I am new to the internet, but not to singing. I found Caruso singing Musica Proibita. Now I can't stop listening to this piece of music. The colour and control of the voice is wonderful. Many thanks Tom for the recording.
I'm 63 years old. As a child, I would visit my grandfather and he would usually have Italian opera on the radio or Caruso on his Victrola. I inherited all those 78s and am blessed to have them. Caruso remains the greatest of the tenors.
Cheers, tomfroekjaer. Insomma, as the Italians say, you cannot really define miracles. My father, a passable baritone, literally "subsisted" on Caruso. I grew up with Caruso's voice as familiar as any in my household. And now, my children love Caruso. How is this for a happy minor miracle? I suppose things of REAL value simply live on and on and on!...
@victorio1940 Caruso's voice cannot really be classified. Was he a lyrical tenor, spinto, dramatic or baritone, basso/basso cantante?
Yes! All of them. Take just about any other tenor, Gigli, Björling, de Mario, Pavarotti, etc. and they fit beautifully into one of these - predefined - categories, but not Caruso - beyond classification, in my opinion.
@charlemagne762 - Victor Red Seal records were all single-face until 1923 when their first double-faced (500 series on 10-inch) issues came out -- two years after Caruso's death. In fact, quite a few of the first 500-series issues were reissues of Caruso single-face sides.
a great voice - thank god for recordings so we can enjoy this man to this day. I have an original recording, 78 rpm, in english recorded in the early '20 when he was on tour in American. Titled "Dreams of Long Ago". I still play it and even in English he was fantastic.
I am so glad you shared Caruso, I was watching a film tonite and as soon as
I heard himin the background music, as always it is instant recognition. No one will ever live again with a voice that holds such mastery. Such an incredibly beautiful sound, his voice...........I love this last recording, and I find it to be flawless!
I have read somewhere that someone thought Caruso might have had advanced lung cancer. I'm not surprised. If you look at how much cigarettes Caruso smoked per day, you're in for a big surprise. He sometimes emptied several packs a day. Even though he has a good voice, the smoking slowly ruined it. And it apparently screwed up his breath control, as I have mentioned earlier.
His breath control had really deteriorated by this time. I heard him take quite a few breaths. I don't think he knew it was going to be his last. Though it was obvious he would probably be sick at some point in his life (because of his excessive smoking), his death came very unexpectedly.
And yes, he does look much older than he actually was. Smoking has a very negative effect on your health and appearance.
Thanks so much for sharing all these marvelous clips, for the informative exchanges with other afficionados (including the observations about Ward Marston), and for your excellent website. I greatly enjoyed the thoughtful commentary on Caruso and on your motivation for creating the website.
When Caruso first began singing, he was discouraged by some, they told him his voice sounded like the wind whistling through the window, but he never gave up, HE NEVER GAVE UP! and look what he became. It's a shame he died before we could get more of his work recorded.
Yes, indeed. It was his first voice teacher, Maestro Guglielmo Vergine, who said that. Some years later Puccini was looking for a lead tenor for 'La Bohéme' in Livorno. Caruso auditioned for the role and Puccini was so impressed with the voice of young Caruso that he allegedly mumbled 'Who sent you to me? God Himself?'
What is puzzling is why Caruso recorded this soprano aria from the Rossini Stabat Mater. His penultimate recording was the Domine Deus from that work (and this time composed for the tenor), which is also a splendid sound.
He died far too young at 49 in a biography of Caruso I read that his voice was Broadcast on the Marconi Radio..but that only some people heard it such as ships radio operaters!!
Indeed, it's very frustrating... I'm pretty sure they could have recorded it but neglected it as, of course, they could never know its potential significance. I heard some very elderly folk lamenting its unavailability and they seemed to have competent knowledge of the technology that could have been used to record it.
I should ammend the posting under this to say that it was, obviously, a very long time after his death that Mrs. Caruso made that comment. I believe it was during a memorial celebration of Caruso, where she was present. I can't remember the year anymore, but it would have to have been when Bjoerling was well known.
Don't know when Dorothy Caruso said this about or to Bjoerling. There may have been several occasions.
Once on hearing Bjoerling sing 'Vesti la giubba' she apparently said to him:
'You're the only one worthy to wear his mantle, bear Rico's crown!'
She also presented Bjoerling with one of Caruso's costumes from Rigoletto. In her biography of Bjorling his wife Anna-Lisa comments that he never wore Caruso's costume in a performance, but with few exceptions it was a favourite gift.
Thank you, that is most interesting. I think she made the Bjoerling comment at the Metropolitan Opera during some kind of dedication service. I read about it 50 or so years ago. Afraid the memory isn't what it once was........your comments certainly reinforce the notion. She clearly had great esteem for Bjoerling's voice, and this may tell us something about a timbre that she admired, which might in turn tell us at least something about how Caruso's voice sounded to her.
Yes, the present certainly indicates some kind of dedication service for Bjoerling. I personally don't immediately think of Caruso when hearing Bjoerling perform. He had a fantastic voice, but for me very diffent.
But in their own way for sure amongst the absolute top of tenors.
I have heard many bjoerling recordings and in my opinion jussi sings many of his arias with a definite pronounced caruso influence.. Seems natural,as Bjoerling would have been a young student when most likely the caruso records were flooding world markets after his death in the 20's thru the mid 30's
Yes, lpvcrcd, not surprising that Jussi was influenced by Caruso - most later tenors to this day have been. Doesn't make Jussi less than Caruso, but he was the first to break with the bel canto tradition and just sing his heart. He didn't necessary intend to break with the bel canto tradition. He probably did it because he couldn't help sing out his own emotion.
Tom: it is interesting that Jussi [as part of the Bjorling Quartet] made his first records in the USA before Caruso made his last record, even though he was only 10 when Rico died!
@saltburner2: quite something! At the age of 10! Didn't know that Jussi started recording that early. One of the greatest voices from the golden age, we have the privilege of being able to hear on recordings. Thanks.
While touring America in 1920, the Bjorling Male Voice Quartet cut six sides for Columbia - Swedish folk-songs and Lutheran Hymns. These have been re-issued on LP and CD. Most of their concert dates were in Lutheran Churches in Chicago and the Mid-West. There is a charming photo of brothers Jussi aged 7, Olle aged 9 and Gosta aged 6 with their father David.
The officially listed cause of his death was pleurisy, or inflammation of the lining of the lung cavity. He was a smoker--of rather strong Egyptian cigarettes--so that may have been a contributing factor. As to the voice itself, I knew two people who had heard him in his prime, and they both said the outstanding thing, in the theater, was the unusual combination of beauty and power. Mrs. Caruso said after his death that the voice that most reminded her of his was Bjoerling's, curiously.
Hi David. It does seem curious at first when comparing the two voices. But the acoustic recording process more readily adapts itself to lower partials & fundamentals of tone. The upper partials that lend the tone brightness & squillo have very little impact, & almost none are imparted to the wax cylinder. The hard core of Caruso's top comes through quite well, but the sparkling sunny radiance & tonal glow does not. It only seemed to be a dark hued voice because those partials recorded well.
cont', - When listening to the soprano's & mezzo's of the day for example, they either sound anaemic in tone, or girlish, simply because the high partials that predominantly characterize the female voice don't record well acoustically. Also, they lacked the authority in the lower voice & partials to make the 'horn' more responsive. Even the basses Plancon & Journet sounded a little anaemic next to Enrico! - He really was a vocal phenomenon.
Emily, I certainly haven't forgotten Ruffo nor Ponselle. Ponselle's voice was extraordinarily full toned & luscious for a soprano, & her voice recorded much better than many of her contemporaries with the acoustic process for that very reason. Similarly, Ruffo was also a vocal phenomenon whose voice was far bigger than his contemporaries. These two aside, when you hear other sopranos, baritones, basses, & tenors of the period, they all sound a little thin & reedy next to Caruso.
@patrick96321 Hi!, Yeah as j72050 says type in Ruffo or Tita Ruffo and listen to a few recordings, and see what you think! He was not called the " Lion" for nothing, not that power and volume are everything, but it can be impressive when used well!
with all due respect to Dorothy Caruso she probably said that about many tenors whose paths she crossed. People often use what they can for sinceritys sake.. In her case it was her legendary husband's giant shadow/status.. Tone wise Jussi sounded nothing like Caruso But I will agree he did often phrase and sing full out much of the time as Caruso did So there was an influence and Miss Caruso heard that.
There was one more recording of this piece after this recording. However never released. Caruso was as I have mentioned suffering from a head cold. One can hear the changes in the voice from his earlier days. But hey he got older..we all do.Perhaps my greatest wish is to have once had him record using a microphone,then we could get a better understanding of his voice. His voice was nothing short of amazing. We will never hear the special part of that voice the recording horn could not capture.
Yes these were the last recordings made by Caruso. He never made any others. He sang till Dec 24 1920. The after an attack of what could have very well been cancer of the throat or lungs he slowly died. Never to publically sing again. It is interesting to note that he was suffering from a head cold when he made his last recordings in Camden New Jersey in Sept. 1920 But he handled much of the items he was to record quite well indeed.
I am new to the internet, but not to singing. I found Caruso singing Musica Proibita. Now I can't stop listening to this piece of music. The colour and control of the voice is wonderful. Many thanks Tom for the recording.
TheEricprince 6 days ago
bellissima
lisa1gas 1 month ago
I'm 63 years old. As a child, I would visit my grandfather and he would usually have Italian opera on the radio or Caruso on his Victrola. I inherited all those 78s and am blessed to have them. Caruso remains the greatest of the tenors.
RatchaMan 2 months ago
Cheers, tomfroekjaer. Insomma, as the Italians say, you cannot really define miracles. My father, a passable baritone, literally "subsisted" on Caruso. I grew up with Caruso's voice as familiar as any in my household. And now, my children love Caruso. How is this for a happy minor miracle? I suppose things of REAL value simply live on and on and on!...
victorio1940 3 months ago
@victorio1940 Wonderful that your children also love Caruso. Yes, real value is practically unkillable.
The countless efforts to capture the nuances of his voices - still going on today - speak for themselves.
Cheers, Tom
tomfroekjaer 3 months ago
What vocal range! He almost sounded like a basso cantante in this one!
victorio1940 3 months ago
@victorio1940 Caruso's voice cannot really be classified. Was he a lyrical tenor, spinto, dramatic or baritone, basso/basso cantante?
Yes! All of them. Take just about any other tenor, Gigli, Björling, de Mario, Pavarotti, etc. and they fit beautifully into one of these - predefined - categories, but not Caruso - beyond classification, in my opinion.
tomfroekjaer 3 months ago
Thanks for uploading!
gerardbedecarter 4 months ago
Now 80 years. but 2 days ago
jbeer82 6 months ago
Here is the art of singing in one song. Listen to him to learn what singing is.
OscarLevant1 9 months ago 4
@OscarLevant1 Nice to hear it from someone who knows what he's talking about.
tomfroekjaer 9 months ago
Ancora una volta una Pasqua di Pace.
sidelis 10 months ago
I didn't know this was his last recording, I have this on a single sided 78. Thought single sided records were earlier.
charlemagne762 11 months ago
Comment removed
rojoknox 10 months ago
@charlemagne762 - Victor Red Seal records were all single-face until 1923 when their first double-faced (500 series on 10-inch) issues came out -- two years after Caruso's death. In fact, quite a few of the first 500-series issues were reissues of Caruso single-face sides.
rojoknox 10 months ago
Passus et sepultus est.
No one could ever move me more in singing than Enrico Caruso.
The voice has a wealth that is unbeleiveable in the true meaning of the word.
klokheten 1 year ago 2
a great voice - thank god for recordings so we can enjoy this man to this day. I have an original recording, 78 rpm, in english recorded in the early '20 when he was on tour in American. Titled "Dreams of Long Ago". I still play it and even in English he was fantastic.
SIMONKARKENNY 1 year ago
Such a beautiful voice! He improved with age.
girlmusic2remember 1 year ago
I am so glad you shared Caruso, I was watching a film tonite and as soon as
I heard himin the background music, as always it is instant recognition. No one will ever live again with a voice that holds such mastery. Such an incredibly beautiful sound, his voice...........I love this last recording, and I find it to be flawless!
carolineindenver 1 year ago
On this day, 79 years ago, we lost the greatest tenor the ever lived
jbeer82 1 year ago 7
@jbeer82: Yes, you'are right and very alert! Didn't pay attention myself ...
Thank you.
tomfroekjaer 1 year ago 2
@jbeer82 It is actually 89 years
jbeer82 1 year ago
@jbeer82 still the greatest and maybe all way will be
richardpetty1000 7 months ago
I have read somewhere that someone thought Caruso might have had advanced lung cancer. I'm not surprised. If you look at how much cigarettes Caruso smoked per day, you're in for a big surprise. He sometimes emptied several packs a day. Even though he has a good voice, the smoking slowly ruined it. And it apparently screwed up his breath control, as I have mentioned earlier.
operafan31 1 year ago
His breath control had really deteriorated by this time. I heard him take quite a few breaths. I don't think he knew it was going to be his last. Though it was obvious he would probably be sick at some point in his life (because of his excessive smoking), his death came very unexpectedly.
And yes, he does look much older than he actually was. Smoking has a very negative effect on your health and appearance.
operafan31 1 year ago
These are my top tenors.
1. Enrico Caruso
2. Richard Tauber
3. Jussi Bjoerling
4. Luciano Pavarotti
5. Placido Domingo
6. Jose Carreras
martythetickler 1 year ago
@martythetickler hello, for me is mario lanza the greatest tenor ever .
How he sing's the hight C nobody can do better. that's my persenel opinium .
Sorry for my teribel english .Frendly greatings Peter
peterdvh 1 year ago
dinkipooxa, you're right he looks 30 years older, 48 when he died? Good grief.
sewitt60 2 years ago
Thanks so much for sharing all these marvelous clips, for the informative exchanges with other afficionados (including the observations about Ward Marston), and for your excellent website. I greatly enjoyed the thoughtful commentary on Caruso and on your motivation for creating the website.
kakuremino5 2 years ago
You are very welcome, kakuremino5.
Happy you liked my website!
tomfroekjaer 2 years ago
When Caruso first began singing, he was discouraged by some, they told him his voice sounded like the wind whistling through the window, but he never gave up, HE NEVER GAVE UP! and look what he became. It's a shame he died before we could get more of his work recorded.
Gaspipenicklioni 2 years ago
Yes, indeed. It was his first voice teacher, Maestro Guglielmo Vergine, who said that. Some years later Puccini was looking for a lead tenor for 'La Bohéme' in Livorno. Caruso auditioned for the role and Puccini was so impressed with the voice of young Caruso that he allegedly mumbled 'Who sent you to me? God Himself?'
tomfroekjaer 2 years ago
....Ruffo is on youtube..type it in
j72050 2 years ago
One can hear his struggle for breath between phrases! A noise that indicates lung congestion... The voice had an exquisite beauty!
listeningtoit 2 years ago
the farewell of a legend...
angelparsifal 3 years ago
Sorry, this was not from the Stabat Mater, but from a Rossini Mass. This mistake was brought to you by courtesy of Senior Moments.
rupepill 3 years ago
What is puzzling is why Caruso recorded this soprano aria from the Rossini Stabat Mater. His penultimate recording was the Domine Deus from that work (and this time composed for the tenor), which is also a splendid sound.
rupepill 3 years ago
He died far too young at 49 in a biography of Caruso I read that his voice was Broadcast on the Marconi Radio..but that only some people heard it such as ships radio operaters!!
berlinman46 3 years ago
That's interesting about the broadcast - didn't know. Thanks.
tomfroekjaer 3 years ago
The broadcast was not recorded, but it could have been. It was heard in a studio where they had the technology to record it - a great shame.
Mooorhe 2 years ago
Sh.t ! Didn't know they were able to...
tomfroekjaer 2 years ago
Indeed, it's very frustrating... I'm pretty sure they could have recorded it but neglected it as, of course, they could never know its potential significance. I heard some very elderly folk lamenting its unavailability and they seemed to have competent knowledge of the technology that could have been used to record it.
Mooorhe 2 years ago
I should ammend the posting under this to say that it was, obviously, a very long time after his death that Mrs. Caruso made that comment. I believe it was during a memorial celebration of Caruso, where she was present. I can't remember the year anymore, but it would have to have been when Bjoerling was well known.
stefakamelpash 3 years ago
Don't know when Dorothy Caruso said this about or to Bjoerling. There may have been several occasions.
Once on hearing Bjoerling sing 'Vesti la giubba' she apparently said to him:
'You're the only one worthy to wear his mantle, bear Rico's crown!'
She also presented Bjoerling with one of Caruso's costumes from Rigoletto. In her biography of Bjorling his wife Anna-Lisa comments that he never wore Caruso's costume in a performance, but with few exceptions it was a favourite gift.
tomfroekjaer 3 years ago
Thank you, that is most interesting. I think she made the Bjoerling comment at the Metropolitan Opera during some kind of dedication service. I read about it 50 or so years ago. Afraid the memory isn't what it once was........your comments certainly reinforce the notion. She clearly had great esteem for Bjoerling's voice, and this may tell us something about a timbre that she admired, which might in turn tell us at least something about how Caruso's voice sounded to her.
stefakamelpash 3 years ago
Yes, the present certainly indicates some kind of dedication service for Bjoerling. I personally don't immediately think of Caruso when hearing Bjoerling perform. He had a fantastic voice, but for me very diffent.
But in their own way for sure amongst the absolute top of tenors.
tomfroekjaer 3 years ago
I have heard many bjoerling recordings and in my opinion jussi sings many of his arias with a definite pronounced caruso influence.. Seems natural,as Bjoerling would have been a young student when most likely the caruso records were flooding world markets after his death in the 20's thru the mid 30's
lpvcrcd 2 years ago
Yes, lpvcrcd, not surprising that Jussi was influenced by Caruso - most later tenors to this day have been. Doesn't make Jussi less than Caruso, but he was the first to break with the bel canto tradition and just sing his heart. He didn't necessary intend to break with the bel canto tradition. He probably did it because he couldn't help sing out his own emotion.
tomfroekjaer 2 years ago
@tomfroekjaer
Tom: it is interesting that Jussi [as part of the Bjorling Quartet] made his first records in the USA before Caruso made his last record, even though he was only 10 when Rico died!
saltburner2 1 year ago
@saltburner2: quite something! At the age of 10! Didn't know that Jussi started recording that early. One of the greatest voices from the golden age, we have the privilege of being able to hear on recordings. Thanks.
tomfroekjaer 1 year ago
@tomfroekjaer
While touring America in 1920, the Bjorling Male Voice Quartet cut six sides for Columbia - Swedish folk-songs and Lutheran Hymns. These have been re-issued on LP and CD. Most of their concert dates were in Lutheran Churches in Chicago and the Mid-West. There is a charming photo of brothers Jussi aged 7, Olle aged 9 and Gosta aged 6 with their father David.
saltburner2 1 year ago
The officially listed cause of his death was pleurisy, or inflammation of the lining of the lung cavity. He was a smoker--of rather strong Egyptian cigarettes--so that may have been a contributing factor. As to the voice itself, I knew two people who had heard him in his prime, and they both said the outstanding thing, in the theater, was the unusual combination of beauty and power. Mrs. Caruso said after his death that the voice that most reminded her of his was Bjoerling's, curiously.
stefakamelpash 3 years ago
Hi David. It does seem curious at first when comparing the two voices. But the acoustic recording process more readily adapts itself to lower partials & fundamentals of tone. The upper partials that lend the tone brightness & squillo have very little impact, & almost none are imparted to the wax cylinder. The hard core of Caruso's top comes through quite well, but the sparkling sunny radiance & tonal glow does not. It only seemed to be a dark hued voice because those partials recorded well.
hiyadroogs 3 years ago
cont', - When listening to the soprano's & mezzo's of the day for example, they either sound anaemic in tone, or girlish, simply because the high partials that predominantly characterize the female voice don't record well acoustically. Also, they lacked the authority in the lower voice & partials to make the 'horn' more responsive. Even the basses Plancon & Journet sounded a little anaemic next to Enrico! - He really was a vocal phenomenon.
hiyadroogs 3 years ago 2
Excellent comments. Thank you! D.
stefakamelpash 3 years ago
Thank you, David!
hiyadroogs 3 years ago
I think you forget about Tito Ruffo and Rosa Ponselle - they were certainly equal to Caruso.
EmilyGreene1984 2 years ago
Emily, I certainly haven't forgotten Ruffo nor Ponselle. Ponselle's voice was extraordinarily full toned & luscious for a soprano, & her voice recorded much better than many of her contemporaries with the acoustic process for that very reason. Similarly, Ruffo was also a vocal phenomenon whose voice was far bigger than his contemporaries. These two aside, when you hear other sopranos, baritones, basses, & tenors of the period, they all sound a little thin & reedy next to Caruso.
hiyadroogs 2 years ago 2
I cannot find anything by Tito Ruffo on You Tube. Since I've never heard of him, I feel cheated. Can you point me to a Ruffo recording?
patrick96321 2 years ago
His name is Titta Ruffo, not Tito Ruffo. And there are dozens of recordings of him on YT.
piasecznik 2 years ago
Ah yes! Thanks! Now I've heard him and read about him. Ruffo indeed had great natural talent.
patrick96321 2 years ago
@patrick96321 Hi!, Yeah as j72050 says type in Ruffo or Tita Ruffo and listen to a few recordings, and see what you think! He was not called the " Lion" for nothing, not that power and volume are everything, but it can be impressive when used well!
robertwbecker 1 year ago
with all due respect to Dorothy Caruso she probably said that about many tenors whose paths she crossed. People often use what they can for sinceritys sake.. In her case it was her legendary husband's giant shadow/status.. Tone wise Jussi sounded nothing like Caruso But I will agree he did often phrase and sing full out much of the time as Caruso did So there was an influence and Miss Caruso heard that.
lpvcrcd 2 years ago
There was one more recording of this piece after this recording. However never released. Caruso was as I have mentioned suffering from a head cold. One can hear the changes in the voice from his earlier days. But hey he got older..we all do.Perhaps my greatest wish is to have once had him record using a microphone,then we could get a better understanding of his voice. His voice was nothing short of amazing. We will never hear the special part of that voice the recording horn could not capture.
jfs78 3 years ago
This is a lovely recording. It is also a demonstration of how Caruso changed the vowels "i" and "u" as he moved through his range.
Samurai9 3 years ago
Unimaginably remarkable technique.
nicksum29 3 years ago
Yes these were the last recordings made by Caruso. He never made any others. He sang till Dec 24 1920. The after an attack of what could have very well been cancer of the throat or lungs he slowly died. Never to publically sing again. It is interesting to note that he was suffering from a head cold when he made his last recordings in Camden New Jersey in Sept. 1920 But he handled much of the items he was to record quite well indeed.
jfs78 3 years ago