Pagliacci - Prologo

[65attila]

Great performance.

I happily saw this great baritone @ 7 times. He was a small man whose voice was large, unforced, even and beautiful. He obviously knew what and how to sing.

Thanks for posting and regards-John

[Shoreseeker2]

A great singer, a great aria, and a great performance.

[redgrapeskins]

one of the very best ever!

[sior13]

ese prologo me encanta! =)

[VictorStarita]

Grazie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!victorstar­ita

[flintflicker1]

doesent get much better than this !!

[docmalthus]

My God, what an instrument he had!

[tenorisimo1975]

bravo!!!!



[federic017]

Una delle più belle voci baritonali di tutti tempi...e che acuti,da vero baritono...un cantante di prima grandezza...saluti

[legatofancier]

Say what you will about Robert Merrill's linguist skill or his depth as an interpreter, his voice was not only beautiful but it has an unmistakable glamour. There's no other word for it - glamour. It's a quality granted to only a chose few.

[Cocainetheclown]

he he

[ikkf1976]

@australianforlife are you a tool?

[emeric1952]

Vidio o.k. Voice GREAT.

[MsRuthes]

a beautiful poignent piece of music sung by a beautiful baritone voice. perfect!!!!!

[SuperMoshe77]

Quelle splendeur !!! SuperMoshe77

[paulostroff99]

Awesome!  TY

[ykaiilah]

My favorite baritone ever!!! What a fantastic voice, fuck!!!

[Reptopia]

i love Pagliacci

[whelljack]

@Reptopia me too

[chicagosbaby]

CLASSIC!!! i been searching for this EVERYWHERE!! thx for the upload! one of my favorite songs of all time

[stephenjoeagi]

What a glorious voice !!!!!!!!

One of the greatest ever. Brings tears in my eyes.

[ikkf1976]

Yes!!!

[ikkf1976]

I heard a joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life is harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world. Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. The great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. Says, "But doctor... I am Pagliacci." Good joke. Everybody laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains.

[turnercm100]

isnt that from Watchmen?

[australianforlife]

@ikkf1976 lol did you look this video up just to say that?

[Englishtenor2]

Great voice! Did he change some of the words? And if so can anyone say why...

[countceprano]

@Englishtenor2 : No, he didn't change any words, but he did flub a few! But he was singing live and it happens. Was this the most beautiful baritone voice ever? Hard to say for sure, though I don't think anyone with ears would argue that it was certainly one of the very few that could be considered the most beautiful. Just an amazing sound.

[Lovelytenor1]

Any some ways he has not been replaced, even to this day. I like his ability to vary the tone. At once warm, then with steel in the voice. RIP.

[GermanOperaSinger]

Who cares about the bad video? If it bothers you that much just close your eyes and listen to the wonderful sound! I'm happy enough with the recording of this great voice, thanks for posting.

[peterboldizsar]

I'm happy that there are lots of people who enjoy this posting. As of those people who just aren't happy with the quality of the video....what can I say. I just can agree what "GermanOperaSinger" said....

[brocken527]

@GermanOperaSinger . also it a part of history

[AyNeKy]

i have no idea what hes saying, but I'm struck with emotion

[bogdybaciu]

listen to herlea ... and beat him :-) Oh, you cannot beat herlea ? I thought so ....

[ElisabettaVS]

haha! Herlea is great, you're right ^^

[sgnmath1234]

Well done, Mr. Merrill !

[mattdk88]

Wow, which recording is this? I dare not even hope it's a Björling/Merril :-)

[Neurozumim]

Bad sync. Is it a youtube thing again? When will youtube stop desyncing videos?

[giannluuu]

What a great baritone! And as an Italian, I must say his pronounce is perfect!

[serenade00007]

Erwin Schrott is the best bass. Robert is fake.

[pechorin1841]

you are very ignorant if you are comparing a baritone (merrill) to a bass-baritone (schrott). the instruments are not the same. And just for your information, robert merrill is considered one of the best voices of the 20th century by many opera fans and critics.  schrott is not in the same league as merrill and certainly nowhere near leonard warren, at least not yet.

[nickcowie]

robert is a baritone, and you are a retard

[Achbar]

I enjoyed this Video. Mr Merrill was one of my favorites when I was a kid

[HMW]

the video is lip-synced, tard... that's how opera movies used to be made...

[lafferty2316]

wonderful voice but an extremely poor mimer. Surely no-one could believe he was not miming!

[hiyadroogs]

Of course he's not miming!! The sound & picture have simply become out of step. No-one is so bad at miming that he would keep his mouth shut while his own voice is ringing at full volume! He is a whole phrase behind the sound track, not just a split second. Of course he is singing live!

[countceprano]

"Of course he's not miming!"

You are correct and those that say otherwise are ignorant about a few things. First, he screws up the words right after "un nido di memorie".. ... sooo.. is THAT mimed? Idiots. Secondly, had one ever seen this original clip, it would be quite obvious that he's singing live.

[hiyadroogs]

Thanks! It's so obvious isn't it?

[countceprano]

"It's so obvious isn't it?"

Yes, it is , even if one doesn't know the score and can hear him sing a few nonsense syllables. But that really seals it! Still, watch him cover the high F on "poiche siam....." If one knows what to look for, you can see it right there, as well as hear it. That's not a mimed position.

[hiyadroogs]

if you watch carefully, you can see that the mouth positions exactly match the sung phrases you have heard a few seconds earlier. I don't know how or why the film & soundtrack have become disconnected, but it's very obvious that this was a live performance at the time it was filmed.

[mariasarda]

Quelle puissance dans l'émotion...

[frankp2115]

I was lucky to have known Mr. Merrill. Everyone knows how beautiful his voice was but He was always extremely nice and very well mannered. He was funny and very down to earth.

[organdude44]

Warren and Merrill were both great! I never had the privilege of hearing Warren in person but, heard Merrill many times in New York. He was the real deal and NEVER disappointed.

[PattyWagon]

Awesome! One of my favorite baritones of all time, singing probably my favortie baritone aria. Such a powerhouse.

[pasfresh123]

and he sings it with such ease and no mannerism whatsoever, no facial distortion, he didn't even open his mouth that wide. Don't tell me the great singers of yesteryear had their recordings improved with splicing and special effects!!

[mrright911]

How is it possible in the year of 1955 they could not produce an opera film that looks professional. This looks like it was made in someones basement. My God they did not have on hand a better film and audio team. My friends and I had an 8mm camera and we made better films? I mean your filming one of the greats in opera a little professionlism..

[VinylToVideo]

LOL It has nothing to do with the original source video. Are you perhaps too dumb to know anything about digital video compression?

[tenorismo]

He's been dead for 3 yrs , and He's still the greatist American baritone.

[JeffW77]

I think the credit at the end says 1955. Recording looks like a kinescope. I just read Merrill's biography "Between Acts." Great collection of his reminiscences about opera, theater, TV and radio. I remember seeing him once on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson--probably in the '80s.

[griggle990]

When was this recorded?

[hswatnik]

Sure sounds good to me!!

[Iareto]

Robert Merrill is my favorite baritone ever. What a tone! The most beautiful baritone singing I've ever heard. One of the few who realizes that being a baritone doesn't have to mean "dark". It can mean "warm" as well. Hvorostovsky and many others only paint with black where Merrill could paint with any color he wanted. Being a lower voice doesn't mean you have to sing "black" all of the time and Merrill proved it. This is gorgeous.

[operaboy1924]

I am a baritone and that is so true! Well put.

[gauss2005]

What a great baritone Merrill was! Listen to him in Pearl Fishers Duet with Bjorling. For a 1955 video the sound engineers did an unbelievable work; I wish all old videos had this excellent quality.

[pearlmuth3]

Timings for TV sometimes change things tempo wise, yes Gobbi was a great actor but Merrill a more the beautiful voice, saw both live many times, Merrill the more beautiful instrument, better top, Gobbi the great artist/ actor, Merrill lasted very well. Warren especially powerful and Mac Neil where great Verdi singers but Merrill had this great beautiful sound. BRAVO

[kman1111]

This Sound Quality Is So Good It Scares Me

[pearlmuth3]

Wow, really terrific and beautiful, wonderful sound as always.

[michonnetsu]

Listen to the easy way he lets go of the E-flat on the word "povere"around 3:09, and the natural way he turns the f (leaving the previous E-flat more or less open) at "poiche siam uomini." It isn't about imitating his voice- who could do that? But look at the poetry, artistry and vocal health in a rare balance in this excerpt. Deepest thanks to the poster.

[izar1234]

michon: You have good ears, but the way he turns on the F is not natural; meaning it's not something that just happened. It's something that he worked his tail off to master, like most great singers. I know this from studying with Hines and talking a lot about Merrill, Warren, MacNeil, etc. It certainly sounds natural, but then, that's the whole idea!

[Raoul3434]

Fabulous tone and amazing strength but I sense a lack of breath that inhibits the length of some phrases here. I also think his Italian is a little strange in spots. But what an Ab!

Check out the Gobbi renditions of the same track.

[mikica021]

No one ever sounded like this! He is a true miracle! Bravo x 100!

[tomyft2008]

I think that what I enjoy more than anything from these short clips on youtube is the other various comments. I have learned much about the greats of opera from you guys and have also realized that there is a vast appreciation of true, poetic talent and for beauty in general. Thank you all for the ongoing dialogue!

[WNDOWSUE]

i love this shit

[WNDOWSUE]

i love this shit

[Operaddict]

What a sound! He was the greatest. I heard him with Tucker back in the late '60's. The two of them together were a force of nature.

Merrill and Tucker had such a joy of singing. He had this great voice, and easy-going attitude.

Friends who knew him at the Met said he would smoke and play cards up to the moment he went on stage...no sweat...just go out there and sing gloriously! Lyrics? Well...they were just things to hang that wonderful voice on.

In those days, it was about voice. LA VOCE.

[raphabenbenjamin]

The only question I have arises when you consider the short career Ruffo had. It seems that the ones that are so bright it is hard to look at them as human (Alexander the Great, Lord Byron, Elvis, James Dean, Marilyn, etc.) just burn themselves up as they courageously try to handle all they see and express their sight to us. Thanks Titta Ruffo (Titto Ruffa), thanks Robert Merrill and a special thanks to Luciano, who helped us to become childlike via his sheer joy of being a singer.

[jbo0520]

Best baritone of all time. Perfect linear melodic lines, a little nasal, but powerful. Tenors... take a lesson from a baritone!

[joelhillan]

You can't forget the great Norman Bailey.

[6612576]

merrill forgot his lines....

un nido di memorie in fondo a l'anima cantave un giorno

[jbo0520]

Haha! Sure did!  What WAS that he said at the end of that line??

[gallferi]

I think you wanted to write: "cantava", right? Merrill was famous for forgetting things; with me he forgot his "venti scudi" and only stuck his finger in my palm during performance. "ecco ne dieci" - he said, and I softly whispered to him: "dove?" For revenge when he later asked: "ei qui rimane?" - instead of "si" I sang "no", but he couldn't give a hoot and kept on with "alla mezzanotte ritorneró".

[raythespian]

Rudolph Bing said that Merrill would have been the No. 1 baritone in any other opera house in the world, but at The Met, he was No. 2 because Warren was No. 1. I saw and heard both of them throughout their careers, and I absolutely agree.

[lpvcrcd]

Yes I have heard that quote. Warren was truly held as the beacon for baritones. Warren on this site,and any other,usually prevails as probably the greatest baritone who has graced an opera stage. Merrill was outstanding and did have a beautiful tone.

[MZimnoch]

When and where was this performance?

[keepitsimpleABC]

1955 The Voice of Firestone TV. (ending credits)

[MpLMx]

I never heard Robert Merrill before... the performance is awsome! Magnificent voice!

[reallyharried]

I first heard him when I was little; Merrill's the very first baritone I ever heard, (in my memory).

[raphabenbenjamin]

I heard him when my mother took me to a community concert in Pasadena, Texas. How could that sound come out of ONE human being? One of the many ways that God allows us to see his wonders displayed so gloriously.

[lpvcrcd]

Yes!Robert Merrill never produced a bad note or poorly phrased aria in his life! As consistent a great voice as there has been!

[macciboma]

Herlea ha un timbro di voce più bello,

meno stridulo metallico, Herlea ha la voce

più graziata sensibile pastosa,

per me è superiore a Merrill.

[stevevandien]

Marvelous. When Merrill launches into "E voi," his singing is so beautiful that it makes me teary-eyed --- is there ANY contemporary baritone who comes anywhere near this achievement?

[izar1234]

stevevandlen:  How about Josh Groban? Har!

[stevevandien]

Har indeed:). I like Groban, but he ain't in this league!

[xzxz619]

Great singing.

[grizzlybaritone]

Absoltely not, he is the one and only! Incredible voice!

[Cantormatis]

Beautiful singing. Perhaps it lacks the thrill of a Ruffo... but it's gorgeous singing.

[izar1234]

bradleyjenks: You're right, arguing with some halfwit who labels Leonard Warren as Captain Squeezy is totally worthless. I'm a huge Merrill fan but no need to denigrate another of the greatest baritones ever. And if you can't tell the quality and caliber of Ruffo's voice, even given the recordings, borrow someone else's ears. Though it's doubtful you could hear any better with them either.

[Giovannifabuloso]

Robert Merill had one of the most magnificent voices. What a beautful rich dramatic sound. He makes you feelis singing.

[rbf1945]

Sorry, but LOSMACIUKAMBOS is wrong. The baritone is Robert Merrill. It was recorded for a Sunday morning telecast by RCA in the early fifties as part of the Firestone Hour series.

[bradleyjenks]

I have to say.... any opera nerd saying anything at all against this, particularly in favor of Captain Squeezy - Loenard Warren, whose voice wasn't half as nice or singing half as healthy as this...or in favor of Ruffo, whose recordings are scratchy as hell.... needs to be branded for the opera geek they are. This is gorgeous. That's it. Few sing so well. Some do. But they are few. Arguing is worthless.

[howiekim25]

don't care who sings it....it makes me sob regardless...it's absolutely thrilling....

[Wittig123]

As everyone has said, this is magnificent.

My vote for the best version of all time goes to Leonard Warren.

[pepy71]

This is superb, but Ruffo's is without doubt the definitive version of this aria.

[bcdoherty82]

Listen to Nicolae Herlea do this aria. It's superior in every way.

[rbf1945]

This prologue is up to Bob Merrill's standard. What head tones!

[AlexSuciu]

naaa..he's good but if you really want to hear this superb aria singed execelent listen to Nicolae Herlea. I think its here on you tube. Herlea is well above merrill both in voice and class.

[Siegfriedcastilla]

Robert Merrill, posiblemente el mejor de entre los baritonos verdianos del siglo XX.

[oclhie]

¿quien es? me encanta

[LOSMACIUKAMBOS]

THIS IS NICOLAE HERLEA. THE ROMANIAN.

[joeasmythe]

Arguably the best the Met ever had. Thank you..

[Agorante]

We almost lost Merrill. He defied Bing to go to Hollywood to film "Aaron Slick from Pumpkin Crik". Bing fired him and wouldn't take him back. Merrill had to beg. This, this great singer with probably the most gorgeous, rich baritone sound ever heard anywhere was to be banished. But he was let back in and sang at the Met for nearly another twenty years.

[singingdonkey]

a great baritone but Mostyn Thomas did this one even better

[wippocarter]

Wow! que bella voce! Vorrei cantare al meno um po come lui! E evidente che l'italiano non era sua lingua natale.

[viziagi]

Did he have an extra vocal cord in his throat? Or where did this beautiful and exciting tone come from?

[Manrico77]

ho la pelle d'oca!!! wow!

[orestesavalos]

sublime !!!

[aleiv]

this is class singing. And what a coscience of text! Meraviglioso, che sfumature, non sfugge nulla. Una voce da sogno. Grazie for posting this. :))

[coloryourlife]

Makes me wish I had lived in the 50s; Tucker, Merrill, Callas, WOW!

[Tom1948]

You are right but add Jussi Bjorling and one or two others. There was little or no electronic help those days. Can you just imagine being in the audience to see this performance ?

I wish I was there now !

[keepitsimpleABC]

Actually, since this was a TV show, there were quite a lot of electronic devices: microphone to mention one (to record)

[Tom1948]

Fabulous singer. Still the greatest baritone but almost a tenor I have ever heard. Wonderful with Bjorling.

[cognefred]

quelle voix !

what a voice !