Beniamino Gigli sings "Tosca"

[NERZSIKE]

A  legcsodálatosabb hangja

[mantell]

Is this from a movie? If so, does anyone know the name of it? TIA!!!

[raythetse]

the lady standing next to him is about to rip her clothes off.

[sas147741]

He's singing with his heart

[jd1906sf]

Gigli probably sang in more movies than any great tenor, rivaled only by Mario Lanza. This is a marvelous recording: it looks like a scene from Caruso auditioning for Puccini. In 1936, electronic recording was very advanced, and this is Gigli at his sublime best. Bravo.

[ayumiayu01]

今夜星光燦爛~~唱得真好~~

[billyguns2]

This clip proves that Gigli was one of the greatest tenors who ever sang; many thanks for uploading it. Only Corelli moves me as much in this aria, and his is a completely different interpretation. I wish we had the complete Gigli performance here, but what we have is memorable.

[antongardner2]

Thank you for a wonderful and rare clip even if it started and ended a bit wrongly. Gigli taught my father in Rome shortly after the war and that makes him very special for me.

[Beevac]

I never knew until today that Gigli was in any movies,this couldn't be an American film. I got Drigo's "Love's Nocturne" with the Martha aria on the other side when I was in my teens. He was my maternal grandpa's favorite tenor. Gigli was an artist of unique distinction. He did not want to be Caruso's successor,he just wanted to be Gigli. I am on his side.

[crazygeo81]

I once said " If records were priced on ACTUALL SINGING , VOICE AND FEELING , AND NOT ON HOW RARE THEY ARE ~ GIGLI RECORDS WOULD BE PRICELESS "

[bobtemming]

dat is nou het verschil met de zangers van tegenwoordig,zo kan men tegenwoordeg gewoonweg niet meer zingen,echte belcanto

[Operafiend22]

Wow! In listening to Gigli here, one can certainly hear certain characteristics of the old Caruso recordings...the sound seems so foreign when compared to modern tenors. It is hauntingly beautiful.

[gonzalojosevb]

I honestly prefer Gigli than Caruso. Gigli´s voice is more tenor, I respect Caruso´s fan but for me Gigli.

[musicUFT]

Thank u this is max.

[filiodecallas]

La máxima interpretación de todos los tiempos seguirá siendo la de Franco Corelli cantando MArio.

[caribolas]

you deserve to be shot for cutting this masterpiece like this.

[Isreal94]

@caribolas THANK YOU! gosh, the nerve, unless they couldnt control it.

[Isreal94]

@caribolas THANK YOU! gosh, the nerve, unless they couldnt control it.

[madisonelectronic]

The woman looks just about to orgasm or fart or both.

[babystinky]

this guy is totally amazing.

[796824]

There is only ONE tenor, and that Tenor is Beniamino Gigli

[kmillard]

I know that Placido Domingo can play piano and sing at the same time?? Could Gigli actually play as well?? Some of the motions he makes here look authentic while others seem questionable.... And what's with the OTHER guy breaking down when Gigle sings? After all, he's not the one scheduled to get shot!!

[Jarre999]

This other guy looks a lot like Michelangelo Verso, a student and admirer of Gigli. I wonder what the name of the movie is?

[BillPutnam1]

@kmillard

More context. See the three minute version. The other guy is a student. Search for

Gigli E lucevan le stelle.wmv

[marctenor]

do you suppose he played and sang that on camera or faked it? Either way, I LOVE Gigli's singing.

[Cristinapb]

Bravíssimo!

My fathers favorit!

[lascala123]

Corelli was the best spinto/dramatic tenor.Gigli and Di Stefano are the best lyrics(who is better?Di Stefano had easier notes i believe but Gigli had a lot better technique.

[796824]

LANZA studied with ENRICO ROSATI, the superb unmatched, GIGLI's teacher. Read THE TWILIGHT OF BEL CANTO by Leonardo di Ciampa

[rouman7]

all this talk about tec/ abilty yes jussi, corelli, gigli.all have this . but the only voice that allways makes me stand in awe is lanza,s...

[joe010145]

Riches of life can be measured in many ways,My life has been enriched by the voices of the greats,Caruso,Bjorling,de Stephano,Gigli and Lanza.

[maldoror26]

Thank's!

[RositaFornes]

WOW!

[fabioevs52]

Viva Gigli!!!!!

[RealRussiansOnly]

Most, if not all, of you are foolishly comparing the vintages of many great wines. Shut up and drink until your palet requries another wine. Or sing, in the shower if you can!

[francotenelli]

Great Gigli!

[CraigFrancisSoto]

I think its impossible to compare Gigli to a tenor like Corelli as a couple people did in these comments.Gigli was a pure lyric tenor and Corelli was a dramatic tenor with a huge voice. in terms of his legato and pianissimi and mezza voce singing,Gigli was just superb.He,Schipa,Bjorling and Fritz Wunderlich were among the best lyric tenors of any era.

[allinvideo]

Trying to listen to many tenors, I cannot find such technique at another tenors. Gigli, Schipa, Caruso, Björling, Domingo, and few others, were the ones that sang PERFECT. If you listen one aria with them, and with others, you'll can see the difference: deaf notes. The tenors I mentioned never left one note deaf.

[ucrebel59]

Gigli was great, Bjorling,OK but Corelli was the tenor of the century! Hands down!

[Isidore98]

Corelli was a great voice but all the other tenors had their virtues also. Corelli fans cannot take any criticism, cannot have anyone but their idol. Pity because it makes people criticise Corelli because his groupies see nothing wrong in him...

[ucrebel59]

I don't view it that way, I'm a big fan of Corelli, but I also love to hear Gigli, DiStefano, Pav, Kraus, Del Monaco, Lauri-Volpi etc. I can also understand why people do not like his strong dramatic voice. At the end of the day you listen to what you like and you like what you listen to.

[Isidore98]

As it happens I think Corelli is/was one of the greatest voices ofthe last century: but like Crauso/Shakespeare/Mozart I do not think he is beyond criticism.

Tonight I have sat with a glass of wine to listen to some Corelli Cetra recordings from the very early years of his career - the sheer beauty of the voice, the tone, the rightness of his approach: marvellous, sensual almost... I cannot describe the effect he makes... a great singer....

[ucrebel59]

Yes I agree with you on all counts.

[rouman7]

so true, i am a big lanza fan , and di stefano,too corelli is ok but his fans are like jussi fans fanatics....

[schipa456]

I see Gigli and Bjoerling on the Metropolitan opera history timeline online, but no Corelli. No busts there either. Where do you think they are?

[ucrebel59]

So let's completely forget about Corelli's legendary performances, known the world over by opera fans. I guess all that doesn't count because he doesn't have a bust or history time line from the Met? I'll pretend he never existed. Do you feel better now?

[schipa456]

No, I feel fine. But, if I had to listen to Corelli (in a chair tied down) I would pray for a song in which after he sang the first 6 or 7 words, each following word didn't sound as if it were from Otello.

[ucrebel59]

Good for you, to each his own. If you wish to listen to average or above average tenors, more power to you!

[schipa456]

I think I know what you mean, but I mainly listen to Caruso. The reason is that there would be no tenors like Volpi to have taught others if it were not for Caruso. Caruso is the only tenor who could have said "who's your daddy now"

[allinvideo]

I think both were perfect: Gigli and Björling (and also Caruso). But Gigli's voice was more beautiful, Björling more heroic. Difficult to say. Anyway, Gigli is more pleasant to me.

[maxhansendk]

A wonderful tenor, but not the best.

Jussi Bjorling is (overall) better. Sings more different songs. Sings in more languages than italian. Have better techique and above all better low and middle register.

[samega]

For more than 50 years I was convinced that Gigli was the best tenor ever. After watching this and other Gigli clips on YouTube, I'm not so much convinced anymore. Anyway it is worth to watch even as an iconoclastical experience. Thanks for posting it.

[hobo1975]

can u post the rest,where he demonstrates the first phrases in different ways?

[Agorante]

When Corelli was told that he had been voted the best tenor of the twentieth century he said, "So soon they forget Gigli".

[jozefsterkens]

well he did not have the looks of Corelli, but 100 x a better velvet voice,

[forallyouknow]

not just velvet, it was honey sweet, too! And the control that he had--wasn't Gigli taught my castrati?

[schipa456]

Gigli was taught by Rosati. Rosati also taught Lanza, and my Dad.

[hobo1975]

gigli was taught by a few teachers but mainly by the great baritone antonio cotogni at the acadamia santa cecilia rome,rosati was giglis coach!

[schipa456]

Maybe, but I never heard of a coach that said the words about vocal apparatus that Rosati specifically spoke and said to my Dad which he said to Gigli. Odd "coach"

[marcorosca]

Was your father Tito Schipa?

[schipa456]

No, My Mom is jean friedlander and she was taught by Martinelli for 2 years after winning the american opera auditions in 1957. My late Dad took some lessons from Rosati.

[marcorosca]

Wow taught by Martinelli? You are lucky, these people were incredible! Thank you for your answer.

[schipa456]

I was lucky to get the lessons handed down too. That's why I sing.

[marcorosca]

Can I ask you something? I have heard much about covering the passaggio, and using the diafragm in order to do it. Pavarotti sayd he needed 20 years for doing it, kan you explain it? can see you "Pavarotti about covered sound". Thank you.

[schipa456]

When Pavarotti said to pronounce and concentrate etc, I don't think he was kidding. But everything else, just like Kraus they put singers toward a direction but no spoon feeds. And words used like Passagio can be interpreted about 600 ways. But what that means is such a secret, I wouldn't post it. Send me an email and I'll tell you. And, no way it's not 20 years whatsoever.

[schipa456]

I tried answering your email but it bounced back. Anyway, I would suggest you listen to Gigli's master class wherein he says 'non e necesario'. And remember, Caruso did teach a 12 year old how to make a beautiful tone in just a few weeks. Caruso didn't teach anyone how to sing though. When Caruso said he "learned a couple of things" one day it wasn't because of his teachers. If anyone can't see that in his face, they should dial 911.