ERI TU - Mattia Battistini

[luigisolera]

I include Giuseppe Taddei among the best Eri Tus of all times. His is a true Verdi baritone, perfect in rythm, pitch, dramatic inflection, precise attack, all energy.

[piasecznik]

Interesting how Fach perceptions have changed. Today he would almost certainly be a tenor, and not even a dramatic tenor.

[hobo1975]

@piasecznik you just dont know how to understand old recordings,upper harmonics will always be dominant in old recordings.

[ONeirda]

@hobo1975 That's true in its physical dimension. But please read my comment to 'piasecznik': Mattia Battistini definitely was a high baritone who sang in a refined bel canto stile, who nowadays most probably would sing Heldentenor parts (and most probably less beautifully than in his natural Fach high baritone...). Well, that's just how I personally assess his voice. Unfortunately we can't ask him directly anymore :-( Best regards, A. from Bürglen, Switzerland

[piasecznik]

@hobo1975 Don't know. He seems lighter to me than for example Jadlowker, who recorded in the same age and was what is probably best classified a heavy spinto, though with glorious coloratura.

[ONeirda]

@piasecznik You are quite right, I think. And others, some experts, share your opinion to: Viktor Fuchs, later a Viennese singing teacher, in his youth had the chance to follow Mattia Battistini on his tours through Europe for some time. He writes that Battistini certainly would have had the ability to sing tenor, but, wise enough, he stayed to his beautifully refined bel canto line high baritone "Fach". (Viktor Fuchs, The Art of Singing and Voice Technique, 1963, New York.)

[klokheten]

It is unbelievable that this is recorded 103 years ago. Can you find this quality and style in any singer today? Don´t expect that everything is getting better and better. The art of singing is an illustrative example that art was better long ago.

We have lost so much.

[stevevandien]

You are quite right. The best "Eri tus" I've heard over the past 50 years -- besides those of Battistini, Ruffo, Amato, Stracciari, Granforte and Bechi . -- were by Warren, MacNeil, Merrill and Milnes. The most recent was recorded nearly 40 years ago. We have no Verdi baritones of this standard today, much more's the pity --

[klokheten]

May I add to this glorious list some,for my opinion,

necessary names,even from our time,

all representing the magnificent grand tradion of italian baritone opera singing: Mario Ancona, Ettore Bastianini,Piero Cappuccilli,Igor Gorin,Nicolae Herlea,Giovanni Inghilleri,Pavel Lisitsian and the great singing actor Lawrence Tibbett.

[stevevandien]

You may indeed, and thank you:) --

[mistalala]

TOTALLY AGREE

[irakli220570]

ბატისტინი მეფე ბარიტონებში! ტენორებში კარუზო და ბანებში  შალიაპინი!!!!

[baritonolirico1]

Sera un Tenor Dramatico? Lo oi cantando a Tosti y tiene timbre de Tenor.

[Rigelcentauri58]

Un barítono muy ¨atenorado¨ con una gran elegancia en la voz, de timbre muy italiano. Batalla un poco en las notas bajas pero no importa ya que su calidad

vocal es excelsa, romántica y nostálgica.

Resulta dificil aceptar que estas voces

maravillosas se fueron para siempre.

[xavierfersanta]

@Rigelcentauri58 La grabación está acelerada y se escucha medio tono más agudo.

[TheTaladro1950]

En 1907 cantaba asì? Este debe haber sido uno de los mejores cantantes de la historia, incluso que otros de mayor fama, sin dar nombres de tenores, barìtonos o bajos.

[TrovadorManrique]

La interpretación más verdiana de todas, lo que quiere decir la más bella.

[meltzerboy]

One of the greatest recordings of this beautiful aria by a true master, the legendary Battistini. IMO the performance is secondary only to that of Ruffo. Other superb renditions include those of De Luca, Gobbi, Warren, and Merrill.

[vstasov]

Thanks for these recommendations.