I am absolutely and reasonably sure that Bruson did not surpass Bastianini and Cappuccilli. Nor was he much better than Gobbi but he might have better voice.
It makes me laugh to read posts that criticize any singer of the magnitude of Bruson. The beauty of the human voice is that, like a fingerprint, it is unique! So, rather than comparing each singer, and thus suggesting an ''absolute'' standard of THE Verdi voice, why not simply celebrate the fact that Verdi's music has remained alive and constantly reinvigorated by ALL of these great men in their own way. That is art, as opposed to science. Enough criticism, just relish these great performances.
I never "got" Bruson. He always sounded as though he's suffering from a sinus infection! Of his contemporary Italian baritones (Cappuccilli, Nucci & Zancanaro), I really enjoy listening to Nucci & Zancanaro far more. I could listen to those gentlemen all day, but get rather tired of Bruson after just one selection. His lack of feeling & passion also bother me & he has a quite ordinary top!
Cappuccilli tiene un voz con tan mucho elegancia como Bruson... si no mas. Pero todavia, pienso que Bruson canta con mas pasión que la mayoria de los baritonos contemporáneos.
Bruson was (is?) certainly a major singer. His voice has more than enough weight and color for the great roles. His technique is generally fine, although he's never seemed comfortable above about F or F sharp -- note how he avoids the traditionally interpolated G at 4:50 --
We had him here in my hometown just one month ago. He was doing "Il Due Foscari" with us, and we had two rehearsels and the performance together. And you can be sure : his voice is NOT small the slightest bit, maybe not quite as big as it used to be due to his age, but he fills the hall with his sound even nowadays quite easily.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
This is so awful. Rhythmically inert, full of clumsy aspirates, s-l-o-w, throaty, utterly shapeless and none-too-steady. I much prefer Giorgio Zancanaro and Matteo Manuguerra!
one of my favorites. I love his bass-baritone-ish lower register and phrasing.
not quite on par with Sherill Milnes, but supposedly much nicer in person (my teacher said after meeting Sherill in person, she ran home crying and would have broken all of her Sherill Milnes albums if Leontyne Price and Placido Domingo weren't also on them)
Yes, he deserves his place here one-hundred-percent. He always was one of my favourites, due to his voice, his stage-presence and his intelligent acting. But he can do still! I had the luck and the honour to be on stage with him just two days ago, when we had concertant performance of "I Due Foscari" here in Dortmund. He sung the part of the Doge Foscari, a tormented and desperate father, who looses his son due to political intrigues and dies broken-hearted.
His immense charisma and his stage-presence are awesome, and he is a very, very ,very (add as many as you like) nice and friendly person ,too. Totally discipline, on the other side quite funny if it fits, and absolutely friendly to everybody.
Bruson has been my favorite baritone for a long time (just listen to his phrasing of "Ah! ebben", so of course I approve of his presence on the list. I agree that he is quite underrated, and should have made it big much earlier, but I do not think it was because vocalism was being disregarded for other things. With the exception of Gobbbi, the singers you mentioned had beautiful voices, as did Milnes, another baritone of that time.
Also, though not at the level of Gobbi dramatically, Renato knew how to show character. I don't know WHAT kept him off the world's stages for so long, though I would hazard to guess that it was because the aforementioned artists already had a "hold" on the most promising venues and Bruson had to spend years proving himself before the public really took notice.
I like your comment very much, thanks. You´re right, it´s no demerit, but it seems, it´s very helpful. We had good-looking singers who were also great artist, an example is Kraus. But I believe, Bjoerling was a victim of his time. Although he was still in his prime, we only have few footages of him but many complete AV-recordings of Corelli and del Monaco, hollywood-like singers. And Villazon? Someone wrote, he looks like a clown, a goblin
I have only one doubt about the text you wrote: are you suggesting Villazón is handsome? For God's sake, then opera has really run out of handsome people! Now seriously, I think there is no demerit in being beautiful and, of course, using it as a stage advantage. That didn't prevent Güden, Corelli or Schwarzkopf of being great artists.
As for Bruson, he does deserve it. He was a truly great artist and had one of the most beautiful baritone timbres.
I agree with you. Only the great Bastianini gave us a better Germont. Hearing Bruson with Renata Scotto in La Traviata is like to hear Callas and Bastianini in quality, in magic!
I deeply respect Bruson as one of the greatist drammatic baritones of XX century. But please I wish to see your complete list of the greatist artists. Where it is?
I have heard Bruson when he was everything positive mentioned and other times he was certainly inferior to those you name. You have to hear the right role at the right moment and Bruson was one that I thought was enhanced by the physical presentation. I don't feel that opera should be taken in the direction of being about the voice, only the voice; one does not need extraordinary, just appropriate, looks to do a convincing theatrical interpretation but dramatic skill is crucial and integral.
I am absolutely and reasonably sure that Bruson did not surpass Bastianini and Cappuccilli. Nor was he much better than Gobbi but he might have better voice.
AnryK2690 10 months ago
It makes me laugh to read posts that criticize any singer of the magnitude of Bruson. The beauty of the human voice is that, like a fingerprint, it is unique! So, rather than comparing each singer, and thus suggesting an ''absolute'' standard of THE Verdi voice, why not simply celebrate the fact that Verdi's music has remained alive and constantly reinvigorated by ALL of these great men in their own way. That is art, as opposed to science. Enough criticism, just relish these great performances.
paddyswok 1 year ago
Bruson fra i primi 100 cantanti di sempre? hahahahahahahaha
federricoilgrande 1 year ago
I never "got" Bruson. He always sounded as though he's suffering from a sinus infection! Of his contemporary Italian baritones (Cappuccilli, Nucci & Zancanaro), I really enjoy listening to Nucci & Zancanaro far more. I could listen to those gentlemen all day, but get rather tired of Bruson after just one selection. His lack of feeling & passion also bother me & he has a quite ordinary top!
DonPaolissimo 1 year ago
Cappuccilli tiene un voz con tan mucho elegancia como Bruson... si no mas. Pero todavia, pienso que Bruson canta con mas pasión que la mayoria de los baritonos contemporáneos.
toastp 2 years ago
I long for the day when my voice blossoms into a rich dramatic baritone that can sing the dramatic demands of Verdi.
raigekimaru 2 years ago
Bruson was (is?) certainly a major singer. His voice has more than enough weight and color for the great roles. His technique is generally fine, although he's never seemed comfortable above about F or F sharp -- note how he avoids the traditionally interpolated G at 4:50 --
stevevandien 2 years ago 3
Amazing! Perfection...
ricardocalado 2 years ago
We had him here in my hometown just one month ago. He was doing "Il Due Foscari" with us, and we had two rehearsels and the performance together. And you can be sure : his voice is NOT small the slightest bit, maybe not quite as big as it used to be due to his age, but he fills the hall with his sound even nowadays quite easily.
soprana53 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This is so awful. Rhythmically inert, full of clumsy aspirates, s-l-o-w, throaty, utterly shapeless and none-too-steady. I much prefer Giorgio Zancanaro and Matteo Manuguerra!
AulicExclusiva 2 years ago
The most moving Rigoletto I have heard!
quakercub 2 years ago
one of my favorites. I love his bass-baritone-ish lower register and phrasing.
not quite on par with Sherill Milnes, but supposedly much nicer in person (my teacher said after meeting Sherill in person, she ran home crying and would have broken all of her Sherill Milnes albums if Leontyne Price and Placido Domingo weren't also on them)
raigekimaru 2 years ago
Milnes must have been having a bad day. I've met him and he was very nice --
stevevandien 2 years ago
Yes, he deserves his place here one-hundred-percent. He always was one of my favourites, due to his voice, his stage-presence and his intelligent acting. But he can do still! I had the luck and the honour to be on stage with him just two days ago, when we had concertant performance of "I Due Foscari" here in Dortmund. He sung the part of the Doge Foscari, a tormented and desperate father, who looses his son due to political intrigues and dies broken-hearted.
soprana53 2 years ago
His immense charisma and his stage-presence are awesome, and he is a very, very ,very (add as many as you like) nice and friendly person ,too. Totally discipline, on the other side quite funny if it fits, and absolutely friendly to everybody.
It really was a great experience for us.
soprana53 2 years ago
He definitely deserves to be on here.
bassomephisto 2 years ago
Para quienes apreciamos la excelente calidad de Bruson como baritono,la presentacion que hace el autor resume el problema de mucho cantante.
Para ser considerado "bueno" alguien requiere :
a) voz, tecnica,figura, "teatralismo" ,voz grabable,
b) tener "oportunidades" comerciales.
A veces algunos tienen a) y b) , otras solo a) o b) y eso hace la diferencia ,la enorme "diferencia". Y no es justo,pero asi es la historia.
JorPove 2 years ago 2
Bruson has been my favorite baritone for a long time (just listen to his phrasing of "Ah! ebben", so of course I approve of his presence on the list. I agree that he is quite underrated, and should have made it big much earlier, but I do not think it was because vocalism was being disregarded for other things. With the exception of Gobbbi, the singers you mentioned had beautiful voices, as did Milnes, another baritone of that time.
nclysander 3 years ago
Also, though not at the level of Gobbi dramatically, Renato knew how to show character. I don't know WHAT kept him off the world's stages for so long, though I would hazard to guess that it was because the aforementioned artists already had a "hold" on the most promising venues and Bruson had to spend years proving himself before the public really took notice.
nclysander 3 years ago
I like your comment very much, thanks. You´re right, it´s no demerit, but it seems, it´s very helpful. We had good-looking singers who were also great artist, an example is Kraus. But I believe, Bjoerling was a victim of his time. Although he was still in his prime, we only have few footages of him but many complete AV-recordings of Corelli and del Monaco, hollywood-like singers. And Villazon? Someone wrote, he looks like a clown, a goblin
100Singers 3 years ago
I have only one doubt about the text you wrote: are you suggesting Villazón is handsome? For God's sake, then opera has really run out of handsome people! Now seriously, I think there is no demerit in being beautiful and, of course, using it as a stage advantage. That didn't prevent Güden, Corelli or Schwarzkopf of being great artists.
As for Bruson, he does deserve it. He was a truly great artist and had one of the most beautiful baritone timbres.
Homoclassicus 3 years ago 3
I agree with you. Only the great Bastianini gave us a better Germont. Hearing Bruson with Renata Scotto in La Traviata is like to hear Callas and Bastianini in quality, in magic!
quasthoff61 3 years ago
Definitely one of the Great Singers!
nisticom 3 years ago
What a wonderful voice he possessed.
Rich of colours with a smoothy timbre and a velvet tone....
He has to be on the list. His recordings are unforgettable.
LLehmannfan 3 years ago 2
I deeply respect Bruson as one of the greatist drammatic baritones of XX century. But please I wish to see your complete list of the greatist artists. Where it is?
tomzoricic 3 years ago
As I wrote: Go to "All Singers in this list" here in my channel. Kindest regards from Mike
100Singers 3 years ago
How about including Gorin, Mark Reizen,
ausensi?
vernokenn 2 years ago
I have heard Bruson when he was everything positive mentioned and other times he was certainly inferior to those you name. You have to hear the right role at the right moment and Bruson was one that I thought was enhanced by the physical presentation. I don't feel that opera should be taken in the direction of being about the voice, only the voice; one does not need extraordinary, just appropriate, looks to do a convincing theatrical interpretation but dramatic skill is crucial and integral.
sospello 3 years ago