his high B natural may have been the largest of any tenor ever...even bigger than del Monaco's or Tucker's. Cadenza at the end of the 1908 is better than I've heard leggere sing it.