I think his mistake was emulating his father, when in actuality his voice appears much darker, and quite beautiful in its own right. Perhaps another teacher than the great Caruso might have recognized this. I tbelieve he sold himself short by doing this, but he obviously enjoyed singing in this way, and how could he gainsay his legendary father?
Thanks, George, for uploading this great historic performance. Of course he cannot match his father as far as empathy or voice power is concerned, but his voice is very nice.
Great jewel! Very beautiful voice... Not many are lucky enough to inherent their fathers voice... To bad he did not try tp make it! Thanks again, is great
He has Enrico Sr.'s mannerisms and phrasing, but not daddy's great voice or phenomenal vocal placement. The voice itself is actually really mediocre. He could sing on pitch though, and not everyone can do that!
I really think that Junior had a great voice.What I dont understand is why he never got anywhere near stardom.Before I discovered this clips I didin't even know Caruso had a son who was also a tenor.Pity!.Good job Tom
thanks for this .. hell -quality of these rare finds are never what you would like but this fine . he sings with his dad's phrasing and mannerisms and stays right on pitch Obviiously he falls into the camp of a Secretariat's offspring. How can a son or daughter duplicate the achievement of an immortal parent! But the quality of the tone I heard was very nice Thanks again!!! A++
and.. it does prove that yes Caruso did attempt with loads of time to teach 'his son" who knows what the intention was. I'm sure jr. did it to the extent he enjoyed and the Dad saw that. Time was put in, daily for years at home. Nobody knows what Caruso did with all of his other hours.
Frankly, I think this is wonderful. Jr. never intended in any way, on any level, to attempt grand opera. It's a man singing a song that reminds him of his dear papa, and singing it wonderfully,nothing more and nothing less. And the flourishes near the end (1:44 to 1:48) are stunning by anyone's standards.
(after reading the sidebar) Ok, I misspoke, maybe he did consider it at some point, but had the self-awareness to know grand opera wasn't realistic for him. I still say this recording is a man singing a song the reminds him of his father and that's it.
What a splendid commentary you've provided. I couldn't agree more with all that you've said. Thank you for taking the time to voice your well-considered opinion. GMMIX
Nevertheless, it is more than good enough to enjoy. The recording itself I think did not do him justice and the poor guy would have probably been compared to his father often. Did he stand a chance for a singing career?
I agree so much. Who ever says this isn't special must have cabage in the ears. Or as my Dad who was taught by Enrico Rosati would say, 'if you don't think that was something special you must be a blockhead'
...this guy...I read his book....almost signed a death warrant by recording...he has none of the Caruso poured honey tone, nor solid strength in back of the notes.....nor ringing beauty.....but he had a lot of courage....
He does sound like he's forcing the sound, rather than being simply natural. His father, Enrico Caruso, in contrast, sang in a healthy way that was completely natural. I wonder if his son used the same techinque as his father had. He's lucky that he had that, while he was alive and to be able to study how to truly perform, rather than use artifical and bad singing techinques later. Nevertheless, it is amazing to hear this recording.
Yes andy karzas has played this a few times on WFMT show from the recording horn (chicago) also Jussi Bjorlings son and grandson Raymond and his brothers. He also played Rina Gigli singing with her dad! It does sound lighter and not that strong pointed top, thanks.
Oh My God.. this is almost exactly how I'd imagine Caruso to sound on an electric recording. I'm surprised RCA Victor never signed him - They probably would have made a killing!
Sorry, but this is nothing like what Caruso would've sounded like on an electrical recording. He would've sounded the same as on his acoustic recordings, no fuller and no leaner, but a bit more distant, as his voice would've overdriven the microphones used in the 1st era of electrical recording without standing some distance away from them.
I know Sr. was obviously a spinto and Jr. was a lighter lyrical tenor. I just think their tones are very similar and I should have made that clear in my last comment. I disagree with some of the comments that he sounds like Schipa; I don't hear that at all. I also disagree with you since I've heard and own many of the earliest recordings and it is amazing how different a voice can be on both acoustic and electric recordings. Listen to some of Ward Marston's transfers, both acoustic and electric.
I think the notes' releases do sound a bit like his father's at times. I own all of Ward Marston's Caruso transfers, which as you know, are strictly acoustic recordings. I can't say I've directly compared acoustic and electric recordings of the same singer, but once electrical recording was underway, one singer could sound drastically different due to mic placement, so comparisons are probably useless.
Absolutely fascinating! Strangely, I've just finished reading his book on his father (and family)! I agree with others re the similarity with Tito Schipa. Thank you so much for posting this.
Fascinating! An extremely interesting recording. I never knew Caruso's son was also a singer. Quite a good one, too - though his voice was a good deal lighter and without that almost "baritone-like" fullness of his father's voice. A bit strained, too, as though it didn't flow as easily as Caruso Senior's. But then who knows what he would have reached had he persevered! Thanks gmmix.
Wow! I did not know, that Enrico Jr. recorded. Comparing his voice with "voci parallele" I would say, that his phrasing, his pronounciation sometimes reminds of Schipa´s (D´intor-a-no...for-a-se un´altra...la constan-a-za) But in the production of the tone he tries to copy his father. Listen to the portamento on "infiora la vita" "un altra" or "le smanie". Very, very interesting. Thank You so much for posting this.
Gmmix, Another wonderful and rare gem. Absolutely fascinating. I learn something new with each and every clip you post... and no tuition! Thank You! YF, J.
The more often I replay this, the better I seem to enjoy it. I have read that Enrico Caruso Junior is supposed to have recorded Che gelida manina. Do you happen to know whether that is so, please?
The performance in fact is better than some reports had indicated it might be. The voice itself reminded me slightly of Schipa's. But who, bearing that name, would dare ever to sing in public?
That's a relief, to read your reaction. I'm even emboldened to modify my previous comments - on repeated hearings this voice increasingly reminds me of Schipa's, and the standard of performance weirdly also seems to improve. The recording sounds to have been made by the acoustic process. Perhaps it was a sentimental experiment to recall the sound of an earlier time?
As the original is an acetate, I'm inclined to think this might (or might not) have been a homemade recording such as they used to make using a Wilcox-Gay disc cutter. The piano accompaniment further suggests a non-studio recording. The frequency response of those W.G. units was about equal to an acoustic disc or "radio sound." (I still have one of those W.G. units in the attic. Wonder whether the triangular-shaped cutting stylii can still be bought.)
I think his mistake was emulating his father, when in actuality his voice appears much darker, and quite beautiful in its own right. Perhaps another teacher than the great Caruso might have recognized this. I tbelieve he sold himself short by doing this, but he obviously enjoyed singing in this way, and how could he gainsay his legendary father?
Manxypop 2 months ago
Bravo!!! LIstening to this was so MOVING!....
victorio1940 3 months ago
Papa Caruso was not so hot anyway, its all legend.
papoocanada 8 months ago
Thanks, George, for uploading this great historic performance. Of course he cannot match his father as far as empathy or voice power is concerned, but his voice is very nice.
tomfroekjaer 1 year ago
Great jewel! Very beautiful voice... Not many are lucky enough to inherent their fathers voice... To bad he did not try tp make it! Thanks again, is great
cesrra 1 year ago
He has Enrico Sr.'s mannerisms and phrasing, but not daddy's great voice or phenomenal vocal placement. The voice itself is actually really mediocre. He could sing on pitch though, and not everyone can do that!
GermanOperaSinger 1 year ago
I think this is great! Very manly sung!
Stingerfyle 1 year ago
I really think that Junior had a great voice.What I dont understand is why he never got anywhere near stardom.Before I discovered this clips I didin't even know Caruso had a son who was also a tenor.Pity!.Good job Tom
musicologo1able 1 year ago
Prometteur !
mariasarda 2 years ago
thanks for this .. hell -quality of these rare finds are never what you would like but this fine . he sings with his dad's phrasing and mannerisms and stays right on pitch Obviiously he falls into the camp of a Secretariat's offspring. How can a son or daughter duplicate the achievement of an immortal parent! But the quality of the tone I heard was very nice Thanks again!!! A++
lpvcrcd 2 years ago
Sounds good to me
lorileeky 2 years ago
Yes he sang with the ability and talent that was with huge insight to his Dad. Can't say that for many produced tenors of Today.
schipa456 2 years ago 7
and.. it does prove that yes Caruso did attempt with loads of time to teach 'his son" who knows what the intention was. I'm sure jr. did it to the extent he enjoyed and the Dad saw that. Time was put in, daily for years at home. Nobody knows what Caruso did with all of his other hours.
schipa456 7 months ago
Frankly, I think this is wonderful. Jr. never intended in any way, on any level, to attempt grand opera. It's a man singing a song that reminds him of his dear papa, and singing it wonderfully,nothing more and nothing less. And the flourishes near the end (1:44 to 1:48) are stunning by anyone's standards.
esroberto1 2 years ago
(after reading the sidebar) Ok, I misspoke, maybe he did consider it at some point, but had the self-awareness to know grand opera wasn't realistic for him. I still say this recording is a man singing a song the reminds him of his father and that's it.
esroberto1 2 years ago
What a splendid commentary you've provided. I couldn't agree more with all that you've said. Thank you for taking the time to voice your well-considered opinion. GMMIX
gmmix 2 years ago
He certainly has some of the qualities his father had.
The passagio notes are very well done and powerful, just like Caruso's.
revivaljesus 3 years ago 4
I like his voice, sounds very pleasantly to me!
Stingerfyle 3 years ago
Nevertheless, it is more than good enough to enjoy. The recording itself I think did not do him justice and the poor guy would have probably been compared to his father often. Did he stand a chance for a singing career?
spurtler 3 years ago
I agree so much. Who ever says this isn't special must have cabage in the ears. Or as my Dad who was taught by Enrico Rosati would say, 'if you don't think that was something special you must be a blockhead'
schipa456 3 years ago
Based on this recording, EC jr. was a competent tenor. But not at the same level as EC Senior by any means -- what the elder Caruso had was unique --
stevevandien 3 years ago 5
This is a rarity, but his voice was nothing special.
LordMgls 3 years ago
...this guy...I read his book....almost signed a death warrant by recording...he has none of the Caruso poured honey tone, nor solid strength in back of the notes.....nor ringing beauty.....but he had a lot of courage....
j72050 3 years ago
He does sound like he's forcing the sound, rather than being simply natural. His father, Enrico Caruso, in contrast, sang in a healthy way that was completely natural. I wonder if his son used the same techinque as his father had. He's lucky that he had that, while he was alive and to be able to study how to truly perform, rather than use artifical and bad singing techinques later. Nevertheless, it is amazing to hear this recording.
EmilyGreene1984 3 years ago
Very interesting recording and a very couragous man ... knowing that he instantly would be compared to his great father.
The voice has only little resemblance to his fathers, but not a bad.
Thank you for posting this rarity! - Your 'more info' part is great and accurate.
tomfroekjaer 3 years ago 2
Gosh you can hear somthing of his fathers voice thats for sure.
mrrk 3 years ago 5
Yes andy karzas has played this a few times on WFMT show from the recording horn (chicago) also Jussi Bjorlings son and grandson Raymond and his brothers. He also played Rina Gigli singing with her dad! It does sound lighter and not that strong pointed top, thanks.
pearlmuth3 3 years ago
Oh My God.. this is almost exactly how I'd imagine Caruso to sound on an electric recording. I'm surprised RCA Victor never signed him - They probably would have made a killing!
VinylToVideo 3 years ago
Sorry, but this is nothing like what Caruso would've sounded like on an electrical recording. He would've sounded the same as on his acoustic recordings, no fuller and no leaner, but a bit more distant, as his voice would've overdriven the microphones used in the 1st era of electrical recording without standing some distance away from them.
esroberto1 3 years ago 5
I know Sr. was obviously a spinto and Jr. was a lighter lyrical tenor. I just think their tones are very similar and I should have made that clear in my last comment. I disagree with some of the comments that he sounds like Schipa; I don't hear that at all. I also disagree with you since I've heard and own many of the earliest recordings and it is amazing how different a voice can be on both acoustic and electric recordings. Listen to some of Ward Marston's transfers, both acoustic and electric.
VinylToVideo 3 years ago 3
I think the notes' releases do sound a bit like his father's at times. I own all of Ward Marston's Caruso transfers, which as you know, are strictly acoustic recordings. I can't say I've directly compared acoustic and electric recordings of the same singer, but once electrical recording was underway, one singer could sound drastically different due to mic placement, so comparisons are probably useless.
esroberto1 3 years ago
Absolutely fascinating! Strangely, I've just finished reading his book on his father (and family)! I agree with others re the similarity with Tito Schipa. Thank you so much for posting this.
Clive1939 3 years ago
voice very similar to his father..especially medium and low notes...
alber6161 3 years ago
He is similar to his father in parts of this. I think he shows remnants of his father's power.
hnksnw 3 years ago 2
Fascinating! An extremely interesting recording. I never knew Caruso's son was also a singer. Quite a good one, too - though his voice was a good deal lighter and without that almost "baritone-like" fullness of his father's voice. A bit strained, too, as though it didn't flow as easily as Caruso Senior's. But then who knows what he would have reached had he persevered! Thanks gmmix.
dinastein44 4 years ago 4
Nice. I agree with Dekyi 1210, he reminds me of Tito Schipa, not his dad for sure. Very good.
Orteginho 4 years ago 3
Wow! I did not know, that Enrico Jr. recorded. Comparing his voice with "voci parallele" I would say, that his phrasing, his pronounciation sometimes reminds of Schipa´s (D´intor-a-no...for-a-se un´altra...la constan-a-za) But in the production of the tone he tries to copy his father. Listen to the portamento on "infiora la vita" "un altra" or "le smanie". Very, very interesting. Thank You so much for posting this.
Dekyi1210 4 years ago 6
Many thanks for your perceptive comments. It certainly seems that a number of listeners feel
the voice approximates Schipa's! Not incidentally, I ALWAYS have been fond of Schipa's recordings.
gmmix 4 years ago
Gmmix, Another wonderful and rare gem. Absolutely fascinating. I learn something new with each and every clip you post... and no tuition! Thank You! YF, J.
fuzzbear6240 4 years ago 2
The more often I replay this, the better I seem to enjoy it. I have read that Enrico Caruso Junior is supposed to have recorded Che gelida manina. Do you happen to know whether that is so, please?
rupepill 4 years ago
Always difficult position and bad fate of children of their great parents. Many examples (M.Dietrich's daughter - actress).
Very interesting story, unknown to me so far; thanks.
jurek46pink 4 years ago
The performance in fact is better than some reports had indicated it might be. The voice itself reminded me slightly of Schipa's. But who, bearing that name, would dare ever to sing in public?
rupepill 4 years ago
Interesting you should mention Schipa, as the first time I heard this recording, that's whose
voice came to my mind, too.
gmmix 4 years ago
That's a relief, to read your reaction. I'm even emboldened to modify my previous comments - on repeated hearings this voice increasingly reminds me of Schipa's, and the standard of performance weirdly also seems to improve. The recording sounds to have been made by the acoustic process. Perhaps it was a sentimental experiment to recall the sound of an earlier time?
rupepill 4 years ago 3
As the original is an acetate, I'm inclined to think this might (or might not) have been a homemade recording such as they used to make using a Wilcox-Gay disc cutter. The piano accompaniment further suggests a non-studio recording. The frequency response of those W.G. units was about equal to an acoustic disc or "radio sound." (I still have one of those W.G. units in the attic. Wonder whether the triangular-shaped cutting stylii can still be bought.)
gmmix 4 years ago