100 Greatest Singer: PAVEL LISITSIAN

[MultiMorgenster]

Heard him for the first time today - made my day!

[SVEETTIS]

Best for russians in Finland !

[65Skelton]

these guys are really something else

[Petro645]

Bravo!

[Agorante]

The reason Hvorostovsky and Lisitsian are both so good in this piece is that neither of them seems to need to breathe. I suspect that Dimo studied this recording.

When the Iron Curtain finally fell I said it was 1492 for baritones - a whole new world had emerged.  Suddenly we had Hvorovstosky, Leiferkus, and Chernov - each one arguably the best in the world. If it had fallen with Stalin's death that could have been Lisitsian. Dirty commies.

[DarrenSeacliffe90]

Lisitsian's terrific in it but I still find the best version of this song the one sung by Panteleimon Nortsov.

[mizofan]

I really like Hvorostovsky with this too ( i was delighted to discover him at Cardiff Singer of the World 89), but Lisitsian is really magnificent. Didn't he drill for diamonds when younger? Turned out the most precious jewel by far was his own voice.

[mariadelamor21]

Puede haber algo más hermoso y conmovedor?!!!

[Musikcamp]

no tears, no soul after having heard this.

More Heaven is not necessary!

[baltoman24]

Lisitsian is one of the all time greatest baritones- what a glorious voice- the breath control is amazing, the legato, the power! Lisitsian had it all, how I with the Soviet Union would have let him travel more- but I can understand why they kept him to themselves. One of my favorite of all singers and certainly among the 100 greatest! thank you.

[LazaBrkonja]

I'm late coming to opera as a baritone (50+) and listened to just about everyone here on You Tube to figure out what to sing for my audition. For me, this guy is the best. The ringing clear highs. The diction. The control. The phrasing. The breadth control is just mind boggling - in this piece he goes to "G" grows it and then continues on with the phrase! And, who knows how long ago and with what technology this recording is made. Just fantastic.

[brunosilvershadow]

Never heard a better Baritone in this Role! World Class indeed!

[Kievest]

Bel canto bliss!! Every woman's fantasy voice filled with warmth, verility, masculinity,

nobility and every other "ility" in the dictionary! A Yeletzky for the Ages! Thank you

for posting my favorite of favorites and to ditogam for so kindly sharing this treasure!

[spizzell1]

Unbelievable voice

[mobhog]

no power no nothing like Ots

[mobhog]

Georg Ots, but I don´t like his ugly vulgar phrasing? Ots was estonian not russian but he did frased it all so correct no russian singer cant.

[rahepscicuv]

J'ai eu le grand bonheur et le très grand honneur de rencontrer Pavel Lissitsian et d'être son élève plusieurs année durant à Moscou. C'était aussi un homme exceptionnel, humainement, et comme pédagogue. cela restera une des plus belles rencontres de ma vie, rencontre décisive aussi quand au choix de faire une carrière lyrique. J'éprouve toujours une immense émotion à l'écouter....

[ZsaZsadoll]

Beautiful 

[gemcatgirl]

Simply stoning, beautiful!

[bvm93]

BEST VOICE EVER!!!!!

[OperaSamia]

So glad to see name up here!!!!

[morehlepituachkol]

I am ashamed I discovered this jewell so late! Better late than never! Beaultifull!!!!

[lornabegbie]

Absolutely wonderful, and goose bump singing.

[meltzerboy]

Lisitisian is one of the great baritones with respect to tone, technique, phrasing, style, expression. I also love this opera. Thanks for sharing, Mike!

[ZsaZsadoll]

What was Lisa thinking???? what a hearfelt performance

[ZsaZsadoll]

Brava fantastico

[AnahitFoundation]

Pavel Lisitsian was another example of greatest Armenian musician who did not get the recognition they should of, due to iron curtian. I would rate him in top 5.

[gratecourt]

100? Lisitsian is one of the best 5! Baritone in a century. I'll enjoy checking out your others. Thanks.

[mayflash67]

Absolutely wonderful powerful marvellous voice!!!!

[Ginotti]

This is one of the most marvellous recordings ever made.

The ringing yet caressing tone, the smoothnes of the legato, the supreme elegance and romantiz quality in the phrasing...

Compared to this man Hvorostovski is a third rater

[raigekimaru]

@Ginotti

that's because he doesn't sing in the back of his throat =)

[lornabegbie]

@Ginotti

I wouldnt put Hvorostovski down, I am sure he was probably inspired by this wonderful singer - he must surely have modelled himself on this marvelous baritone. They are just different. However I do agree that this singer has a special quality which no one in the world could emulate....

[tenorismo]

@Ginotti Different generation . Than Hvorostovski . It was a different world. I perfer Mazorock .

[quakercub]

Humankind's inability to live with each other has robbed us of so many treasures. Such a pity that politics kept this great artist off American stages.

[cgerh92549]

What a wonderful performance. Too bad the cold war limited his exposure in the west. He was truly one of the greatest Verdi baritones of the post-war era.

[cantorandopera]

Not only was Lisitsian one of the greatest singers of all time - you chose my favorite audio from his repertoire when you included him. Who else can sing this with such beauty, elegance and musicality? It is a lesson in everything that makes music move us.

[Manxypop]

Thanks for posting your 100 singers because I discovered this one! What a wonderful voice!

[OperaTonna]

One of my favorite recordings of Pavel, his voice is like butter...."buwterh" as a new yorker would say it...

[paulostroff99]

Lovely singing! One of the truly great baritones! Bravo! TY.

[picapin]

Now, this could not be more elegant. This is a total luxury indeed. A worldclass voice!!

MUST be included.

[alber6161]

luxury voice..!!

[operalament]

its an interesting project, but it seems anyone can make a list of 100 singers. i would be far more interested in your list of say the 20 greatest singers and the criteria on which you base your selections. anyway, good luck

[MissLadyboy007]

I would like to see Cesare Siepi, Leonid Sobinov, and Franz Volker.

[gnativerson]

certainly highly deserving of a top 100 list - his "Ombra ma fu" in glorious analog is the best I've heard- -(have to look though your list to see if Boris Gmyria made it - hope Kozlovsky nade it - LOL)

[GermanOperaSinger]

After Robert Merrill, the most beautiful baritone voice I've ever heard. Sometimes I almost wonder if I wouldn't prefer him over Merrill if I just had more recordings of him. Truly one of the greatest.

[GermanOperaSinger]

And although Hvorostovsky is a good singer, comparing him to Lisitsian is like comparing copper to gold.

[picapin]

hi GErmanoperasinger,

I do prefer Pavel Lisitsian over Merril. Pavel is one of the most refined baritones that have ever existed.

He is like the baritone version of tenors like Gigli, Schipa, etc. in terms of vocal technique.

[petrof4056]

Awesome! it's an Armenian! As me

[Fairpavel]

Well, that is a surprise! A singing of the highest calibre, to use the cliche. Thank you, Mike.

[LLehmannfan]

Da ich selbst Bariton bin, freue ich mich immer wieder darüber, neue Sänger meines Stimmfachs kennenzulernen...

Lisitsian war wirklich ein Meister der Phrasierung

Wie schade, dass er auf Grund des eisernen Vorhangs heute vergessen ist...

[voceuniversalis]

Sorry i meant Mike

[voceuniversalis]

What a clean diction and sweet voice!Thanks very much Markus

[Prissie28]

Wow. :-) I'm in love.

[Onegin65]

One of the greatest baritones XX century

[sospello]

Another one I have not heard but just heard of.  Thanks for posting him.

[Herur22]

I got to know this singer a short time ago and I was very impressed. To me it seems a very beautiful voice.

[WiseMonki]

wonderful ... :)