Gigli in "Che gelida manina," from Ave Maria

[GiovdeMartino]

La voce piu bella del mondo!

[wiseroldfart]

A little too subdued for me. I prefer a little more gusto and Gigli was certainly capable of pumping a little more drama into this aria.

[TheCatholicFaithfu]

The "ham acting", however, is part of the Italian operatic experience. Gigli's trump card was his amazing tonality of the higher ranging notes of his tenor voice.

[lilymatti]

wat was hij toch prachtig

[kuddelfranz20001]

schön, dass es sowas noch gibt. Danke Danke

Franz

[ginodelia]

BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO.

[jd1906sf]

I love Pavarotti, but to say he surpassed Gigli in every way would have to be one man's opinion: a frivolous and unnecessary comparison. This is a MONAURAL recording from before WW II, and that astonishing voice, technique, style and emotion of Gigli is undeniable. DiStefano's version is my favorite, but Gigli gets me every time. Amazing.

[robertocasitenore]

Meraviglioso.....

Roberto.

[796824]

Gigli studied with the eminent teacher ENRICO ROSATI. There are NO tenors today who can match Gigli's mastery of voice and beauty of tone

[bigus]

not since pavarotti died anyway. then again he surpassed gigli in every way. i do love gigli however but in my opinion pavarotti was the superior tenor in pretty much every way. also bjorling for sure.

[monpitt500]

Not so easy high c

[jfabioazul]

one of the greatest of all time

[2591740]

LINDO PERO NO SUPERIOR A CORELLI

[VivaMariaCallas]

This has to be the easiest Che gelida manina I've heard.  Balm for the ears!

[Aetion]

Very well said. Balm for the ears and I would add for the souls too.

[scrollersam]

I keep listening to all these great tenors, changing my mind about the quality of the voice, whatever, and I keep coming back to Bjoerling as the top banana in all phases of being a great tenor.

[paladin313]

What I liked about Gigli was how he sang it with portraying the character in mind, technique be cursed. He sang with passion, and when you do that, the technical side takes care of itself. (Shades of Placido, who was the same way in his singing.)

[Aetion]

Gigli had a well trained voice and one of the best techniques ever. He was famous for that.

[jumaik]

Rime ed inni d'amore ♪

[Samurai9]

Beautiful performance, representative of this magnificent singer.

[pearlmuth3]

he may have not had the great low notes as jussi who had it all but he had the aweetest sound and so italian and he could do something few lyrics could do he sang in big houses in aida and chenier plus forza now jussi did don carlo but aida in a big houswe, only chicago and he really was not happy with it. i like both gigli does sob and take more liberties but it does not bother me his 1931 che gelida is better then this.

[pearlmuth3]

sweet as sugar and warm

[Agorante]

There is of course more than one way to sing this aria. Gigli knows the language, the opera, and the style. He sings it in a manner appropriate to the dramatic situation.

Bjoerling and Pavarotti sweep up to the high C with more authority - Fisichella too. They start off in the subdued and chilly garret and then transport us into the world of Rodlopho's imaginings. Gigli stays contained. I'll have to read up on Puccini's intentions.

[diomipoteviscagliar]

This is a very poor performance by one very great tenor.

[SonoPortoricano]

Agreed, this is a very very poor perfomance

[isfeidirlinn]

you two clowns obviously dislike individuality and who says that a song has to be sung one way and only one way, shame on you. This is beautiful, soft sensitive and enchanting. Dia Dhuit

[SonoPortoricano]

Please, we may disagree, but it not necessary to manifest your disagreement through that childish name-calling attitude, let's leave that to the children.

Anyhow, I also disagree my '4th months old' comment. This is quite splendid. Gigli's simplicity and lightness, that beautifull mezza di voce, are quite admirable. On the other hand, his je crois entendre rendition, posted here in youtube, is wonderful and by far one of the most beautiful renditions of that aria that I've ever heard.

Bravo.

[isfeidirlinn]

Antwan, my hat is off to you and your chivalry and your about turn. How rare it is for one to admit a mistake and I take refuge by apologizing too and bid thee a mighty fine time enjoying all that You Tube has to offer.

Tooraloo

T.J.

[flaze3]

lol, had an epitome did you?

[donaldrose]

Just on pure vocal quality he is one of the finer tenors but his interpretations are either mechanical or lack inspiration.

If anything Bjoerling had a finer voice and injected something miraculous and unique into his interpretations.

[shananigins592]

Gigli, the greatest of all tenors! started voice training at 14 and didnt make his first debut until he was 24, winning a singing comp for 150 tenors throughout Italy.Perfect tone, lyrical beauty andall his recordings were ;one' takes! why dont we hear him on classic fm?

[bobtemming]

Ontspannen en rustig gezongen door de BEL CANTO maestro,geweldig

[NOBNOSHER2]

Most people with any musical and operatic knowledge agree that Gigli had a very fine voice but was a very poor artist. If he is good enough for you then get on with it. For me I prefer someone who knows what he is singing about and sounds as though he does. I DO know what I am saying and my response to that is "In the face of ignorance the Gods themselves fall silent"

[NOBNOSHER2]

This only goes to prove that I was right all along to say that Gigli's reputation was totally undeserved. I have heard many tenors singing this far better. Gigli had a voice which he failed to use properly ever. Caruso, Corelli, Domingo to mention but a few were far better.

[tonytib]

By your standards? Who else? Forgive them they know not what they say!

[tonytib]

I'm sure everyone knows that this is not from Ave Maria but from Puccini's La Boheme. I never heard any greater tenor singing this.  Thanks for the posting.

[TurandotFanatic]

Ave Maria is the name of the movie that Gigli did, and at this movie he sings La Bohème aria "Che gelida manina". Clear?

[tonytib]

Hey thanks. I know a little Italian but with your arrogance and my pre humbleness e tu retto! gratsia.

[tonytib]

Sorry, I wrote in the wrong lanuage. tu recto!

[bailaga]

beautiful voice

[Jaaakob]

Haha... he's is of course a great singer and all but, I can't help drawing a parallel to the Rap star factor nowadays to that of this film/whatever it is...

Some ugly guy sings while a bloody hot girl, ridiculously better looking - adores him.

As I said, the rap star factor :D

If that's what I'm gonna get for being an opera singer I'm going for it even more, haha...

[FABRIZIO82]

Gorgeous, true Bel Canto by the Michelangelo of tenors.

[kuddelfranz20001]

@FABRIZIO82 das ist eine wunderbare Bemerkung, danke

[hobo197]

the 1938 nimbus laboheme with gigli and albanese is the best!!!

[mrrk]

No one sings this aria with such warmth & feeling as Gigli.

[lefemmerachael]

i dont like his voice....too feminine!

[Chiliarches]

Mmm. Yeah. And he doesn't even say the words when he's reaching the C...just sings an 'eh' vowel.

I like Gigli in Donizetti and things like that.

[8Micky4]

ehm...excuse me, but...why don't you kill your self?

[arone64]

Ideal voice for this music.Beautiful!