Enrico Caruso sings Niedermeyer's Sacred Aria Pietà, Signore

[GinaxRose]

This piece is by Alessandro Stradella in the 17th century but the recording is fascinating!

[santisimas1]

ive sung and studied this song for years and am very greatful to have youtube to review my pieces, and more greatfur for this particular version, as his expression, breath, and level of intention, is what i am hopeing for when i sing it at the end of march. many thanks to the kind person who posted this.

[tomfroekjaer]

@santisimas1: you are very welcome. Tom - the "kind person" who posted this :-)

[31operafan]

What emotion! I think this is the best version of "Pieta, signore" I have ever heard. Ironically, this was sung by Fernando de Lucia at Caruso's funeral three years after this recording was released.

[tomfroekjaer]

@31operafan: didn't know that de Lucia sang this at Caruso's funeral. Thanks !

[31operafan]

@tomfroekjaer Yes. De Lucia would be considered a rival of Caruso, since he had a strikingly similar voice. I have heard one or two of his recordings, and I couldn't believe how similar his voice was to Caruso's.

[31operafan]

Beautiful. The sound quality is fantastic for a 92-year-old recording. Caruso's voice is just ringing through my headphones right now. And I had the volume cranked up as I'm typing this. XD Thanks for posting these precious recordings. The legacy of Enrico Caruso will live on right up until the world ends, long after every one of us dies. So will the legacy of other great singers.

[coralrabida]

Pero por diosss!!! esta pieza es de la ópera San Juan Bautista de Alessandro Stradella!!!

[alainwilliam]

that is the psalm 55

[tomfroekjaer]

Thanks. I was not aware of that.

[alainwilliam]

There is a version by Gershon Sirota great cantor of Varsovie who died during the war same music but sung in hebrew

[tomfroekjaer]

Interesting. I know that Caruso was fascinated by the singing technique of cantors and frequently went to synagogues to study it.

[alainwilliam]

yes he did what before singing La Juive the role of Eleazar there is recording of this Aria by GIGLI to

[tomfroekjaer]

Yes, he did that before La Juive, but also in Hamburg and Berlin before the War. Gershon Sirota's version is really fantastic - just listened to it. Gigli's is good too.

[65attila]

I love Bjoerling who sang this beautifully but IMO Caruso's version and voice are beyong the normal tenors even the other great ones {Melchior is the exception in his domain}.

[maldoror26]

Pure perfection! Thanks!

M.

[robertwbecker]

For me, here his true emotional depth is revealed, as is so often the case when he sings songs, not opera. It's in the songs that I feel the real Caruso is exposed. Sometimes it's difficult not to become emotional when listening to his voice (men aren't supposed to cry listening to a singer). Once again I am in awe of the man and appreciating his great contribution to the world of singing.

[paulostroff99]

Can it get any better than this! Bravo!

[ginodelia]

THE REAL VOICES OF ALL TIMES.