First...it was a long time ago... second..please be-carefoul, becouse Caruso it was not a full Tenor, was a bari-tenor, thats the reason of Pavarotti Idol...Caruso was the only classic sanger whi can singing deep and high......very impressfull and difficult.
@drmpeacesage Unfortunate that the recording technique was so poor at the time. But at least we HAVE recordings of his voice. IMO we can still hear his extraordinary voice and empathy the best in the old 78's. If you search YT for /watch?v=9CAl7--JZTU (with the usual YT dot com before it), I've uploaded a digital transfer from an original 78. 50% of his voice is lost, but tune in (play it several times) and I think you'll understand why hearing Caruso sing was something people never forgot.
Caruso is not the best. Caruso's voice is nice, and no doubt among the best ever, but no one can match Pavarotti in style and control. Pavarotti gave emotion and character to opera that was otherwise simply a pursuit of power and control. That is why he is the best, because he made you believe he wasn't just singing an aria, but he was living it. It was as if he was experiencing a torrent of emotion, and his voice gave it clarity where others only focused on technique.
@Verannus Maybe YOU don't think so, but Pavarotti thought Caruso was the best ever. All the things you mention: emotion - being the character of the opera, no attention on the technique, just singing. THAT was Enrico Caruso. Search YouTube for this: "Pavarotti- Enrico Caruso-bel canto" to see an interview on what Luciano thought of Caruso.
Thank you so much for posting Tom! As always, Caruso is in his own, divine separate league, the reference for all tenors! How impressive his genius is, particularly when you consider that to the difference of all the tenors who came after him and could listen to recordings of his interpretations he managed to create the optimal interpretation based on his unique intelligence, sensitivity and talent.
@OperaFanCantor You are very welcome, Ilan. I also think that Enrico was in a leaque on his own. An empathetic genious....
A Caruso quote that may interest you: “Jewish cantors employ a peculiar art and method of singing in their delivery. They are unexcelled in the art of covering the voice, picking up a new key, in the treatment of the ritual chant, and overcoming vocal difficulties that lie in the words rather than in the music.”
Very powerful voice and pretty pleasant. No wonder Caruso is considered the best ever. Lanza has a more pleasant voice, but is not as powerful. Pavarroti ia slightly less in power and pleasantness. Bocelli is more pleasant and a little less powerful. Caruso still remains the best.
I still prefer Bjorling's best recording of this aria. Bjorling's attack is different and his upper register is sparkling, including that last B-flat, which was originally written as 'pianissimo morendo,' which suggests a soft, quietly ecstatic sound. Verdi realized that last B-flat was too challenging and offered an alternate ending, which most tenors prefer to do. Bjorling and Pavarotti took the easy way out in a couple recordings, but not Corelli, the only spinto I know of who faded it .
@wiseroldfart Well, that's fine with me that you prefer Björling in this aria. Jussi had a gorgeous lyric voice and his upper register was great,
This wasn't actually the upload I referred to. Uploaded a digital transfer directly from an old 78. But I guess it wouldn't make any difference.
The trouble with Caruso's recordings is of course the bad quality that only allowed for some 50% reproduction of his voice - according to people who heard him in the house and listened to the recordings.
@wiseroldfart Don't know which recording you refer to as the best Jussi recording of this aria?
I recently uploaded a Jussi and a Enrico recording of the aria. The best Jussi and the best Rico recording I could find. Aside from the great difference in recording technique, I also found a great (personal) difference in empathy and feeling. Jussi was just not in the same league as Caruso. Technically as a lyrical tenor he was great and one of the best. But not much better than Lanza.
Being Danish I'm not that familiar with American slang, but according to my Dictionary of American Slang a highball is either a 'salute' or 'A drink containing a portion of whiskey mixed with soda, and served usually with ice in a high glass.' ....
Yes, talking about a mixed drink here. There's a discussion on this at You Tube "watch?v=qjZkAmE5ID0", a recording of Caruso and Geraldine Farrar singing "Un po'-di vero c'è" from Madama Butterfly. In Farrar's first entrance, rather than singing "si, per la vita" some people think Farrar sings "he's had a highball" to let the recording engineers know that Caruso had been drinking.
This 1911 version I don't have...thanks for posting! In the later recordings he sounds much more dramatic and powerful than in the earlier ones, although still retaining the quality and beauty of his earlier voice.
First...it was a long time ago... second..please be-carefoul, becouse Caruso it was not a full Tenor, was a bari-tenor, thats the reason of Pavarotti Idol...Caruso was the only classic sanger whi can singing deep and high......very impressfull and difficult.
snake3103 2 months ago
unfortunately for us, one must consider the recording quality of 0ne Hundred Years Ago. Zero way of comparing unless you heard Enrico Perform live.
drmpeacesage 5 months ago
@drmpeacesage Unfortunate that the recording technique was so poor at the time. But at least we HAVE recordings of his voice. IMO we can still hear his extraordinary voice and empathy the best in the old 78's. If you search YT for /watch?v=9CAl7--JZTU (with the usual YT dot com before it), I've uploaded a digital transfer from an original 78. 50% of his voice is lost, but tune in (play it several times) and I think you'll understand why hearing Caruso sing was something people never forgot.
tomfroekjaer 5 months ago
Caruso is not the best. Caruso's voice is nice, and no doubt among the best ever, but no one can match Pavarotti in style and control. Pavarotti gave emotion and character to opera that was otherwise simply a pursuit of power and control. That is why he is the best, because he made you believe he wasn't just singing an aria, but he was living it. It was as if he was experiencing a torrent of emotion, and his voice gave it clarity where others only focused on technique.
Verannus 5 months ago
@Verannus Maybe YOU don't think so, but Pavarotti thought Caruso was the best ever. All the things you mention: emotion - being the character of the opera, no attention on the technique, just singing. THAT was Enrico Caruso. Search YouTube for this: "Pavarotti- Enrico Caruso-bel canto" to see an interview on what Luciano thought of Caruso.
tomfroekjaer 5 months ago 6
@tomfroekjaer and definitely Pavarotti, even with his beautiful beautiful voice was NOT a great interpreter!
stefanodepeppo 5 months ago
Thank you so much for posting Tom! As always, Caruso is in his own, divine separate league, the reference for all tenors! How impressive his genius is, particularly when you consider that to the difference of all the tenors who came after him and could listen to recordings of his interpretations he managed to create the optimal interpretation based on his unique intelligence, sensitivity and talent.
OperaFanCantor 6 months ago in playlist Opera
@OperaFanCantor You are very welcome, Ilan. I also think that Enrico was in a leaque on his own. An empathetic genious....
A Caruso quote that may interest you: “Jewish cantors employ a peculiar art and method of singing in their delivery. They are unexcelled in the art of covering the voice, picking up a new key, in the treatment of the ritual chant, and overcoming vocal difficulties that lie in the words rather than in the music.”
tomfroekjaer 5 months ago
Very powerful voice and pretty pleasant. No wonder Caruso is considered the best ever. Lanza has a more pleasant voice, but is not as powerful. Pavarroti ia slightly less in power and pleasantness. Bocelli is more pleasant and a little less powerful. Caruso still remains the best.
Milahi1935 6 months ago
I still prefer Bjorling's best recording of this aria. Bjorling's attack is different and his upper register is sparkling, including that last B-flat, which was originally written as 'pianissimo morendo,' which suggests a soft, quietly ecstatic sound. Verdi realized that last B-flat was too challenging and offered an alternate ending, which most tenors prefer to do. Bjorling and Pavarotti took the easy way out in a couple recordings, but not Corelli, the only spinto I know of who faded it .
wiseroldfart 10 months ago
@wiseroldfart Well, that's fine with me that you prefer Björling in this aria. Jussi had a gorgeous lyric voice and his upper register was great,
This wasn't actually the upload I referred to. Uploaded a digital transfer directly from an old 78. But I guess it wouldn't make any difference.
The trouble with Caruso's recordings is of course the bad quality that only allowed for some 50% reproduction of his voice - according to people who heard him in the house and listened to the recordings.
tomfroekjaer 10 months ago
@wiseroldfart Don't know which recording you refer to as the best Jussi recording of this aria?
I recently uploaded a Jussi and a Enrico recording of the aria. The best Jussi and the best Rico recording I could find. Aside from the great difference in recording technique, I also found a great (personal) difference in empathy and feeling. Jussi was just not in the same league as Caruso. Technically as a lyrical tenor he was great and one of the best. But not much better than Lanza.
tomfroekjaer 3 months ago
LA PERFEZIONE ASSOLUTA.
Grazie !
31122051 11 months ago 2
It's "Celeste Aida" ... not "Celestre Aida"...
trelvisse 1 year ago
@trelvisse: it is indeed.
tomfroekjaer 1 year ago
I'm almost certain that if Caruso sang with Leonard Warren their voices would blend perfectly.
leadoffeohippus 2 years ago 3
I'm sure you're right about that!
tomfroekjaer 2 years ago
Haha don't you think the last note in the aria is incredibly Warrenlike?
leadoffeohippus 2 years ago
@leadoffeohippus yes...........Warren and Caruso had very similar voice production
OrpheuCe 1 year ago
BETTER THAN HIS 1908 RECORDING
DOUGSCOTT666 2 years ago
Yes, dougscott66, I also think it is better than the 1908 recording.
tomfroekjaer 2 years ago
Boh, io lo trovo piuttosto rozzo e forzato. (La chiusura dei suoni, sopratuttutto. E poi, non sa dire le I e le U) Belli gli acuti, però!
NedRorem 3 years ago
I really enjoyed that! I wish we could have heard him sing with Maria Callas. Their voices were well matched.
Oh, also: at timeline 4:52 in the recording I can here someone whisper, "He's had a highball".
;-)
patrick96321 3 years ago
Being Danish I'm not that familiar with American slang, but according to my Dictionary of American Slang a highball is either a 'salute' or 'A drink containing a portion of whiskey mixed with soda, and served usually with ice in a high glass.' ....
tomfroekjaer 3 years ago
Yes, talking about a mixed drink here. There's a discussion on this at You Tube "watch?v=qjZkAmE5ID0", a recording of Caruso and Geraldine Farrar singing "Un po'-di vero c'è" from Madama Butterfly. In Farrar's first entrance, rather than singing "si, per la vita" some people think Farrar sings "he's had a highball" to let the recording engineers know that Caruso had been drinking.
patrick96321 3 years ago
Fine with me :-) The performance is absolutely devine,through ...
Get to think of the rock bands of the hippie age. Many specatular songs - mostly on heavier stuff than a few drinks :-)
tomfroekjaer 3 years ago
This 1911 version I don't have...thanks for posting! In the later recordings he sounds much more dramatic and powerful than in the earlier ones, although still retaining the quality and beauty of his earlier voice.
GermanOperaSinger 3 years ago
The best recorded version we have for sure!
tomfroekjaer 3 years ago
you are correct sir
lpvcrcd 2 years ago