Baritone Apollo Granforte & Soprano Hina Spani ~ Decidi il mio destin (1927)

[lirica2011]

Bravissimi entrambi. Grazie

[AulicExclusiva]

Such a great recording. What a treat, again.

[CurzonRoad]

@AulicExclusiva

Agreed... 100 percent... THANKS!

[mayatatyana1]

Doug, beautiful duet. Thank you. Maya

[Cantormatis]

This is gorgeous!~ Granforte is incredibly well named, isn't he?

[Randidan]

Nice transfer!!!! Like many another fan of these two (Spani, esp), I'm always hoping to find a post-war or Victor pressing of this because of the noisy surfaces... It's one of the worst ever pressed and rarely sounds this good! Thanx for posting it, and furthering the name of Spani -- her recordings were too few in number...

[cattleman6420012000]

This is so interesting to hear. Thanks so much.

[mayatatyana1]

Doug, magnificent duet.Thank you. Maya

[65attila]

@CurzonRoad

Doug

I agree - I love every minute of this opera - there Toscanini.

Regards-John

[CurzonRoad]

@65attila

Hi John:

Exactly! There are many admirably memorable songs in Pagliacci. For better or worse, it's Toscanini's conducting that too often turns me away. Cheers, etc. Doug --

[CanadaPisces]

Very good singing! Thank you Paul for sharing and Doug for posting!

[paulostroff99]

@CanadaPisces -My pleasure James.

[Herur22]

@CanadaPisces

Great singing. Thank you.

[paulostroff99]

A duet made in heaven! TY Doug for yet another great historical posting.

[65attila]

@paulostroff99

Many thanks for sharing this posting of this exciting

performance.

Regards-John

[65attila]

@paulostroff99

Bravo friend for sharing and Doug for posting

Take a soap opera plot and -2- opera singers who can lather with the best and you get this hair raising performance. Spani is electric without distorting her voice and Granforte so ardent. Toscanini hated this opera even though he conducted the World Premier. Toscanini called Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony the Pagliacci of the classics. He referred to both as "Porcheria" trans. Pig Slop.

In this case Maestro was stupido.

[paulostroff99]

@65attila -I assume him to not liking the syrupy sweetness or exaggerated elongated romanticism of the music. Lovely though at times monotonous and tedious music.

[65attila]

@paulostroff99

I could not find details RE; why AT disliked Tcha 5th. He simple needed to nod his head amd murmered "Porcheria". But he told Leoncavallo to his face at the premier I believe that Pagliacci also "Porcheria'

[paulostroff99]

@65attila -I was of course referring to the fifth symphony and not this glorious duet-on Toscanini's remarks.

[CurzonRoad]

Respond to this video...

Ridi Porcheria! 

[Randidan]

@65attila Toscanin's ego was such that it warped his mind, I think!! I've never liked his cold, businesslike way of conducting -- as if it were he, rather than R.Strauss who was anxious to get it over with and get on to the poker game... I don't think he was even in the same class as Furtwaengler and T.Serafin, esp in opera... he would have ruined this recording, for instance.

[65attila]

@Randidan

I think Toscanini was a GREAT conductor IMO. His performaces of Strauss'

Don Quixote and Franck's Symphony are glorious as well as his Beethoven, Brahms and Wagner. I do wish he would have given singers more latitude in complete operas though.

Have you ever heard Furtwangler conduct Rossini's "la Gaza Ladra" Overture? It is ponderous and as flat as a bottle of champagne open for 24 hours. No one is perfect.

[Randidan]

@65attila You know, I don't think I have heard the Rossini(really surprising considering that I love Rossini so much!), but knowing me, just might like it... I guess it's like voices -- no one voice is the be-all-end-all for everyone! tx for the comment!

[65attila]

@Randidan

I prefer Seraphim in opera to Toscanini, Furtwangler was a great conductor. No bums in this crowd.

Regards-John

[titaruffo2]

It is a beautiful duet. Granforte eases his huge voice to become the charming Sylvio. And Hina Spani embodies Nedda.

wonderful

Léo

[IshyIMB017]

Awwwwwwww, I don´t know what they´re saying but they sound very beautiful and romantic. Very pasionate.

[legatofancier]

Granforte is simpy one of the handful of greatest baritones that I have ever heard. Although Spani is new to me, I will have to pay serious attention to her in the future. This recording is a wonderful discovery.

[CurzonRoad]

@legatofancier

In total agreement on Mr. Granforte!

He, along, with Ms. Spani, are two BIG favorites.

THANK YOU!

[opertutto]

So good to hear this splendid rendition of the Pagliacci Love Duet again. Many thanks.

[jacquesurlus]

De toute beauté, deux immenses artistes, merci Doug,

Denis.

[andyrawn]

DOUG ~

BOTH Granforte's & Spani's voices are absolutely First Class,

many thanks for uploading this excellent historical recording!

~ ANDY

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Andy: And many thanks! All Best. Doug --

[gmmix]

Splendid performance. Checking birth and death dates, the two vocalists REALLY were contemporaries! Thanks for this fine posting.

[69brancaleone]

Granforte deserves to be better known, his voice is sensational, for sure in the top 10 of baritones of all time. Thanks for this gem and for this post.

[CurzonRoad]

Most welcome.... and you are right!

[jfsanin]

great

[CurzonRoad]

Thank you!

[MrCafiero]

THANK YOU for sharing this amazing recording!

[CurzonRoad]

It sounds almost like a live performance. THANK YOU!

[Kievest]

Female/male, yin and yang, Spani and Granforte ignite a dramatic chemistry together in this electric verismo duet! Granforte's enormous Verdi voice is sublime as an instrument of crooning tenderness, and Spani is fiesty, dramatic and lends contrast in their intense interplay! The two singers unite in the final gorgeous harmony giving a perfor- mance that is above all real, believable, and unforgettable. Thank you for post- ing this marvelous historic recording!

[Glenmed]

What a satisfying rumble there is to Granforte's voice - marvellous power, projection and technique. Love the full-voiced drama in everything I've heard Hina Spani do with every beautiful note hit dead centre and with great feeling. Glorious pairing and supreme music making.

[CurzonRoad]

Barry: Thank you... much appreciated! Doug --

[Randidan]

@Glenmed ...and yet, Spani could spin out an early music song or two with great artistry, as she seems to do with all her recordings --wish there were a greater number of them!

[AulicExclusiva]

Such wonderful singing, full of tenderness and sensuality. Unsurpassed performance!

[joanabanyeres]

Great Granforte, Spani had a pretty voice she sings with passion. Appolo sings "E allor perche) with munificent expression Lovely duo..

[SENAFOREVER]

Glorious. Thank you.

May I invite you, Doug, on my channel.

[65attila]

This is a great performance but Merrill and De Los Angeles :are creameier and more sensusla IMO.

[CurzonRoad]

Hi John: Love to hear the Merrill - De Los Angeles. If it's on youtube I've not yet found it. THANK YOU!

[Randidan]

@CurzonRoad hehe!  It's available in every format since it was recorded - I'm surprised it's not on here...

[genia106]

Caro Douglasio,

Molte Grazie for this Dynamic, Dramatic Destino! Le Divinita have decreed that Appollo and Hina are DIVINE!

[CurzonRoad]

Truly a performance for the ages!

Thank YOU, Genia!

Doug --

[cantorandopera]

What a wonderful recording! Thank you, Doug, for sharing a real treasure. Granforte's name is not that well known, but through Youtube he is not forgotten. And I believe I was the first to post Spani on Youtube - but I can't be sure . Wish I could take credit for something related to her as she was one of the truly great singers of the golden age. Her voice is a forever standard. Granforte, who really shines here, is just fabulous.

[joanabanyeres]

l saved for my hunny, also bariton, who admires Granforte Joana.

[meltzerboy]

As usual, I must adjust and be fair when hearing a selection for which I already have a golden standard: in this case, the duet as sung by Merrill and de los Angeles on the 1953 recording with Bjorling and Warren. Yet Granforte and Spani are quite wonderful. BTW, is Apollo Granforte the real name of this great Italian baritone? If so, how appropriate for an opera singer; if not, he wasn't exactly the most modest person! But he was one of that group of superb baritones of the early 20th century.

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Nate: Yes, have always marveled at the name -- Apollo Granforte -- which as far as I can tell was very much his real name. The fairly detailed entry in the Concise Biographical Dictionary of Singers doesn't state otherwise. Now I must hear the Merrill & de los Angeles you refer to. Cheers, etc. Doug --

[AulicExclusiva]

I'm pretty certain AG was his real name. While I agree that the De los Ángeles/Merrill recording—there is also a superb Licia Albanese/Merrill version which might have been an initial trial run—represents wonderful singing, nobody really believes that an elegant señorita like Doña Victoria is some stray waïf Canio picked up in the gutter! As with Lucrezia Bori, the singing may have been delightful, but the comb and mantilla always remained perfectly in place.

[Bivolari]

Granforte sings magnificently. He is really a Tonio but he turns his voice into a loving Silvio. One of the earliest complete Pagliacci's is lucky to have him as Tonio.Spani is always a fascinating singer.Here she seems further back from the mike than he does, but she makes her point with some ardent singing. We are lucky to have this.

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Stephen: Really an amazing, incredible performance. THANK YOU! Doug --

[ginnykaren]

Thank you for sharing this with me!

This was magnificent and I don't think it could get any better.

This is going right into my Playlist too :-)

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Ginny: Many thanks. All Best. Doug --

[paulostroff99]

Stupendous singing! Bravi! TY Doug.

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Paulo: Hard to imagine it getting any better... THANK YOU! Doug --