Björling-Milanov-Warren sing Trovatore Trio

[a9z8a743]

I Bought this two record LP set with it's Eugene Berman cover when it first came out in 1952 or 3. Listening to it again...they were awfully good and still are.

[kasha1932]

How absolutely marvelous...hearing these three GREATS...never to be compared with anyone in their future....incomparable is the word! Thanks to them...and to you primobaritono! We are so fortunate to be able to sit comfortably at our computers and listen to the greatest singers of all time! Only being there in person could beat this! Thanks so very much!

[schlusnus]

Thank you most enjoyable...however I do prefer the magic of Callas to Milanov.

[numetutelare]

Warren e Bjorling sono notevoli... la Milanov a seguire

[Sieglinde84]

Price/Corelli/Bastianini could be another great candidate.

What a great era this was! Full of gods.

[31122051]

SUBLIMI TUTTI E TRE !!!

GRAZIE !!!

[65attila]

Caruso's bio written by his son ought to put to rest the hatred/jealousy nonsene between Ricoa nd Ruffo.

[kgarmaker123]

I love this recording.. I own it and all three are fabulous... very musical.

[SHICOFF1]

@roselandalvin this is Warren and from the complete 1952 recording but if the speed is fast it would raise the sound of the voices but this is Warren. I agree with the jussi comment, sometimes JB sings sharp, yes but better Sharp then flat and no- do not argue with Jussi fans ever, they are among the most loyal and feel he can do no wrong. Anyhow he was a great tenor, one of my favorites. I like Del Monaco in this trio with Gencer also. Warren was the greatest Verdi Baritone for me.

[redgrapeskins]

@SHICOFF1 Yes Jussi did sing sharp often [as Lanza was apt to do:ride over the note] You are correct about his fans - They are remarkablel loyal and steadfast -When he is was on he was thrilling!! As for your comment on Warren - His was a voice recognizable from any room in a house for its power production and range --. You my friend know your voice!! Glad to share these comments!!!!

[roselandalvin]

for me bjorling sings sharp at times and this is distressing to my ears - But he has a very loyal fan base and they swear by his greatnesss - His Boheme was very good!

[JCLAWS]

Bjorling is great, but this is way out of his fach. Voice is not big enough

[greenstboy]

The definitive trio for any opera, but especially for Trovatore! Can anyone post the final scene?

[zgopify]

Merrill is VERY good here, Bjorling is astounding of course, Milanov a bit subdued, but Gilda shouldn't be a Brunnhilde, remember.

[zgopify]

I meant Leonora of course.

[Erdrick345]

actually,primobaritono, that rumor may be in fact..true. I understand that Ruffo consistently got better reviews than Caruso by contemporary critics...artists tend not to want to be shown in a lesser light..especially one so great as Caruso..I'm sure he had an ego

[shubhromu]

I agree, this is not Warren...

[roselandalvin]

@shubhromu I agree with you- this is not Warren -- sounds more like either Mario Batali or Rocco Dispirito

[darkrevel]

Nice! Thanks for the post.

[65attila]

This is wonderful but I prefer the live Trio 1962 Salzburg with Corelli/Price and Bastiannini

[sonioquiparlaate]

how about del monaco, gencer, bastianini.? del monaco goes up to c#

[naturgesetz]

The death of Leonard Warren 50 years ago was a great loss for opera, as was Björling's early death. They and Milanov were my favorite singers of their day, and time has not diminished my admiration for their voices. People who heard singers of an earlier generation may prefer them, and all are entitled to their opinions of contemporaries. But I must say it strikes me as ludicrous to mention Lanza in the same breath as any of the others. And again, to my mind this trio of singers is unsurpassed.

[99Gambo]

A superb trio. The talent is extraordinary. Jussi B often carried weaker talents, but here are partners who do him justice. Warren was wonderful.

[devastaticon]

to answer your question, there is no cast that equals this one. this isn't just the golden era here, it's the golden era OF the golden era!

[schlusnus]

Dear Primo.. thank you as always.

I find Martinelli as el supremo in trovatore and aida

we really don't hear enough of this verdian voice on UT.

[cornucopia2]

Ma vorrete forse scherzare tutti quanti ?! Per questi tre dovremmo scomodare Caruso-Ponselle-Ruffo ?! Per favore! Senza scomodare Callas-Di Stefano-Panerai o Corelli-Stella-Bastianini, mi pare che meglio dei tre di questo video cantino quasi tutti ! Vi consiglio ad es. Lauri Volpi-Tagliabue-Mancini, ripeto, senza scomodre gli dèi dell'Olimpo...

[frankie17984]

sono bravi. Ma se dobbiamo citare Corelli, del Monaco, Lanza, Callas e compagnia bella, beh non c'è davvero sfida. Sono d'accordo, non scomodiamo l'olimpo...

[federricoilgrande]

mahhhh che gusti, poareto ::))

[tonyhan0903]

What a dazzling trio!

[assindiastignani]

Fifty years and God knows how many other TROVATORE -recordinge later (some of them quite good - I think of the superb Price-Tucker-Warren-Elias RCA studio rec.) this is still not only considered to be by all the experts, but indeed IS the best. How many other recordings can one say that about?

[sirenadellopera]

This is perfect Verdi.

[GermanOperaSinger]

I may be wrong, but I'm quite sure Caruso-Ponselle-Ruffo never appeared together in any production. Caruso and Ponselle sang together on occasion and that was good enough. But Ruffo and Caruso didn't get along for the reason that Caruso was afraid of the former! Ruffo would often get a greater accolade than Caruso himself.

[primobaritono]

I think you are right on the fact that those three greats never sang together. I have heard about this rumor that Caruso didn't want to sing with Ruffo and thus pulled strings so that he couldn't change from Chicago to the Met. I have also heard that this is supposed to be a ridiculous rumor and it is apparently a fact that both artists thought very highly of each other.

[primobaritono]

They recorded a phenomenal "Si pel Ciel" which I am sure you know of. They also recorded the Gioconda duet "Enzo Grimaldo..." but apparently it was never released and disappeared...what a shame.

[johanlybeck]

If by "they" you mean Björling-Warren, I think you are mistaken. It has not been acknowledged but the voice with Björling in Otello is unmistakebly Robert Merrill's, Warren's voice is much deeper. However, the Gioconda duet is unknown to me. How find it?

[primobaritono]

Both of my posts belong together. With "they" I was refering to Ruffo and Caruso.

[Lovelytenor1]

@johanlybeck It is indeed Warren. I have it. The picture of these 3 GREATS gathered in a small recording room w/ancient mics is a treasure.

[gallantentry]

@johanlybeck Sorry to burst your bubble but that is none other than the voice of Warren. Not Merril. Merril wishes he had a voice like Warren.

[legatofancier]

@primobaritono - My understanding is that almost no opera company could afford to pay BOTH Caruso & Ruffo their customary fees at the same time. According to what I have read over the years, Caruso and Ruffo liked and respected each other. The enjoyed a friendly rivalry, characterized by good humor. Each of them were close friends of Feodor Chaliapin. However, Caruso & Ruffo were both such unique singers that it was not as likely for them to be truly close friends.

[hiyadroogs]

@GermanOperaSinger Caruso always listened in the house to any new tenor or baritone, to size up the competition. I'm sure both men had a very healthy respect & admiration for each others gift. Certainly, each would have wanted to be preeminent in their fach, but Caruso would never have agreed to record with Ruffo if he was genuinely intimidated. No one can guarantee their best voice on any particular day, & once recorded the results are forever. No one who was insecure would ever agree to it.

[halavey]

Oh yes, Martinelli a big voice and great Otello in his day, his live recording of Otello is terrific.

[bbahyt]

I just adore this section!!!!!!!!!!

[schlusnus]

What cast..your spot on Caruso Pon: Ruffo;; how about

Martinelli, Muzio, Gobbi, Pav:Callas Gobbi, or

Di Stef: Rethberg De Luca..Verdi would love, truly one

needs an exciting tenor with power i'd still go for Martinelli.

Cheers Primo.

[halavey]

Great cast and great singing, best lyric spinto tenor in his day and the greatest verdi baritone in his or perhaps any day, thats all opinion but anyhow a dream cast in the 50's. thanks.

[796824]

Using profanity when discussing Classical Music is in poor taste. Verdi would not have approved

[primobaritono77]

You are NOT going to find a better trio recording of Trov. than that, perhaps only rivaled by the same pairing in Aida. The blending of the voices reminds of a dark, smokey wine with different colors on the palette. Truly magnificent!!!

[lpizzella]

todos los que cantaron con bjorling lo ponen como el mas perfecto entre los perfectos, tal vez no tan buen actor pero insuperable siempre. Del trio que decir, en trovador fueron los mejores, siempre digo lo mismo escuchen y aprendan sin fanatismos italianizados. Aqui ninguno de los tres lo es y eso no se lo perdonan.

[AfroPoli]

All three are truly terrible.

[CarmenMirandasHat]

AfroPoli:

Bjorling = Probably the greatest tenor the ever lived.

You = Uneducated Idiot

[elzuzo267]

everyone says this has to have the 4 greatest singers on earth to do it, but don't forget the bass doing Ferrando, who has to come out on stage first and sing that killer aria explaining the crazy plot background of Trov.

[assindiastignani]

Boy you got that right. That aria always sounds like the neighborhood Great Dane barking at the mailman. And even if you do sing it well (like Paul Plishka did) nobody cares. There all just waiting for Leonora to come on stage and sing her first aria.

[rmm413c]

Actually, I always liked Ferrando's aria. Not everyone is just waiting around for Leonora. My favorite Ferrando is probably Bonaldo Giaotti.

[assindiastignani]

Dear rmm413c, I was being facetious abt. the Ferrando Aria - my point was that it is a somewhat ungrateful role. A bit like Pollione or even Alfredo. Of course Ferrando's narrative at the beginning is very important; it sets up the whole story. Giaotti was wonderful in so many roles (the best LUCIA Raimondo ever) but I never heard him live in TROVATORE. Did he sing it in NY?

[fredcontreras]

These three are as good as it has ever gotten.......IF there is a heaven and IF I make it there I want them to greet me at the gates!!

[Sieglinde84]

Björling had an angel's voice. Maybe the most beautiful tenor voice ever. Plus one of the greatest Verdi baritones and the wonderful Milanov... what a trio, my God. Maybe a Price/Corelli/Bastianini trio can be equal, but none of today's singers - we simply have no good Manricos today.

[oakroom48]

So emotional - such ravishing voices. It could be argued that *that* was opera;) Thank u so much for this. Thrilling!!

[fideliosmum]

Truly great singing, we will never again hear the like of this.

[neronnenn]

Bjorling was one of the best Manrico of the History, Ciccionotti didn't have the voice for this role...:)

[piruja61]

It seems to me only fair.Bjorling has no voice for Manrico.Warren is ok .Milanov always sounds old to my ears and her phrasing is awful, at the end they put her a flute in the orchestra, her final high note is not her, is a flute in my opinion

[TrivselTV]

You ignorant fuck.

[GermanOperaSinger]

Warren is ok? OK? You are talking about the greatest di Luna who ever sang, idiot. This is a studio recording, and Bjorling was a great studio tenor for any role, Manrico included. Who gives a damn about size of voice in studio. Are you deaf, that is not a flute at the end, you couldn't tell a flute sound from a penny whistle.

[dollenberg]

An absolute masterclass. Singers of today take note and learn.

[profgv]

Yes and they didn't have to be tall, dark , handsome and weigh in at 120 pounds for the video taping.

[ideale123]

Heartbreakingly beautiful Bjorling. He was too pure for this world to not have been taken away from us at such a young age. That's the law of universe for you...

[linhx582]

All that boozin...

[ideale123]

We would too fool and then some... the endless performances, encores, song requests, curtain calls(by the dozens), handshaking and signings, pic taking, after- show pr events, tv specials, having to be polite to retarded gaylords, goes on and on... What a nightmare. I'm so grateful to him for we can enjoy what he has labored and suffered through.

[pearlmuth3]

Yes a live one with Baum and Warren the greatest Verdi singer of them all of course IMO!

[RCA1978]

Dont forget Warren's Di Luna, besides Callas, in a 1950 recording from Mexico...

[pearlmuth3]

Besides the 1939 Trov. with Bjorling is a 1947 Met. performance with Bjorling, WARREN AND stella roman instead of cigna on the 1939. This is now on CD and Bjorling is warmer then on this studio recording but here you have Milanov and great sound in 1952. Bigger tenor voices have have sung this in the house but Bjorling is one of the best in the role. Bjorling sang it with Callas in Chicago in 55 one time and the rumor for years is a recording of it exists but it would have surfaced by now

[primobaritono]

What a shame that no recording exists! It would be very interesting to hear those two Greats sing together. I know Beecham wanted to bring them together in a Carmen recording, but tragically Jussi died.

[Mariosergio61]

Unfotunately, we can't have all we want. Bur we have enough. Each one of then give us a great artistic inheritance.

[citrussorbet]

hi: i think the callas teaming was two nights.can you believe two of the centurys greatest only together a few times,talk about shortsighted managers!

[nyfootboy]

Bjorling is the best. Who even comes close? He is technically perfect and heart breaking in every role. Thanks for posting!

[RudySunseeker]

nyfootboy,

"Heart-breaking in every role", thats one great comment!

[jacquesurlus]

Corelli, Bastianini, Simionato et price. Il existe, Salzbourg 1962 dirigé par Karajan. Un sommet, indispensable.

[fitzhorgan]

Caruso is quoted as saying "Trovatore is easy...you just need the 4 greatest voices on the planet."

[BMessemer]

Bergonzi, Cappuccilli and Stella is my answer.

[gpoec]

These were the great singers of my youth, and they were truly great. However, there were others just as great; only different. There are even more great singers today. It's just that todays culture is different. I would have had to spend thousands of $ to hear what I can see on YouTube for nothing.

[cmorgan22]

After listening to this clip, I purchaed the entire opera on CD and it was certainly worht it!

[Sieglinde84]

Bjorling IS really a trovatore. A real lirico spinto, with a gorgeous timbre.

I think the Corelli/Price/Bastianini Trio is the other perfect performance...

[cmorgan22]

I have an opera night every few months when I ask friends over to view my vast video/DVD collection. In March I'm going to give guests a CD of historic recordings of Bjorling and Corelli, and will definitely be included on the disc. It is magnificant. We will never hear it sung like this again!

It is important to be acquainted with what has gone before and how we got to where we are today.

The last cut on the disk is the Brindisi by

Alvarez and Nebrebko in Berlin. I hope they learn!

[Giovannifabuloso]

These are singers from a time when you had to be a true artist. One had to be a master of their craft.The great singers aree sadly all gone.

Warren

[renataCRO]

Divine Warren and Zinka Kunc Milanov from my Zagreb,plus the excellent video sound quality,a feast and a wonderful discovery for an older generation opera freak, hooked in childhood sunday opera mornings, on our brand new hi fi, with my father - many thanks

[canafinwe]

Jussi Björling was a wonder. There were and are a lot of great tenor, but this voice is something special.

And Warren! This passion, this noble voice!

Milanov is worthy to them. A Leonora you have to love and kill for her.

I heard Cavalleria Rusticana with her, too. If I remember good Jussi was Turiddu.

[bobopera]

After 50 years this recording provides audible evidence of the superb voices of Milanov, Warren and Bjoerling. As operacaster states, "that...is the way it is done..."

[siegmund80]

Quite spectacular! Amazing sound, even more amazing singers! Thank you so much for posting this! Does this excerpt happen to come from a complete recording? If so, do tell if it's commercially available!

[rhomp2002]

I think Jussi Bjorling is my absolute favorite tenor of all time. What a fantastic voice!!

[paulostroff99]

One of the truly great performances on record,and so beautifully conducted.Truly a sensational accomplishment!I marvel at this each time that I listen to it.Thank you for posting it pb.

[operacaster]

and that children is the way it's done... any questions?

[jblo9]

Very amusing. Bjorling is on youtube singing harmony as a boy and I wager that the others would have had a life time of singing. Talent and hard work

[magwri88]

Fantastiskt! Bravo!

[musaline]

Jouissif!!!!

[paulostroff99]

A threesome as good or better than there has ever been together.A delight to the senses.Beautifully conducted as well.Bravo.

[Operaddict]

From this to Alagna, Georghiu and Hampson...

Have people forgotten what Trovatore should sound like? Then listen again to the above.

[fideliosmum]

I agree, I bought the cd with Georgiou and Alagna and disliked it so much that I swapped it with a friend for the Price/Tucker/Warren recording.

[Giovannifabuloso]

This is great singing. We would never hear this in any Opera house in the world today.The great singers are all long gone. Can you imagine thatcats like this wwere a normal occurance years ago.

[leadingbyxample]

I can't imagine it. If we were blessed to have this kind of musicianship today, I don't think I could physically stand it! Too much for the senses, you know! THIS is OPERA! It's sad to think we may never hear singing like this again.

[serviofreeman]

Would some one please tell me who conducted this recording?

[primobaritono]

Renato Cellini.

[serviofreeman]

Thank you very much!

[BDSCalgary]

Truly beautiful and one of my favorite versions of this opera (and I also love Price in a number of recordings, including a live one). Would we had such singers today!

[SignoraSanDenato]

Truly humbling to listen to artists of this caliber. Thanks for posting this beautiful reminder about how its supposed to sound....

[billyguns2]

There exists a live Trovatore from 1939 with Bjoerling in even better form than here, which is amazing. I grew up listening to the Milanov-Bjoerling-Barbieri-War­ren recordings of Trovatore and Aida.

[baritonoguapo]

There is also a Bjorling-Milanov-Warren Tosca. It's pretty awesome. I have it on LP, not sure if it's in print currently.

[gvjps123]

Beautiful singing, great Verdi singers! This is one of my favorite recordings of Trovatore. Though there was no Warren, Callas and DM there was atleast a Callas /Warren from Mexico City ( even if the sound sucks).

[primobaritono]

Just because of the rivalry of record labels, certain artists (Bjoerling & Callas or Warren & Callas) could not record together commercially. Sad.

[baritonoguapo]

Funny thing about that recording from Mexico with Callas and Warren: That was one of the only times they ever sang together. Warren was not particularly fond of Callas. Another reason they never recorded in the studio together.

[j72050]

..and to think, this great recording is on Amazon for $7!

[herminestover]

instant recognizability of all voices. just when you think you have heard it all, you realize that this is THE BEST. we are lucky to have so many BESTS to hear, and I thank you for this.

[MrCafiero]

Tebaldi, DM, Bastianini was a pretty good trio. As would have been Callas, Warren and Del Monaco.

[aspsingr]

corelli, price, bastianini would also be in class with this in addition to ruffo, caruso, ponselle

[stevevandien]

What a cast. It seems that opera lovers took them for granted back then. Oh, how far we've come, and not for the better, alas!