He was right to retire relatively early in his 50's. Now all we have of him is wonderful recordings of a divine voice as heroic and robust as it was lyrical and warm. This is more than can be said of tenors who sang well past their prime. It is the judgement to know when to step aside for the sake of his art form and not just his legacy that makes him truly great.
If you like FRANCO CORELLI check THE 30 TENORS in my playlist SUPER TENOR ARIAS ( including CLAUDIO SOTELO performing ARIA DEL CIRUJANO as a world première for YOU TUBE ) and tell me which one you prefer.
you get a much better feel for his voice in a hall like this and with the acoustics--nice--he just got better and better----with his knowledge of hic voice he could have really shown us wonders till maybe 1990---and then where would the 3 Tenors be? behind Corelli!!!
Una Maravilla Irrepetible!!!-Gracias *bposton242*, por Traernos y Compartir Permanentemente el Recuerdo al Gran Maestro Franco Corelli. ¡¡¡BRAVO POR SIEMPRE MAESTRO FRANCO CORELLI!!!
He sounds in good voice here because for the most part he does not shout as much as he did in his later performances. This is much more thoughtful and therefore the voice is not pushed out of shape and does not have that quarter tone wobble it developed later in life. Just listen to other late Corelli song's on Youtube and see what I mean - this is much more comfortable and you can still say it's a great voice. Also a better brain controlling it - using what resources he had by this time...
I just hopped here from the Nilsson TV show "L'ultima canzone", and I find the SAME person with contradictory comments: both performances (this and the Nilsson show) are from the SAME year (1981). Corelli hade already retired since 1976, and since then he only performed in the NJ recital and participated in the Nilsson TV show as a guest. He NEVER sang in public after these - so, what are exactly "his later performances" you're talking about?
No sorry, I was trying in fact to be consistent: apologies if I were not clear (late at night!) - what I probably mean is that his later performances would be superb if he had taken the same approach in his later career (and not just right at the end) as he does here. That's all I meant. Objectively, in this concert Corelli produces some magical moments, tender and sensitive AND has the climaxes to contrast. Superb!
This is a fascinating (bootlegged) video, obviously from a sneaked in camera of a true fan. Corelli's amazing power to fill up the space with his voice, to create that exciting reverberatory ambience, can clearly be heard... Amazing... Thanks for posting it.
I remember this performance well. Yes indeed, he could have continued for years if he so wished, but his stage fright was nearly overwhelming. I remember the night I sang with him in 1965. I never saw anyone more nervous. By the way, I am that fan who videoed this performance.
Thanks a lot for recording this historic event. Corelli was SOMETHING out of this world. I wish I could have seen him delivering the most powerful tenor voice ever (probably matched in power only by MDM).
I don't think that's accurate, nor do I think it really matters! Corelli had great power and projection, but for shear dramatic tenor power, MDM, Melchior, and others really have had more heft. But again, does it matter? We're not talking about horsepower and 0-60 here!!!!
ericzamir - I think your opinion was thoughtfully presented, and I like the humor in your last comment! unfortunately, some people aren't here to have discussions, only to to drop bombs and pretend to be smart.
It is fabulous to hear Corelli five years after his last operatic performance. He sounds very good and surely could have continued his career into his sixties. But he had had enough.
MAGNIFICO !!!!!!!!!!!!
ranigema 2 days ago
Дай Бог нам всем так петь в такие годы!
Whitesnakefly 3 months ago
He was right to retire relatively early in his 50's. Now all we have of him is wonderful recordings of a divine voice as heroic and robust as it was lyrical and warm. This is more than can be said of tenors who sang well past their prime. It is the judgement to know when to step aside for the sake of his art form and not just his legacy that makes him truly great.
Alieaz 1 year ago
Madre mia ,con 60 años!! tenia esa voz .
Unico Maestro Gracias por estar siempre en nuestras memorias. (1921-2003)
machycris 1 year ago 2
What generosity of sound and soul!!!!
mrantiquedealer 2 years ago 4
!!!FRANCO CORELLI EL GRAN MAESTRO POR SIEMPRE!!! El mejor de todos los tiempos.
pieritlyon 2 years ago 4
FRANCO CORELLI: El Eterno Angel Tutelar de los Tenores Heróicos!!!
***************************************
FRANCO CORELLI : The Eternal Angel Guardianship of the Heroics Tenors!!!
laonirica 2 years ago 6
If you like FRANCO CORELLI check THE 30 TENORS in my playlist SUPER TENOR ARIAS ( including CLAUDIO SOTELO performing ARIA DEL CIRUJANO as a world première for YOU TUBE ) and tell me which one you prefer.
upatoia 2 years ago
excellent - just shows what this great tenor could do when he calmed down.
luflowerhe 3 years ago 3
Wonderful ! Bellissimo !!
fanka63 3 years ago 7
you get a much better feel for his voice in a hall like this and with the acoustics--nice--he just got better and better----with his knowledge of hic voice he could have really shown us wonders till maybe 1990---and then where would the 3 Tenors be? behind Corelli!!!
btsg 3 years ago 7
@btsg Dont worry...Corelli is still ahead of Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras in the eyes of us who knows about tenor-singing - past and present.
"Calaf" and Corelli, do you think that any modern tenor (including the 3 famous ones) could do a better version in the role of "Calaf"?
Well, They simply cannot! Franco Corelli did the "ultimate" version.
maxhansendk 1 year ago 2
Una Maravilla Irrepetible!!!-Gracias *bposton242*, por Traernos y Compartir Permanentemente el Recuerdo al Gran Maestro Franco Corelli. ¡¡¡BRAVO POR SIEMPRE MAESTRO FRANCO CORELLI!!!
laonirica 3 years ago 4
Wonderful, another rare tenor, who's voice stay remarkable in the later years. I agree, I would have liked to hear the applause
Michaelbos 3 years ago 5
...è commovente...
nnsochedirti 3 years ago
wow! this was beautiful, but cut off a little too soon at the end, I always like to hear audience appreciation. Thx.
Redboy4 3 years ago
Franco for ever , in my heart , in my memory ....the best tenor of all ! .....for me no comparison with other tenors can be .....!!!!!
Phaidra69 3 years ago 15
best of the best of te best just beest
wiik32 3 years ago 8
WOW! It's amazing what vocal rest does for the singer.
dibeling 3 years ago 2
Yes, it's amazing how much Better he sounds here than in the two or three years leading up to his retirement.
pcp0727 3 years ago 3
I liked Caruso's version better. Caruso's expression is breath taking.
hnksnw 4 years ago
Franco is very specialy great tenor 20century!!!
belcanto8 4 years ago 7
how old is he here?
corellilover 4 years ago
He was round 60 I think.
Kallistono 4 years ago
I LOVE him sooo much..
Corellis Voice explains Love,happiness,anger,life,hope,sadness,
passion,lightness,sex and everything..
Corelli was a very special person and a very special voice.
That kind of voice and that kind of personality will never come to this world again..
distediste 4 years ago 17
Verso la fine carriera,in piena forma si è
ritirato,il suo timbro lo trovo ancora più
bello più scuro e pastoso. Ha lasciato un
riccordo che non si scorderà mai.
macciboma 4 years ago
GREAT!!
Rossalita 4 years ago 2
GReaT
francotenor 4 years ago 3
ok...franco corelli examplies what a spinto tenor is. I am impress in the fact the voice is just as crisp, strong and beautiful in this clip.
raycanto76 4 years ago 2
PS: later performances mean anything much after 1971/2 - when he could get very loud and coarse...at times.
Isidore98 4 years ago
He sounds in good voice here because for the most part he does not shout as much as he did in his later performances. This is much more thoughtful and therefore the voice is not pushed out of shape and does not have that quarter tone wobble it developed later in life. Just listen to other late Corelli song's on Youtube and see what I mean - this is much more comfortable and you can still say it's a great voice. Also a better brain controlling it - using what resources he had by this time...
Isidore98 4 years ago
I just hopped here from the Nilsson TV show "L'ultima canzone", and I find the SAME person with contradictory comments: both performances (this and the Nilsson show) are from the SAME year (1981). Corelli hade already retired since 1976, and since then he only performed in the NJ recital and participated in the Nilsson TV show as a guest. He NEVER sang in public after these - so, what are exactly "his later performances" you're talking about?
salomenet 4 years ago
No sorry, I was trying in fact to be consistent: apologies if I were not clear (late at night!) - what I probably mean is that his later performances would be superb if he had taken the same approach in his later career (and not just right at the end) as he does here. That's all I meant. Objectively, in this concert Corelli produces some magical moments, tender and sensitive AND has the climaxes to contrast. Superb!
Isidore98 4 years ago
This is a fascinating (bootlegged) video, obviously from a sneaked in camera of a true fan. Corelli's amazing power to fill up the space with his voice, to create that exciting reverberatory ambience, can clearly be heard... Amazing... Thanks for posting it.
OdysseyArts 4 years ago 2
I remember this performance well. Yes indeed, he could have continued for years if he so wished, but his stage fright was nearly overwhelming. I remember the night I sang with him in 1965. I never saw anyone more nervous. By the way, I am that fan who videoed this performance.
VincentTitone 4 years ago
have you sang with him? lucky you as what? what year? where? please tell me all about it.
tena2 4 years ago
Man thank you for taping this! Corelli's voice one in a million.
Kallistono 4 years ago 2
Thanks a lot for recording this historic event. Corelli was SOMETHING out of this world. I wish I could have seen him delivering the most powerful tenor voice ever (probably matched in power only by MDM).
emiliano52 4 years ago 7
emiliano:No one could match Corelli power.
tenorvoice50 4 years ago 7
I don't think that's accurate, nor do I think it really matters! Corelli had great power and projection, but for shear dramatic tenor power, MDM, Melchior, and others really have had more heft. But again, does it matter? We're not talking about horsepower and 0-60 here!!!!
ericzamir 3 years ago
ericzamir:Frankly,I don't care what you think!
tenorvoice50 3 years ago
tenorvoice50. Aren't you friendly!!! I guess the 50 refers to your IQ?
ericzamir 3 years ago
ericzamir - I think your opinion was thoughtfully presented, and I like the humor in your last comment! unfortunately, some people aren't here to have discussions, only to to drop bombs and pretend to be smart.
itonlyhappens 3 years ago
It is fabulous to hear Corelli five years after his last operatic performance. He sounds very good and surely could have continued his career into his sixties. But he had had enough.
Samurai9 4 years ago
Thank you very much for this rare video !
cristoforo66 4 years ago 2
He was in great voice. I was there- it was quite a secret at the time.
TOMMUC1 4 years ago
I am surprised he is in such good voice here. Bravo
tdeane34 4 years ago
One of the greatest tenors,thank you Franco.
Gary from N.S.
garjay 4 years ago 2