Jan Peerce - "Ch'ella mi creda" from Puccini's "La Fanciulla del West"

[operassassin]

Does anyone know the history of the two texts? This is one of several recordings that reads: "Unico fiore" rather than "Mio solo fiore"

[SHICOFF1]

Peerce as usual sings it perfectly, smooth as silk with a rich warm voice, so underrated because he didn't sing in Europe that much but by Americans who heard him he was well liked. He was a great artist, easily as fine as Bjorling and Bergonzi the other leading lyric spinto's, his Musical intelligence never took a back seat to anyone.

[SHICOFF1]

Giordani sang it at lyric this past season and I heard it. His top notes where still very good . Next season he sings in Aida with Sondra Radonovsky who is wonderful, she really is IMO. I imagine Alvarez would be a good Spinto for the role.

[Michaelbos]

Pure music to the ear.

[jmccracken1963]

I also happen to have this recording, on a 45 rpm record (backed, I think, by one of the TOSCA arias). Peerce certainly DOES sing this role with a nobility that is called for in the music, and with a ringing top that the tenor who sang this role at Lyric Opera this past season (who shall remain nameless) lacked. I don't know whether Peerce would have done well with the whole role (which he may have studied and rejected), but he does VERY well on this part. Thank you VERY much for sharing!

[VinylToVideo]

@jmccracken1963 Probably "Recondita armonia" recorded the same day.

[jmccracken1963]

@VinylToVideo  I do believe you're right. What backed "E lucevan le stelle" - was that "Donna non vidi mai" or was it "Nessun dorma"? (I'm pretty sure that it was one of the non-BOHEME Puccini scenas for tenor.)

[VinylToVideo]

@jmccracken1963 Peerce, to my knowledge, only recorded those two early on for radio and the former he did for Vanguard in the 60s.

[ShawDAMAN]

I happen to have this recording. Very nice emoting, sans the hamminess that this part of the opera tends to lend itself to.