Some Enchanted Evening- Ezio Pinza

[kimmr100]

It doesn't get any better than this - thank you for posting

[thephantom1946]

I think that the meaning of the remark, is that Pinza is equally at home in the baritone range as well as bass with his range of over two and a half octaves.

[YayMe1232]

I wish I could sing baritone... auditions today and the director had us sing this and "Younger Than Springtime" and I'm really good with bass, but I didn't cut for any of these. Now I get a lousy sailor role

[lodengreeneyes]

What a strong, rich baritone! I remember my parents LP of this original South Pacific Broadway musical.....amazing! And the subject matter was controversial when it first came onto Broadway (interracial love affair, anti-war sentiment) ....post WW2.

[thephantom1946]

@Corinnne57 So true, with all his technical abilities and great voice and range, he had something more. He had "it". That's what made Pinza a matinee idol first of the opera stage, and with South Pacific, the popular Broadway stage. A magnetic presence and personality. Charisma.

[VIRIATO1942]

What a voice. What a melody. What a movie. Why has Hollywood stopped producing musical films ? ...has Amercina changed so much that there is no longer room for laughter and song ?

[logancody05]

@VIRIATO1942 You've answered your own question, and unfortunately your answer is absolutely correct. 

[lneranger4]

@VIRIATO1942 sorry,its all about the money now.This is my favourite song of all time,sung by him.

[TAKlecker]

@VIRIATO1942 Movies like American Graffiti, Caddy Shack and Animal House dispensed with original sound scores entirely and had soundtracks consisting entirely of popular recordings - a practice that continues to this day, mostly due to the merger of recording companies and film production companies into media conglomerates.

Film adaptations of stage musicals continued with film versions of Bye Bye Birdie, Hair, Annie, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.

[TAKlecker]

@VIRIATO1942 But it is clear that the musical as a show is out of favor in movie theaters as are many classic film genre in favor of action movies, animated features, special effects spectaculars featuring CGI and 3D special effects.

Everything else moved to the 'small screen' which with HDTV technology is no longer as small as it once was.

[Astraea52]

What a shame that he died before the film version of "South Pacific" was made in 1958, after being a hit in the Broadway version! Even then, they selected Italian-born actor Rossano Brazzi to do the part of Emile de Becque, and had Giorgio Tozzi dub in the singing parts.

[washburncherokee]

i stand corrected, thanks for the information.

[washburncherokee]

speaking as one who is also a basso cantabile or bass-baritone, i don't think Ezio, great as he was, sang profundo parts, certainly buffo if he chose. He might, for example, be a bit over matched singing Zarastro from magic flute, but the other Mozart stuff, heck yeah. take a bass to dinner this week.

[thephantom1946]

@washburncherokee Pinza sang almost all basso roles available including basso profundo roles as well as basso buffo and of course the plum baritone roles of Figaro and Don Giovanni. He had a range of well over two ocatves and used it to great advantage with his glorious voice. In fact Zarastro was a regular role for him. It's all in his autobiography, which I have.

[thephantom1946]

Yes, Pinza was a basso cantante with a range of well over two octaves, which means he could sing basso profundo roles, basso buffo, and also baritone roles with equal ease and proficiency. IMO the most beautiful basso voice I've ever heard.

[bassobaritono]

Pinza was a Basso Cantante...and most definitely not a profundo. Most Basso Cantantes are associated with the term "Bass-baritone" by folks that really don't understand the nuances of the operatic voice.... Pinza will always be one of the greatest basses ever!

[kevinastraw]

Ezio Pinza (May 18, 1892 – May 9, 1957) was an Italian basso opera singer with a rich, smooth and sonorous voice. (Wikipedia)

[dennykdoe]

Clearest statement of one of R&H's important themes: when you meet the person who you KNOW is the one, it's no time for faintheartedness; you must seize the day.

"Or all of your life, you may dream all alone." The corresponding line from Carousel is "Longing to tell you, but afraid and shy, I let my golden chances pass me by."

Very true--and I can testify.

[AwaTu]

The Benchmark Basso Profundo...

[jojojo943]

@AwaTu

Actually, he was considered a basso cantante, a"singing bass", more lyric than a profundo.

[AwaTu]

@jojojo943 Excellent —Thanks, for that that —Appreciate the edification...

[pattipie100]

Sunglasses please.........

[yankeejohn58]

My Father-in-Laws favorite Song to Harmonize to.......Dale was captivated by this movie and Harmonized with his older brother George on this song.........

This Song Reminds us that Members of the "Greatest Generation" have Passed On but We SHALL NEVER FORGET them!

[mrsavoy66]

i sincerly pray all those that understand will one day have an enchanted evening with all the happiness that it brings.

[JohnDavid731]

He's a Bass-Baritone... Not a Bass

a true Bass can't sustain an E (the last note)

[thephantom1946]

@JohnDavid731 Pinza was a basso cantante, with a range of over two octaves. He could sing basso profundo, basso buffo and baritone roles equally well. I have his autobiography.

[thephantom1946]

@JohnDavid731 In one of his basso roles in opera, Toscanini asked him to sing the optional G above E, which he could and did do, which pleased Toscanini greatly.

[tmtstudio1983]

@JohnDavid731 Pinza is definitely a bass. Have you heard Ivan Rebroff as well? He was a basso profondo, which is even lower than Pinza's basso cantante, if you search "Ivan Rebroff Dark Eyes", you can hear he actually held a really powerful G and sustain a long note of an E at the very end of the song. Regarding to the high notes, it's mostly about the technique, just like Verdi Baritones Piero Cappuccilli or Sherrill Milnes can sustain a high B-flat.

[carrotjuse]

This voice and this song opened a new world of music to me when I was ten years old. His voice is still one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard.

[injamaven]

may be operatic, but listen to that last pianissimo note . . .

[AshLuvsJonnyStew]

This song is much better when a bass or baritone performs it...I heard a tenor do it once and didn't like it at all...

[whitefield51]

I was lucky enough to see the original in the late 50's...Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin...

[fromthesidelines]

The latest production of "South Pacific" (about to end its current Broadway run this month) was just performed live on PBS' "LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER" a few hours ago. DON'T MISS THE REPEAT WHEN IT'S SCHEDULED!!!!

[michaeld5]

@fromthesidelines

Saw both....an absolute classic.

[whitefield51]

@michaeld5 I was fortunate enough to watch Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin in the orginal broadway showing of the South Pacific in the mid 50's....

[wwnixon]

great , brings back memories of the real  Souyh Pacific.

[ElsaIsElsa]

I loved this song as a child - and heard it in my mind a while back. So I went looking - great sound, great feel, so much feeling.

[Subscribe0000]

thats when it ended on itunes. im sorry.

[ebcebcebc123123123]

why does this song cut off before the end is complete? terrible!

[usaerin]

As shiny as gold.

[rothaich5]

I never met Pinza of course but we knew his colleague Bill Tabbert (the original Lt. Cabel) who was a close friend of Pinza and who loved him. Tabbert said Pinza was one of the greatest natural singers he ever had the pleasure to work with.

[raymeo888]

Imagine, after almost three decades as a star of the Metropolitan Opera, pushing 62 years of age, this true bass baritone captures Broadway in these magic three minutes of music !

[thephantom1946]

@raymeo888 Pinza was 57 years old when he starred in South Pacific on Broadway in 1949. He was a basso cantante with a range of over 2 octaves. I have his autobiography which is a fascinating read. The greatest bass of any century in my opinion.

[pepeelsordo]

I don't understand. If Pinza was a baritone, what is Thomas Hampson?

[LoudFast1234]

@pepeelsordo Pinza wasnt a baritone. he was a bass.

[kitamelt]

Sublime

[jojojo943]

Splendid. For those who say this is a baritone, I respectfully submit that you haven't the vaguest notion what you're talking about.

[graham2375]

The best recording of this is on a CD compilation - "Gentleman's Night Out"

[jimmyratz]

Simply beautiful! "Once you have found her never let her go". They don't write songs like this anymore.

[steveknows62]

@jimmyratz

No, they sure don't. No more great lyricists left. Nor lyrics.

[TheBroadwayMuppet]

I love this song!!!! I thought who I saw was awesome, but this is just amazing!

[ttaurus53]

I grew up with his recording! It can't be equaled!

[sam7748]

Me too. It's right there at top of my list as my very favorite.

[pris613]

He sang it the best. A very touching song of love and hope.

[gordondelma]

Thank's for posting.

[leadoffeohippus]

This is a bass, ladies and gentlemen.

[gordondelma]

@leadoffeohippus More like a baritone.

[whitefield51]

@leadoffeohippus 

[keck321]

@leadoffeohippus Actually I think he is classed as a "bass-baritone".

[thephantom1946]

@keck321 Pinza is officially a basso cantante, a singing 'lyric' bass, one who can sing both basso profundo roles up to baritone roles. He had a range of over two octaves. A more rare talent for a basso, and IMO the best of them all.

[Rosclo]

@leadoffeohippus Actually, it's a baritone. But nice try.

[thephantom1946]

@Rosclo No, Pinza is a basso cantante, one of the most well known in the world, for his entire career. He was the leading bass at the Metropolitan Opera for 22 yrs until he retired from that. Being a basso cantante he could also sing baritone roles with his range of well over two octaves.

[Mamasan41]

@leadoffeohippus It certainly is! just splendid!!!

[BlackZackify]

@leadoffeohippus this is a baritone my friend

[megamonster35]

@leadoffeohippus It's actually a baritone part, so you're sorta half right :P

[B52sguy]

I cannot say what I feel from this song.

R&H topped the list to heaven.

Joseph F.

[frankieheartsful]

The signature presentation of this song.