Ezio Pinza - Some Enchanted Evening (best sound quality)

[renascencewoman]

has anyone heard perry como's version? rofl. como sounded weak and feeble in comparison to pinza. no contest.

[flyingironman1]

Some Enchanted Evening sung by Ezio Pinza, in my opinion, is the best love song I have ever heard. The first time I heard it was in 1950 and it caused me to fly to the South Pacific and visit Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora for a month. The full moon light sail on a catamarane out of Bora Bora was out of this world. Jarvis H. Renfrow, Sr.

[MrBluedevil444]

My late mother Shirley Rich was the casting director for this broadway show. We will play it at our wedding to honor her. A great song for a great woman.

[thenfuckyou2]

I love how you presume it!! Damn!! That's soooooooooooooo good!

[bairns1234]

Still the benchmark. No other version has ever come close to this. Fabulous.

[artcuz1]

I just saw the Lincoln Centre production of South Pacific last night at the Barbican Centre in London and I have to say that everyone who says Pinza's is the best version of this song is right. That said, Brazilian opera singer Paulo Szot came closer to matching this performance than any other singer I've ever seen in the role and I've seen Philip Quast and others doing it! Try to see it if you can!

[thephantom1946]

@artcuz1 So true, Pinza's is still the best I've ever heard and I've heard many over the decades, Szot included. Pinza is just superb!

[rpm88able]

Truly amazing. Especially that ending!

[ensconse]

Finally got to hear it al the way through...wow!

[vpo2g2]

Pinza is what singing on the breath is all about.

[MrShempenman]

Absolutely beautiful.

Why does opera sound so sad? I guess that's what it does, such a melancholy-sweet sound.

[pneumosilacosis]

Bravo. I can still hear my father singing this.

[23zowie23]

Thank you thephantom1946 - I do indeed stand corrected and appreciate you saying so. Warmest to you mate Graham Melb Aus and apols to Seachop7.

[23zowie23]

How true Seachop7 - I am also 70 and first saw and heard this great man at the Esquire Theatre Melbourne in 1959, and was captivated by his masculine voice and the beautiful lyrics of South Pacific. Warmest to you - Graham Melb Aus

[thephantom1946]

@23zowie23 If you saw the film in 1959, it wasn't Pinza. He died in 1957 and wasn't in the film, but in the original Broadway play. The 1958 film starred Rossano Brazzi, with Giorgio Tozzi doing the singing for Brazzi. Is that what you saw?

[mikeyzip]

All the great music has all but disappeared now our country is on it's way out, killed by politic's. To bad.

[thephantom1946]

I've seen and heard many sing this, including the most recent revival of South Pacific on Broadway, but nobody, and I mean no one can really do this as well as Pinza did. He is matchless as Emile DeBecque. I was spoiled.

[bairns1234]

No one has ever sung this better. The original 1949 production of South Pacific must have been truly fabulous.

[SalSter19]

The most beautiful love song in musical theater history from one of the best voices ever! I have been listening to Rodgers and Hammer stein for as long as i can remember and South Pacific is their best score in my opinion.

[McElvis1948]

To me this is one of the best recordings of the 20th Century. Pinza 's recording of this gives me a chill, that voice and expression is always number one. His voice is still classic and his role of Emil is always my favorite. Voices from the greats as his and that of Mario Lanza who was a wonderful crossover singer who had a short career will always be recognized by their beauty and power and excellence. This is one great recording, and always five stars.

[Seachop7]

Oh how I love this! I'm 70 years old chronologically; but, when I hear this, I'm back to much, much younger listening to this marvelous voice, just like the first time, all over again "enchanted," for sure. Bravo! Bravo!!

[redmondmurphy2]

it happened to me 56 years ago she was wearing a black skirt and white top!

[thephantom1946]

This is one of my first memories of Pinza. I still have this LP album from 1957 when I was a kid, and I think he was the best basso ever IMO. The great opera critic Conrad L Osborne compared Pinza's voice to "a diamond wrapped in velvet". I can't think of a better comparison. Simply marvelous.

[sara75ish]

:) 

[baghend]

Still get goosebumps listening to this. What an incredible voice.  What an incredible song. Sung by a man with genuine talent and class, and written by men of genius who were-with South Pacific- years ahead of their time despite the second world war setting.

This is the standard for this song- every other performer till the end of time will be compared to Pinza's stunning version- and they will invariably come up short.

Oh that we had such talent today. Sigh.

-Thanks for this

-Bill

[longtimebingfan]

@baghend I could not agree more! Why are there no 'masculine' voices today?

[baghend]

@longtimebingfan There is an American Baritone, Thomas Hampson who has a fine voice, as well as Canada's Ben Hepner. I'm sure there are many others, but one would never know if all we see is the usual crap on television. It seems to cater to the lowest taste, or 14 year olds who for the most part are not listening to people of real talent. And its a personal choice as well - music, like art, is such an individual choice.

But you and I know what we like.

[thephantom1946]

@baghend I always say the same thing, that entertainment outlets do cater to the lowest tastes. We're bombarded with non singers in the media all the time, and it's a shame. My own personal opinion is of course, you can't get any better than Ezio Pinza when it comes to a magnificent voice..

[baghend]

@thephantom1946 Magnificent is the right word. One of the reasons I hope parents and/or the schools give kids a chance to hear truly great music, by people of real and lasting talent. and that includes not only the classics, but Gershwin, Rogers, Hammerstein, Romberg, et al. Kids can learn to appreciate genuine class.

Thanks for your note.

-Bill

[ahmelmahe]

My god - my god, does it get any better than this! Rodgers, Hammerstein, the greatest love song ever; and Ezio, ONLY Ezio, brings it all together. BRAVO - BRAVO!!!

[rubyedelman]

@ahmelmahe 

[qklq42]

The one and only Enzio. What a voice....... And what a taste !

Hans NL

[ladyjj09]

*sigh*..... how can you not be mesmerized when Ezio is singing like this....*sigh*

[WSenator1]

One of my first memories of music was hearing this soundtrack album when I was a boy (I think the original staging of the musical was still on Broadway). I've loved it ever since.

[valentinolover70]

Thanx so much for posting. :-))

[titanicpiano14]

Check out my live renditions of film scores!

[cajape]

Just watched South Pacific on PBS--the singing was great but sadly I kept hearing Ezio in part of my brain--the danger of being old and growing old with that sound, that flawless phrasing, that effortless quality of vocal production.

[thephantom1946]

@cajape Same here. Pinza is the only one in my mind. That magnificent voice that is still unmatched in every aspect. I have the 1957 re- release LP album. I got it when I was 12.

[jules1157]

absolutley brilliant , wish someone would sing to me like that, wow.

[lornabegbie]

I cant listen to anyone else singing this lovely song...

[bpabustan]

There is only one Emile DeBecque and that's Ezio Pinza.

[MagcialWorldOfMusic]

Great song! I don't really want the R&H Organization to be flagged on your channel. "whopfrog" got suspended due to copyright problems for using "You'll Never Walk Alone" from "Carousel".

I forgot to mentioned, I have the same copy, but it was a later pressing on the 6-Eye Columbia Masterworks label, but your copy is an original pressing from the early 50's.

[tenorismo]

 what a voice

[pinkcloud09]

This is the best version. Ezio does it best and the background music perfect.

[ElsaIsElsa]

Love it - the sound, the feel.

[mikmarilynmusika]

ONLY YOU!!!!! <333

[voicemad]

I used to play and sing this to my late wife. Ezio Pinza said it all so beautifilly. Never let her go. I never will.

[bobaloo47]

THIS IS DEDICATED TO MY MOTHER VGV

[basenjidiva]

I fell in love with this recording (and, of course, with Pinza) long ago, when I was just a little girl. Hearing this again, after more years than I care to admit, I find this recording just as thrilling, now, as I did then! Bravoooh!!!!!

[thephantom1946]

I have this same LP album. I got it in 1957, and Ezio Pinza is my favorite basso since I first heard him when I was a child. A marvelous singer, and the best Emile DeBecque.

[blkchk]

When I first heard this, I didn't expect the ending and I swear, I got goosebumps and I started crying. Just beautiful.

[Grobbekee]

Wow!

[Frankiarmz]

No fear of commitment in those lyrics, or that voice! Too bad more people can't learn from this beautiful song. I found my true love and never let her go. Thanks for posting.

[naomigd1]

I wore out the 78 and 33 listeneing to

South Pacific, no male singer compares

ti Pinza today. Rogers and hammerstein

they rock and rule

[hashatz]

All around, Pinza may have been the best bass of the 20th century

[thedogs2]

Pinza's rendition of this goes right through me. I'm in tears. He must have brought down the house. I believe both he and Mary Martin won Tonys for this, as they should have.

[cartoonfan1920s]

This sounds amazing for a 1949 record! It sounds like it's recorded in hi-fi!

[VinylToVideo]

This is not the original record from 1949; this is an LP from 1957 and probably is somewhat "hi fi."

[saltburner2]

@VinylToVideo

But if this is Pinza singing, it must be taken from his original 1949 recording.

It was probably originally recorded on tape, and issued on both 78 and LP.

[MagcialWorldOfMusic]

@VinylToVideo My copy uses the Columbia Masterworks "6-Eyes" logo, but it was not introduced until 1955, but it continued using the "6-Eyes" logo until early 1962.

[FPUGUY]

sweet

[Frankiarmz]

The song can stand on it's own, but there was a video of the stage performance which was beautiful with Ezio passionately embracing Mary at the end. Wish it would be uploaded again.

[vulcanswork]

@Frankiarmz

That wonderful video cannot be uploaded again; You Tube removed it!!!!

Copyright matters (how stupid).

So, unless someone wants to commit a You Tube suicide of their channel, there you go.

[MrQuebec]

Pinza rules!!!

[Jeanne90275]

On a scale of 1-5, he gets a 10! What a glorious

voice he had.

[thedogs2]

I am getting the chills, listening to this. He is superb.

[Frankiarmz]

This song could be ten or ten thousand years old and still not lose it's beauty, strength and grasp on the wonderous opportunity fate plays in romance and love. Pinza will be enjoyed as long as people can hear and fall in love.

[ciroalb3]

I have to think that Pinza made far more of this song than Rodgers could have hoped. I have heard him do a higher note at the finish - the most difficult part vocally.

[bonnies1234567]

Agree with you all  . . this song belongs to Pinza.

[johnnui]

who can explain it. who can tell you why?

[GermanOperaSinger]

I hadn't listened to Pinza's in a while, but wow, completely different league, even better than I remembered. Siepi doesn't hold a candle to this. This LP has a much warmer sound than the CD version I have, which makes for even better listening.

[ShawDAMAN]

I agree this is better than Siepi but what precisely are you referring to? The voice or the interpretation? =)

[VinylToVideo]

Hah personally I'd have to say both; I think German would agree?

[ShawDAMAN]

Do you have (or know of) any recording of Pinza in "Les Huguenots?"

[VinylToVideo]

Yes quite possibly. If he recorded it in the studio I would think I have it but most of my recordings with him I'd say are live recordings from the Met. Sounds familiar; I might have it on 78 even.

[ShawDAMAN]

I dug around a bit, couldn't find anything. I rather liked Siepi in that opera so I wanted to compare Pinza ;-P

[thechinadesk]

Dear ShawDAMAN and VinylToVideo,

Yeah. I second that.

Pinza has Siepi beat on this song in both voice and interpretation.

Siepi can be great on darker material, but not on this.

[thechinadesk]

Dear GermanOperaSinger,

Pinza owns this song.

Maybe I'll get flack for this, but in my humble opinion, the next best version is Bryn Terfel's.

[Gaul1748]

What a range! Always enjoyed this song.

[jockeynsmart]

It is one of the most romantic songs I've ever heard and gives me goosebumps.

[gnrldisarray]

This is 1 of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard and this is my favorite version! Like, amazing

[nannygirl55]

Wonderful!!!! My favorite song...

[fastmotorcyclefast]

Pinza, ONLY Pinza.

[picstudent]

hey i have this lp in lima, Perú.... oh wonderful voice!!

[wolkowy1]

Wonderful voice and performance.

[Republicrat74]

I'm new to this site, and as an old geezer who can remember when LP's first appeared truly enjoy hearing these great stars once again. I saw the road company of South Pacific perform in Chicago in 1961, and recall having to explain to my 16 year old date what a "bastard" was....after Bloody Mary got such a big laugh. Pinza was fantastic in Opera. He had a truly fantastic voice and range. Check out his recording of "Le Cor"!!

[Kee90713]

Thank you so much for posting this! It was my mom's favorite song, and brought back so many happy memories for me. What a delight to the ears, and to the heart!

[AulicExclusiva]

Supreme.

[Michaelbos]

Thank you for this.

[Traumereik]

Once, long ago, there was a great operatic star who did not want to perform in South Pacific, but Rodgers and Hammerstein were persistent ... Oinza relented and gave to us the greatest Emil Dubeque who ever walked the stage; and with it came these marvelous vocal arrangements including SOME ENCHANTED EVENING ... ABSOLUTELY SUPERB.

[Traumereik]

Pardon clumsy fingers ... this great artist is Ezio Pinza, not the error I typed.

[StevenPierceLumpkin]

Wow, you weren't lying! The sound quality is fantastic. What a great voice!

[joshtom]

One of the finest sounds ever recorded. Thank you.

[pearlmuth3]

pinza felt the words deeply, yes you are so right!

[pearlmuth3]

Thanks for this, even though Merrill did it so well on TV and Tozzi sang it on the soundtrack of the movie for Brazzi it will always be in my mind Pinza's song and so well done.

[VinylToVideo]

No one could do it like Pinza. Merrill's was almost as good and I had the Living Stereo album with Tozzi but didn't enjoy it at all.