Enrico Caruso - Donna non vidi mai. Digitally remastered.

[MrGer2295]

Enrico Caruso(1873-1921)

was an Italian operatic tenor with has a beautiful and tender voice.

Molto Bello!!! Thank you tomfroekjaer for sharing this video.

[SHICOFF1]

This is wonderful and in his prime at age 39 so why a surprise? You are more a jussi fan so you prefer the lyric sound Jussi always had being a more lyric tenor then Caruso's spinto sound in his prime here and later Caruso's voice darkened partly because he smoked a lot but he died at 48 and it still of course had quality The Jussi fans cannot , many of them except the fact it was not Big. He was a lyric spinto tenor and it carried but was not BIG as on records but big enough! I did heard him

[SHICOFF1]

This is great singing, warm and not a wobble but rock solid! He was a king and here he is 39 or 40 years old, Prime Fart man and when he was singing in 1902 his voice was still lyric which you prefer being a Jussi fan but this was a period when he reached prime power, rich sound not nearly so much earlier but beautiful then too. If you want a singer later in his 40's still lyric in sound, listen to Gigli,Jussi, Bergonzi but for a Spinto Caruso is great here. Tucker was more Caruso then JB.

[SHICOFF1]

@monpitt500 That is true about Bjorling he sometimes but not always sang sharp on top (better then flat) anyhow but he also had a too much vibrato when he pushed for volume, his fans cannot except it and have him walking on water. He as one of my four favorite tenors but he was basically a lyric, not a Caruso type but his voice on Sirius Brdcst such as the 49 Lescaut comes through with the overtones it had in house. I heard him in house and know the voice. Not big but beautiful and carried

[gaytenor]

I'm delighted that Caruso 'still had it in him' and made this stunning recording that shows the singular beauty of his lyrico-spinto voice.

[wiseroldfart]

I didn't know Caruso still had it in him in 1913. I still prefer several of his 1904 recordings.

[GermanOperaSinger]

@wiseroldfart You didn't know Caruso still had it in him in 1913? That's an incredibly ignorant comment coming from someone who professes Caruso to be one of his favorites. Based on my listening (and own all the recordings he ever made) Caruso's vocal prime was from 1907-1914. In 1904, the voice while lyrically beautiful, had not yet matured into the rich and powerful instrument he was so renowned for. He 'still had it in him' in 1920 (the last we have of him) , when he was racked with illness.

[gaytenor]

@wiseroldfart Like German I own the complete Caruso and you constantly shock me by the depths of your ignorance. This is generally considered one of Caruso's finest recordings and I'm glad you are surprised that he still had it in him. The 1904 recordings are not Caruso's best. For one thing the voice had not totally settled and remarkable strides were made in recording techniques and materials in later years. Please stop making a fool of yourself.

[mauriciomille]

the only man who can beats pavarotti... and for too much!

[93N39]

The words don't come thru very well, despite the stunning artistry. Or is it just me?

[Erdrick345]

I am amazed that someone, monpitt500, would fault Bjoerling. After Caruso he was the greatest tenor of all! Gigli was next in line and then the rest..Bjoerling had a great and powerful voice and he had great breath control. Mary Caruso gave him one of Caruso's operatic costumes stating he was the only one who was qualified to wear Caruso's mantle.

[wiseroldfart]

@Erdrick345 I've seen several snide remarks about Bjorling. Like Caruso, he really shines in the upper ranges in a way that can't be duplicated. He and Caruso are the only two tenors on my 'A' list. Several of their recordings have shown me things I have yet to see in the other great tenors. They don't sound anything like each other, but both amaze me in their own inimitable way.

I ignore their worst performances and personal problems. These things don't diminish their best performances.

[The99Gambo]

Such dignity. God bless you Mr C.

[titous44]

Bien,parfait

[gahualli]

ahhhhhhhhhhhh, pure ecstasy!!

[The99Gambo]

Caruso, Bjorling and Gigli have wonderful renditions of this gorgeously scripted piece of music.

[bodiloto]

+ 100 !!!! GRAZIE !!!

[Corrie121]

Great postings. Absolutely wonderful.

Thank you for sharing them with us.

[tomfroekjaer]

Glad to be able to share them with you. You have the ability to 'tune in' and recognize the greatness of Caruso dispite all we have lost in the poor recording techniques. Thank you.

[llatsnut]

Don't worry tom, that gigantic finish makes up for everything that you think may be lost.

[tomfroekjaer]

Well, in that case I don't regret it :-)

Yes, it is quite spectacular.

[dollenberg]

A great rendition from a master but not as good as Bjorling in this aria.

[tomfroekjaer]

Just listened to one of the Bjorling versions of the aria here on YouTube. Spectacular and very empathetic.

I'm a bit sorry to have posted this digitally 'remastered' version. A lot was lost in the remastering.

Anyway, it is hard to compare these recordings - a lot of the nuances of Caruso's voice have unfortunately been lost and some of the nuances of Jussi too.

They were both amongst the absolute greatest tenors Mankind had the privilege to experience!

[paulostroff99]

tomfroekjaer- If you would add Gigli and di Stefano to your short list of the all time greatest of the most well known tenors-I would heartily agree. Just don't enter my four horsemen in the list of non qualifiers. They are once again

Fleta,Cortis,Lazaro,and Pertile.

[monpitt500]

@dollenberg Bjoerling was always off key(too high) and pushing on the voice. He was also far from beeing as powerful as he seemed on records!

[geologicalmap]

Thank You for this video! I'm singing!! And also hoping that caruso is not listening to me.. CIAO!

Davide from Torino

[tomfroekjaer]

Hi Davide,

I thank YOU for all the videos you have uploaded!

Tom

(from a small village 50 km south of Copenhagen)