Mattia Battistini, "Finch'han del vino", Mozart: Don Giovanni (recorded in 1902)

[EdmundStAustell]

Fascinating. Essentially a patter song. It takes a minute to get used to it. I suspect it worked very well on the stage. Very different from what we would hear today, but I will say in his defense that I could understand every word, even at speed. He paid a LOT of attention to words and delivery...now a bygone age, sadly. You had better know the words before you go to the opera because in the mouths of most singers it will be a never-ending vocalise. Battistini approaches singing actor here.

[meltzerboy]

What felicitous and facile singing from the grand master of baritones himself! Is it Mozart? Maybe not as we know it nowadays, but who cares! Battistini's beautiful voice and unique style triumph. Love the cries from the spectators of bravo, encore, and bis. Thanks for posting, Tim.

[piasecznik]

@meltzerboy Actually that sounds quite staged. The cries for bravo. It also certainly IS staged. I mean, it's a studio recording from 1902. The people you hear are almost certainly instructed to say things like that. For once, I don't buy that people were talking that strangely back in 1902. That woman that says 'bis' always at the same height for example. And, it was common to do tha tback then. Listen to Victor Maurel's Quand'ero paggio, that's even more clearly staged applause.