Carlo Bergonzi - Che gelida manina (Live)

[Thriller94]

I think I could interest all of you Bergonzi fans to know..... Jonas Kaufman's rendition of this, is absolutely flawless!!! Bergonzi and Kaufman have a lot in common. The baritone timbre, the beautiful legato, and the PERFECTLY blended voice. Bravo!

[sprinter846]

Masterful performance! Where and when please.

[ilike2shagu]

Wonderful!

[paulostroff99]

Awesome! Perfection at work.TY richjvernon for sharing

[meggy123456789]

what a great voice i have heard many tenors sing this but that has to be the highest c note i have ever heard

[longlifeluke]

assolutamente perfetto!

[ekonvollm]

Auch ich stimme den meisten Kommentaren zu. Carlo Bergonzi war (vielleicht außer Caruso und Wunderlich, der ja viel zu früh verstarb) der bedeutendste Tenor aller Zeiten.

[princef3]

Lovely rendition by Bergonzi.

[FacePaster]

i have to admit, even though i'm not the biggest bergonzi fan, this is quite possibly the most perfect rendition of this aria EVER captured on record. respect.

[autogyro100]

YESSSSS.....

[iriisblue]

There isn't a tenor performing before the public today who can do that.

[operatidbits10]

I believe I was there for this performance. It was Bergonzi's radio debut for the Met matinee broadcasts. I recall sitting stunned for about 10 seconds and then screaming a huge, loud, "BRAVO!" That was me-it was picked up by the mikes. The following day, I was so sad. My timer failed and I never recorded the broadcast. Modern technology, thank G-d, corrected that situation. His Mimi that day was Licia Albanese and she wrenched my heart out in her death scene.

[BariMiersma]

@operatidbits10 What year was this performance? He's my inspiration, a Baritone who transitioned to Tenor as I'm doing now.

[operataste]

My God!!! He is singing perfectly!!! And it's live recorded!!! AND AT THE ORIGINAL KEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!

BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVVVVOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[dansedufeu]

This is just so magnificant! Thank you for posting this...my favourite tenor, ever!

[Cesconegre]

Mio Dio, nemmeno Pavarotti seppe mai cantare una "Gelida manina" così commovente e perfetta...

[stevevandien]

 When and where was this recorded?

[mjmacmtenor]

LOVE the diminuendo on the hi Bb ("Chi son") and the connection in to the next phrase (E che faccio). That is how it should be done (following the markings in the score), but so few tenors actually manage to pull this off (or even attempt it!). The voice is wonderfully even from top to bottom and he has great dynamic control and wonderful musicality!

[1952a]

Grandissimo Carlo

[autogyro100]

Music first with Bergonzi , not his voice . Hard to be humble with such talent , but he has his feet on the ground at all times . Have seen him on stage in Stockholm many years ago . Such a treat !!

[bunnyz324]

maybe carlo retired now

[jd1906sf]

I discovered Bergonzi on Youtube. It's a shame that he did not get more credit, and is not mentioned more often with the great tenors. Great voice, great heart, great artistry. Bravo

[Cipioful]

Semplicemente immenso!!

[22839613]

If there is a better rendition of thnis aria I have yet to hear it. Absolutely perfect.

[guanacadecorazon12]

Jussi Bjorling's is as wonderful. But it is a matter of opinion only. They are amongst the great. God's gift to man.

[operashark]

Wow!

[kjboogie]

Absolutely Brilliant !!!!!!!!!

Thank you

[deskfruit]

Wow, wow, wow.

With a touch of intelligence, beautiful legato, no showboating of high notes.... One of the best renditions of the song.

Perfect Rudolfo !!

[mforster1uk]

Well, maybe. But I saw both Bergonzi and Pavarotti many times in their prime (mid-70s) - both were fantastic singers and appalling actors - but I always preferred Bergonzi.

[jfc565]

The greatest tenor voice of all time.. His duets with Renata Tebaldi are heart stopping

[fabriou]

you exagerate a bit...it was a very good tenor with many defects...with high high notes some problems, very bad diction (I'm italian and I can tell you).

[profgv]

Yes the greatest tenor voice of all time. Watching him sing from the stage of the Met was an experience and a master lesson in musicianship.....

[Heinrichgermany]

A lott of tenors a good and a lot are very good aned perfect. But Carlo Bergonzi..... this wonderfool Voice..this feeling...this is simply beautyfool

[1000bestmusic]

Hello GermanOperaSinger, thank you for posting this ! Are you saying that Bergonzi was still in good voice in 2 0 0 5 ?! He was 81 Years old then !!! Incredible !!

[operalament]

I too had the good fortune to hear him in recital in new york around 1976. It was a thoroughly satisfying performance. He is a fine singer. When Pavarotti gave his new York recital at the metrapolitan i believe in 1976 as well, i was there in the front row with my father, and at the end of the concert , there was Bergonzi standing in the front row just a few feet from us waving to get pavs attention. it was a special event, and i believe the first vocal recital given at the new met.

[P1B1U1H1]

I think that's it. We adore his vocal talents, but worship his humanity.

[jd1906sf]

It's a pity when the great tenors are the subject, that Carlo Bergonzi is not mentioned more often. This is a marvelous "Che Gelida Manina," with all the heart and emotion it demands. A great tenor he is indeed.

[CraigFrancisSoto]

Che bella voce! Bravissimo Carluccio !

[Sedative85]

Immenso

[pianist527]

Beautiful interpretation of Q.G.M.. Perfect phrasing. Gorgeous timbre. Astonishing amplitude of voice.Congratulations and thanks.

[Achbar]

I am new to his voice, very Nice!

[iduefoscari]

Achbar-I am pleased you have discovered Carlo Bergonzi.On disc he was the finest Verdi tenor of the 20th century and that includes Caruso.His Puccini was not bad either!!

[GermanOperaSinger]

Perhaps I'm biased myself but I still consider Caruso the supreme tenor for all Italian repertoire from Verdi onwards. Bergonzi however is the best lyric Verdi tenor of all time and one of the finest artists who ever lived.

[Lovelytenor1]

Yes, just ask any tenor. Caruso was the greatest tenor. I also am an ardent fan of Bergonzi. This man had style.

[paulostroff99]

@GermanOperaSinger -It took me many years to come to this same realization. TY.

[DonPaolissimo]

THE absolute KING!!!!

Besides being one of the most perfect tenors in all history, Carlo is a warm, friendly human being! May he impart his knowledge & technique to some of the young generation tenors!!!

DonPaolo

[michelemischitelli]

grande Bergonzi! L'unico dei GRANDI DELLA LIRICA rimasto ancora in vita.

[Brahmsfourth]

Carlo Bergonzi was as tasteful and elegant a singer as I have ever heard. I always come back to his recordings to find out how it really should be sung. I had the good fortune to hear him in recital in the late 70's, and he was a very gracious gentleman to a very effusive audience.

[Katiuszkasanda]

Carlo Bergonzi possède la couleur de voix idéale pour incarner "Rodolfo".Musicalité parfaite et contre-ut très facile.Bravo!

[natoqui]

Danke, GermanOperaSinger. What an honor being at his Class, gratuliere. Singing and acting require different linguistic approach. Bergonzi was born in the North of Italy, where the vowels are "closed" and any letter is prononced "as it is". The result is a cristalline fraseggio, legati e staccati come out naturally, very easy. I always wonder how can a foreigner understand this difference when even Italian Dizione Schools struggle to reach the right cadenza and the clean sliding of accenti.

[dalferr]

Bravo!

[tatanatananata]

bravobravobravo

[prodesica]

Grande Carluccio!!!

[Mooorhe]

Wow, the word elegance suits no performance better than this one.

I'm not sure Rodolfo was the most elegant of people, but it's a very stylish interpretation of the role. His high notes actually sound very free and stunning, which surprised me.

[distefanopavi]

Brava! thank you M.Bergonzi for the music!

[pearlmuth3]

Yes he was not emotional but in his 1961 met lescaut he came out of his bag and was very hot. I have heard him many times and what was amazing was his voice was not powerful, about like Bjorling who I heard once only as the Duke in 1958 and yet Bergonzi could sing Forza and Chenier in a big house but of course he did not have the heft in those roles as did Corelli or Tucker yet Bjorling wisely avoided those roles he knew what was best for him.

[VinylToVideo]

Actually quite a lot better than I remembered it to be; thanks!

[lmspr]

No doubt to me that he was the king of magnificent phrasing. I love the way he makes this aria that I have heard so many times seem fresh and special.

[jacobs043]

Fenominale tenor , volgens mij de beste van na de WO2 !

[chengducat]

Ik heb onlangs zijn Verdi CD gekocht en kom tot dezelfde konklusie

[Vendimi3]

Not the tenor i love the most. 'though his tecnique is perfect and his voice reaches some peeks of sweetness sometimes just comparable to the young Di Stefano and Lauri Volpi.

[richjvernon]

I have to say his musicality and elegance make him the best tenor for me, of them all. There were several with better instruments - Bjorling and Pavarotti etc, but Bergonzi makes them sound blunt and ponderous by comparison. In the end i think he was the outstanding Italian tenor of his generation, outlasting the bigger and more reckless voices with a consumate technique, and ease of projection. When i hear Alagna belting out this piece, it sounds awful next to this poetic and silken singing.

[Webarton]

The technique is incredible. Comparable to Kraus.. at least it sounds like it to my ear.

[2ndAveLine]

the most poetic che gelida, BRAVO Carlo!

[dutchcub]

Please let us all decide never react to Maxhansendk (is that Scandinavian for Pinocchio?)again. This probably is a sad and lonely man who is getting turned on by all this attention.

[RudySunseeker]

Amazingly skilful singing, he doesn´t put a foot wrong! I understand he was a great teacher, it´s only logical.

[GermanOperaSinger]

He IS a great teacher.

[RudySunseeker]

Oops, sorry about that!

[Mooorhe]

Interestingly though, he's Salvatore Licitra's teacher...

[Ivanhoe2]

A highly competent live performance.Thanks for posting. It is good to read informed posts as those by Pearlmuth3 and Tonyantony1.

[dwightkschrute80]

Is Carlo considered a dramatic tenor?

[tonyantony1]

He was a lyric tenor with a dark voice, his voice wasn't big. Due to his amazing technique and musicality he excelled in spinto roles.

[jppooch]

I agree with you. It was my good fortune to attend Boston University in 1988 when Bergonzi came to give a number of master classes and coaching. In the culminating open masterclass he sang little passages while working us through scenes and arias. Without effort his voice filled the hall all the way to the cheap seats. His is a tenor voice that is indeed lyric with an amazing breath support. This focus on breath support was his gift to the participants in technique and expression.

[adremoid]

fantastic. Grande maestro.

[powerpuffsouthpark]

Bergonzi is one of my highest-ranking early 20th Century idol tenors. I am an aspiring opera tenor myself - my friends liken my high C note to Bergonzi's...

[redsox2213]

I'm not a huge Bergonzi fan, but I really like this rendition, thank you.

[pearlmuth3]

Max loves Jussi who was before Bergonzi and also a great Lyric with perhaps a better C but Bergonzi could do Verismo very well he sang in Aida in a big house and was sucessful and Forza, had a very Italian sound but for me as for just voice I prefer Jussi but for the Italian style Bergonzi was a great lyric spinto, heard him live many times but in concert Bjorling was a king singing lieder, arias,swedish and some Italian songs, both voices where comparable in volume but so was Pavarotti.

[jppooch]

My favorite Italian tenor. I love the way he puts the words first and allows his instrument to take the required colors. One has no doubt he is offering is soul as Rodolfo to Mimi. Without intent he makes the rest of us would-be Rodolfo seem like bellowing bulls.

[OettingerCroat]

this is a stupendous rendition. :-)

[latraviata1853]

He sounds great! Definitely deserving of comparison to the other great renditions of the century.

[fairychoirmum]

Hmmm...well, it doesn't sound at all " strained, squeeky" to me...it sounds beautiful!

Thanks for posting so the rest of us can enjoy and also to my friend for forwarding the link. :)

[iduefoscari]

Mad Max-Did you have a bad experience staying at Sig Bergonzis hotel "I due Foscari" in Busseto?Are are you just tone deaf?

[SheHadManHands]

I still think he's one of the better tenors of the last century.

[GermanOperaSinger]

I do too...he is very often overlooked in the shadow of di Stefano and Corelli, who were born around the same time as he.

He was still able to sing Che gelida manina perfectly, by the way, high C and all, which he demonstrated at the 2005 masterclass...my friend sent me some videos of it.

[Chiliarches]

Dude, post those.

[GermanOperaSinger]

I will once I can convert the videos to a file that is supported by youtube.

[Chiliarches]

Excellent.  Thank you.

[OettingerCroat]

PLEASE DO IT SOON!!! Bergonzi is a legend! And I can't wait to hear a 81 year old Bergonzi sing a C!

[SheHadManHands]

Good singing but passionless, as usual.

[patjan92]

This is a great performance! Everything about is just right!!!

[Orfeus80]

Poetry. He's known as the Verdi tenor but he is also my favourite Rodolfo, De Grieux and Pinkerton. Is this from the MET 1959?

[powerpuffsouthpark]

I can't tell if it's from Metropolitan 1959 (maybe, maybe not), but it sure sounds like it's from the period when had just transitioned from baritone (which he initially was) to tenor - 1940s to early 50s.