Victoria de Los Angeles, Giuseppe Di Stefano: Love Duet from Madame Butterfly

[MguitarL]

This recording is a real treasure! I grew up in England listening to these two glorious singers, and later, as a guitarist, I remember hearing Victoria de los Angeles on the radio one day singing to the accompaniment of a brilliantly played guitar. I was amazed to hear that she had accompanied herself!

[EdmundStAustell]

@MguitarL Thank you very much! A most interesting comment!

[carolus9able]

A beautiful duet. I had the great privilege of ,meeting di Stefano when he came to

Glasgow for a charity concert when he had retired from opera, but still sang his

favourite Italian ballads; a charming, generous gentleman

[EdmundStAustell]

@carolus9able Thank you for your comment. Personal memories are always of great interest in the evaluation of singers and actors, and I appreciate yours!

[racheleleeba]

Thank you, Edmund. I have been in a di Stefano mood all night, and this is my favorite Butterfly recording. Both are exquisite.

[EdmundStAustell]

@racheleleeba Thank you, Roberta. Yes, they are wonderful singers, without doubt.

[meltzerboy]

This recording is, I believe, the pre-Bjorling/de los Angeles one. The latter is greatly admired by opera lovers; however, the present one is, according to the cognoscenti, the finer of the two. I, for one, would not wish to choose between them. And neither would I take great pleasure in saying de los Angeles is the greatest soprano who sang the role; not when the other sopranos include Tebaldi, Callas, Moffo, and so on. She is surely one of the best though. Thanks, Edmund!

[meltzerboy]

@meltzerboy The famous (and infamous) old abbreviated recording of the duet with Caruso and Farrar is still a touchstone in the opinion of many.

[EdmundStAustell]

@meltzerboy Yes, a classic recording, although I always thought Caruso over-blew the part a little. He tended (great singer that he admittedly was) to be a bit monochromatic,with a superabundance of ff singing.

[dantitustimshu]

As recordings of Puccini's perennial favorite come and go, this 1954 rendition by these two great singers may still be possibly the most sheerly beautiful and spontaneous of all. de los Angeles' uttering of "Or son contenta" (3:05 - 3:16), so tender and heartfelt, has probably not been surpassed before or since.

[EdmundStAustell]

@dantitustimshu Great comment! Thank you!