Lawrence Tibbett sings a hauntingly beautiful song

[traylorvh]

Beautiful, thank you for posting.

[paulostroff99]

Lovely singing. TY for posting.

[stevaturesve]

very subtle longing

[stevaturesve]

longing

[stevaturesve]

winsome

[Ironcabbit]

If they ever make a movie about his life, they ought to cast Leo DiCaprio to play him.

[LanzaLover2]

Beautiful!

[gallifreyfarm]

Thanks for posting the beautiful song and the collected photos of this talented gentleman.

[SatchmoSings]

Elsewhere on "Youtube" Paul Robeson has a version that I think superior and I say this as a big Tibbett fan.

Also, Robeson is accompanied only by a piano and his accompanist is just about as brilliant as he is.

Still, this is a great presentation, particularly the pic of him with Scotti who was also a very great baritone.

[everybodylovesmybaby]

Just beautiful - and an amazing compilation of photographs!

[hremdldw]

Emotional content,to the Opera lovers who ask about Mr Tibbet's High F Natural why don't you just take it for exactly what it is a beautiful and may I add touching performance.

[hremdldw]

Singing his heart out,gives you chills.

[dougieboy46]

some gentlemen stand apart - Lawrence Tibbett was one of them!!

[breffnipark]

Powerful ! :)

[76Basso]

How could anyone not love this. I concur that the high F was a bit raw; however, it seemed to fit the emotion of the piece perfectly. I can't imagine a more touching performance of this piece.

[dannyamosflynn]

Better than sliced bread.

[elainebmack]

@primobaritono You have it backwards. "Goin' Home" is a Negro spiritual that Dvorak used in his "New World Symphony", not the other way around.

[jbuckaroo82]

There seems to be some debate about this. I understand Dvorak himself denied that he "borrowed" the melody.. Although I wasn't there (obviously) I have read that the Negro spiritual didn't appear till well after the Largo was written.

[elainebmack]

@jbuckaroo82 . I stand corrected. You're right. Also, a musical scholar friend of mine confirms that "Goin Home" is not really a spiritual, but a paraphrase of a melody by Dvorak. It's interesting how beautiful music can spring from so many influences and sources. I think it's an example of our "Melting Pot" culture at its best. Thank you for posting this wonderful rendition by Mr. Tibbett.

[jbuckaroo82]

@elainebmack

Just curious. How does your friend differentiate between a "spiritual" and a "paraphrase of a melody"? Sounds a little bit like semantical gobblygook to me. Unless he/she understands the point of view and intent of the original writer.

[legatofancier]

@elainebmack - While Dvorak was in America he wrote his American String Quartet and American Quintet. , These works, along with his New World Symphony, represent a distinctly "American sound" in his music which he did not continue after he returned to Europe. Your friend is correct: Dvorak's melody from the New World Symphony paraphrased in "Goin' Home" is an original work, and not a traditional African-American spirtitual.

[SatchmoSings]

@legatofancier It's amazing how Dvorak was able to synthesize so much "original" American music into the "New World" symphony and the chamber works you mentioned (one of them originally had a rather distasteful name); as a European he truly grasped much of the American idiom and he did it so beautifully and well.

He was a great composer.

[DonPaolissimo]

This has to be the most gorgeous sound produced by a baritone -- ever!

[rawrock24]

This is one song that would truly be a privilege to die to.

[aristopus]

It certainly is. Thanks for this sensitive and beautiful video.

[EdmundStAustell]

My god, what a beautiful voice. He has to be a top candidate for the greatest baritone America ever produced--and that's a mighty distinguished a group.

[10clementine]

Tibbett was the best.

[paulostroff99]

Awesome

[65attila]

@paulostroff99

Stunning performance - what a rich and beautiful sound. Thank you for sharing and to primobaritono for posting.

Regards-John

[seektheforce]

Do you think you could tell me what album this song is on please?

[MUSICALLAN]

He's a perfect model of 19th-century bel canto technique. One of the last.

[RidenourRC]

A great song filled with great meaning.

[vipergurn]

wow I remember him I am 65 now

[Rigelcentauri58]

He deservs heaven.....

What a rich voice!!!

[billywater]

I think this was a great rendition of the song but Paul Robeson's version will probably always be the standard bearer. Even more so internationally where Robeson's race and political ideas didn't hinder his career or fame as it did in the U.S.

[796824]

The Supreme Artist. There is no one on the operatic Metropolitan Stage today who can ever match the beauty of Lawrence Tibbett's singing

[uilleannaddict]

I had never heard of Lawrence Tibbett before I saw this video. What an incredible voice he had! Now I'm going to try to find more audio or video of him!

[ElPiconeroalCognac]

There's a video of Morris Robinson singing Going home on YouTube. It's not as regal as Tibbett, but the voice is huge. Search for "Morris Robinson - Going home - Hour of Power"

[Thompsonf1001]

thanks very much for postin :)

[ScotsLass10]

Thank you for this Heart felt rendition, Beautiful.

[traylorvh]

Beautiful! perfect! the version that touches my heart so deeply.

Thank you very much for posting and sharing this, you are most kind.

[qklq42]

Lawrence in his greatest years. Beautiful performance.

Hans NL

[everybodylovesmybaby]

What can you say? An extraordinary beautiful performance!

[Kievest]

Tears your heart out with a velvet glove!!

He was a TITAN!!!! Thank you for the

posting.

[jaydabaron]

not a truer word said!! i first heard this driving on boxing day on a radio whilst getting my kids it sent a shiver down my spine an i was hummin it all over xmas very touching and warmin to hear.

[cleanears]

Simply beuatiful and perfect!

[varanisko]

I think that it´s more Dvorak who is making impress in this song, I was astonished even from strings

[reeferisme]

He is home now, rest nobel Rogue

[paulostroff99]

Awesome! Prince of baritones! Emperor of baritones! Those and much more. The rich timbre of his voice will not soon be forgotten!

[klokheten]

Noble Tibbett at his very best.

[manlyman80345]

Very beautiful, brought a tear to my eye. I love Lawrence Tibbett!! His voice soothes me. How did you obtain this song?

[olderngod]

Absolutely magnificent!!!

[78timothy]

He also transcended to Motion Pictures as a leading man quite well. Benjamin Segel bought his house when he was in LA. He convinced Tibbett to sell it to him. Segel wouldn't take no for an answer, and paid him more than it was worth. How could Larry say no?

[gothboy2k6]

i love this song

[dickdomino]

Scus' me...Don't wish to be insulting...but I love these singers so much....It's just that 'political correctness' has wiped their memories away....If only you youngsters could hear these fantastic voices...You would realise what your 'grandads' loved so much......

[gothboy2k6]

i'm one of the new generation nd i love this kinda music so we're not all ignorant to music

[mrm4xim4m]

i hear you i wish for the same!... as i adore all kinds of heart-felt music and im 21.

[dickdomino]

See here! this is what it's all about. Here's the voice that took so many curtain calls at the Met before most of you morons were even born......Tibbet, Crooks, John Charles Thomas, Tauber, Gigli, Caruso....is it sinking into your midget brains?

[2009NewBeginning]

Thank you for this post. It so very beautiful!!

[sompra]

haunting it is so beautiful

[Sagittariustoo]

The more I listen to this version, the more I like it ! Who was the old guy Tibbett shook hands with at 2:49 ?

[primobaritono]

That's his predecessor at the Met, baritone Antonio Scotti, whom he completely stole the show from in Falstaff. Tibbett was Ford and Scotti Falstaff. The performance was to commemorate Scotti's long career at the Met. Here Tibbett congratulates Scotti in his dressing-room after a performance of L'Oracolo.

[Sagittariustoo]

Thanks for the information, primobaritono !

[ArlithCake]

at 0:40 he bared a lot of resemblance to DiCaprio, no? o.o

[jch35vt39h206]

This is so beautiful. Lawrence Tibbett's voice just speaks to my heart.

[Opreaismylife10692]

It made me cry.

[carrotville]

This song was featured in the 1948 Olivia de Havilland film "The Snake Pit". It was sung by patients in a mental hospital. Quite moving.

[darklord2626]

it was also featured in the 1941 movie "It Started With Eve" and was sung by Deanna Durbin.

[divaesq]

this song is an old Scottish tune brought to the US by the Scots-irish immigrants, taken by the slaves and adapted into a spiritual, picked up by Dvorak while living here, put into his New World Symphony. Full circle!

[rcrent]

errrmmm...are you sure this is true? I thought this was original Dvorak and not picked up from anywhere. Whilst there are elements which appear in Scottish folk music these elements are not unknown in Czech music.

[smurfswacker]

A beautiful rendition of this song. The comments are also interesting. Can you explain to a non-singer just what "covering" a sound means? Thanks for posting this lovely recording.

[forallyouknow]

It's a technique that baritones and basses employ to perpetuate a dark and rich tone as they ascend into higher notes. Tenors do not "cover" notes in order to allow the sound to bloom and ring clear, whereas baritones and basses somehow "muffle" their highest notes so as not to allow the voice to lighten. That's my take at explaining it. Haha! It's a bit dodgy, but hopefully you have some idea of what I'm talking about.

[Belcore14]

This is not an accurate description of covering...

Tenors cover. Listen to Pavarotti when he gets higher than an F.

[forallyouknow]

My apologies. Any clips on YouTube that I could use as reference?

[johnhoie]

I've heard this theme in the symphony, but never heard it with lyrics. What a gorgeous song! When was it written?

[vth39]

William Arms Keys a student of Dvorak in New York wrote the lyrics to "Going Home". Thanks to "tiredarms" for providing me with this information.

[vth39]

Also, "primobaratone" answered my question. Have you gone to his page and listened to his father's beautiful voice? It is wonderful! You Tube is great, so many people willing to share their knowledge and beautiful music.

[vth39]

THANK YOU!! My mind is at peace now. Thank you so much.

[rrbowes]

There is a sister group that does a great version of this too.

[audleybowls]

Can anyone please tell me how to get the music only onto a cd? I think this is a beautiful rendition of a lovely song

[romanyman]

Never heard of this man but come across this by chance.Glad I did ,great singing ! Lovely voice!

[Gemini730]

Very nice-beautiful voice. 'Goin Home is one of my favorite songs.The most beautiful rendtion of this song which I have heard was sung by Nelson Eddy on a CD I have of one of his radio programs-wish that Nelson had recorded this. Nelson was an admirer of Tibbet`s voice and they were good friends. I also love Paul Robeson`s beautiful rendition of this song. Lorraine

[796824]

If there were only ONE baritone on the operatic stage who could match this - The perfect centered tone and chiaroscuro singing.

[stefakamelpash]

Yes,I did a fair bit of musical comedy in my day, and I remember, back in the 60's, we used to refer to covered sounds in a woman's voice as "singing soprano." The belters discovered they could sing very high without covering (Ethel Merman comes to mind), so it all worked out, but some of the sounds weren't so pretty, lol!

[stefakamelpash]

The reason he started opening the top more in the mid-thirties was that by that time he was starting to sing a fair bit in English, and for the movies. Covered sounds for a popular audience don't work well in English speaking countries. They sound "foreign," or "operatic." This is why the Broadway belters belt: The women (especially) don't want to sound like opera singers.

[primobaritono]

What you are saying is very interesting. I never thought of that, but you might very well be correct.

[legatofancier]

@stefakamelpash - Excellent point! Covered singing can sound very affected to English speaking audiences! There are singers from the early to mid 20th Century who sang very covered and who sound artificial to modern audiences.

[Tenderness6]

NIce. Have you ever heard singing Paul Robeson singing Goin'Home? That version I want to hear on my funeral.

Cheers,

Friedrich from Holland

[shinri1]

Check out this version

watch?v=2XGRrZfOhtk

[Aetion]

Yes, very nice too. Thanks.

[stevevandien]

Tibbett sings this piece beautifully. Paul Robeson also recorded a nice version, in a lower key of course --

[Ankhsnammon]

both of theme were...no,way!...ARE FANTASTIC!!!

ankhsnammon

[MrCafiero]

Wow, he really opens that F natural a bit too much. Beautiful voice!

[primobaritono]

Yes I agree. I don't know why, but in the mid 30's he began opening the top more. He did know how to cover (modify) very well and he didn't need to do that.

[MrCafiero]

Yes, he obviously new how to cover and did it most of the time very well. You just have to be careful opening F naturals or even E naturals for that matter, but he knew what he was doing.:)

[seektheforce]

@MrCafiero Are there any videos of this song, where the singer doesn't open up the F too much?

[canegrace]

grazie.