Carlo Bergonzi - L'Africaine - Oh Paradiso

[seancoxen]

My favorite Italian tenor...by far!

[ilprincipegentile]

Sommo Carlo! Quando Bergonzi canta in questo modo davvero è insuperato, a sentire questo concerto pare impossibile che si tratti dello stesso tenore a volte così in difficoltà di intonazione e squillo, comunque sono ciance, questa, a dispetto dei furibondi e francamente troppo aggressivi ipercritici, è una resa memorabile.

[DonPaolissimo]

This was the voice of God, sung thru Bergonzi's throat - awesome!

[caterinatagliani]

E fra non molto compirà 87 anni, ma la voce è indimenticabile

[ilike2shagu]

Quite good? It is beautiful, as I am sure was Bjorling's rendition......Why the competition? Are all opera authorities arrogant I wonder????? 

[31122051]

@fpersonne : non ho MAI neppure insinuato che Bergonzi corrompesse la critica, MAI, nella maniera più assoluta. A me Bergonzi non piace ma non sono tipo da fare certe affermazioni. CIAO.

[thefranzpippo]

tecnicamente... perfetto!!

[mermodfreres]

Quite good....but check out Bjorling as well -- I think that one of Jussi's best recorded arias.

[ekonvollm]

Wunderbar! Herzlichen Dank für diese Aufnahme, in der Bergonzi erneut sein Ausnahmekönnen unter Beweis stellt.

[fpersonne]

Qui c'e' una prodezza tecnica rara a sentirsi: un si bemolle acuto sulla vocale 'U'. Trovatene un altro se siete capaci.

[fpersonne]

@31122051 Non so a chi ti riferisca e chi siano i quattro critici. Sicuramente non concordo sul fatto che sia il piu' grande tenore di tutti i tempi; frase senza senso. Sul fatto che Bergonzi corrompa tutta la critica, italiana, inglese, americana, ho i miei forti dubbi e mi sembra un'affermazione grave da parte tua. Sicuramente in quest'aria canta da Dio.

[dansedufeu]

I am not a great opera officianado but Bergonzi, to me, casts so many of the other great tenors in the shade. Every time I find a new piece either on you tube or by other media it is like finding gold - a voice of such purity and indescribable timbre one just knows is his.

[stevevandien]

Bergonzi was a great artist. Some have argued that his voice lacked the sheer clarion excitement and freedom on top that Del Monaco and Corelli had in abundance. I concede the point. But Bergonzi's voice was both BEAUTIFUL and virile, with enough power and ring for spinto and even some dramatic roles. AND his legato was liquid gold -- really, I don't know if any tenors since have truly matched Bergonzi in this respect --

[malamutet]

Bergonzi, oltre a cantare magnificamente, è anche simpatico perchè quando lo vedo mi vengono in mente i tortellini e il lambrusco, che io adoro. Carlo sei stato un grande.

[zgopify]

His voice has that special 'it' quality that is so difficult to describe. Others may be considered greater singers, but - as in the case of Bjoerling and Di Stefano - there is a special feeling in the timbre, regardless of the type of aria. As if the voice itself carries an intense emotion, sobs and quasifeelings are so out of place here. The voice lives a life of it's own...Diego Florez and Heppner has it also - but Bergonzi had it sooo much more!

[bodiloto]

Marconi,Caruso,De Lucia,O'Sullivan,Fleta,Piccalu­ga,Pertile,Masini,Corelli,Del Monaco...

[bodiloto]

@JussidelMonaco amico, non dimentico mai per questa ragione i ... erano per Jussi BjörlingGigli,Paoli,Vinay,Niko­la Nikolov ecc...ecc... la mia lista e cosi lunga che preferisco di fermarmi qua.Ciao.

[JoanNilson]

This defies description. He simply casts a spell - and the poetry of his legato never lets you go!! BRAVO MAESTRO!!!

[TheAlbertM]

Magnifique, Carlo Bergonzi est vraiment le meilleur!!!

[Vendimi3]

Che pasta di voce. Splendido. Splendido. Splendido.

[avidiaa]

non bello a vedersi!!!!???? ma cosa stiamo dicendo ? una persona che si raccoglie e si concentra per donarci la sua parte piu' bella!?ragazzi preferisco 1000 volte lui a pavarotti e saluti a tutti!adesso mi arrivera' una carrellata di insulti di nostalgici .. andate al diavolo!

[birilloarturo]

non bello a vedersi forse. ma bravo e grande interprete verdiano

[ShawDAMAN]

superb

[bellinianodoc]

Dicevano che Bergonzi non aveva acuti luminosi, ma questo si naturale mi sembra mica male.

E poi vivaddio...: finalmente qualcuno che non canta il solito orribile "...Tu M'appartieni a me..." che fa accapponare le orecchie. Piccola ma significativa prova di come Bergonzi rispettasse la musica che eseguiva.

[founder222]

He is my favorite!!! I am sadden that I am to young to have seen him in his prime in an opera.

[NovaCarthago]

GRANDE CARLO SEI FANTASTICO

[PosasPizza]

SINGING AT IT'S VERY VERY VERY BEST

Grazie, Maestro Bergonzi! :°-)

[24yotenor]

I will concur wih some previous comments that this performance was dry emotionally but I've always thought of Bergonzi as having a painfully passionate voice. Due largely, I believe, to the fact that he was primarily self-taught. In defense of his dryness; Anyone who sings opera understands that one cannot drag their emotions across the floor for too long. An opera singer must depend on the qualities of level-headedness and even-temprament to sustain themselves through a long night of singing

[hugonegall]

Para mi gusto uno de los mejores tenores de su época. Voz clara, nítida y sin artificios. Verdiano por naturaleza. Un tenor de gran capacidad y trayectoria como algunos otros, a los que poxo se les puede criticar. Saludos. 26 Sep. '09

S.L.P.

[peckerwoodtwist]

Handsomely said.

+Opera Lover+

[castorp278]

I don't like Bergonzi. He is so artificial, he sounds like he is giving a lesson to a student, he sings with his head, not with his heart. Just not sincere, some find him to be a great artist, I don't, maybe a great singer, but not a great artist.

[Bjoerrelli]

I don´t think he had much choice because the notes above G was always hard for him.

[24yotenor]

what? If he had a hard time with high notes, which I don't think he did at all, then it certainly wasn't always! blah!

[iduefoscari]

castorp278-I also have had negative responses about some of my comments.However I am really interested to know more why you dislike this particular performance.I happen to think that Bergozi was the finest Verdi tenor on disc of the 20th century and that includes Caruso.That he could not act on stage,waving one hand or the other stopped him from say being a great Manrico or Alvaro on stage. BUT for phrasing, beauty of tone,,infact all the aspects of bel canto,he was the last in a great line.

[dermotafan]

@iduefoscari

Questo vuol dir Cantare al mio avviso. This is singing.

[OperaHeaven]

oh my goodness.. amazing..... glorious. singing

[tusepagliacco]

That was amazing!

[jamesjmertins]

This should be brought out on DVD by the German Television, it was a recital with Nello Santi . Certainly great singing.

[Seleuco79]

Sublime, una versión tan grande como la de Björling y cerca de la de Kraus. Claro que esta última sigue siendo la mejor, como en casi todo lo que cantó.

[VivaMariaCallas]

Simply glorious... probably as close to the definition of flawless singing one can get!

[jamesjmertins]

This a concert from Germany, Nello Santi is conducting. It should be brought out complete on dvd.

[acitipo]

Los Maestros, las leyendas son las que llegan a los 70 años con la voz intacta, ellos son pocos, apenas contados con las manos, unos de ellos son Kraus y Pavarotti.

[SheHadManHands]

I was the first user to upload this video under GreekCallas (does anyone remember me?) about 3 years ago and I haven't seen it in as long. Pretty hard to believe it's been so long; very nice performance!

[uzytkownik1971]

Maybe I'm crazy,never mind!But I have many joint Tebaldi/Corelli concerts from 1970s or some of his spectacles-he was GLORIOUS always,even in his 50s-opposite to Bergonzi who in 1970 and 1980s was simply colourless,dull(as ever),without heart and fire and depending ONLY on his technic.

[sandrik100]

For me, personally Carlo Bergonzi was greater tenor, than Franco Corelli.

Because he had much more noble voice, much sweeter, but not less manly and much better diction.

As an  appearance, for me Corelli is a negative hero,

while Bergonzi is allways possitive...

[uzytkownik1971]

Yes,holding too long high notes was remarkable for Corelli but he could do it because his top register seemed to be endless!!!!Top of Bergonzi was always short and technic rather than natural(after being baritone)so he had to be musical to be not mediocre but though I appreciate his wonderful music inteligence Bergonzi wasn't in the same league with Corelli.Never.

[johnwinchurch]

Bergonzi was a fine tenor. Corelli was too but in a different way. It is so easy to denigrate in a glib way. Just appreciate

[lmspr]

What a stunning interpretation. Viva Bergonzi!

[viverito]

Bergonzi is glorious

[uzytkownik1971]

He sings it well but it isn't something special for me after GREAT performance of this aria done by Franco Corelli in Tokyo,1971.Besides,Bergonzi was always dull,always the same and with studied emotions(not made by his heart).He was the king of mannerisms and wonder that much better Flaviano Labo didn't make so great career like him.Sad:(

[spankatore]

Corelli and Labo were very fine (too bad indeed that Labo isn't better known), but surely it isn't necessary to denigrate Bergonzi to make that point.

[giacomoconti]

I totally agree with you,it isn't necessary to denigrate a master of bel canto Carlo Bergonzi,one of the greatest lyrico-spinto tenors in history..he had a great career,a rich and strong voice,a warm timbre,elegant phrasing,a innate musicality, and here you can listen all that. Unfortunatly there are many great tenors almost forgotten,particulary in the 19 and early 20 century.I adore Caruso,Corelli,di Stefano and others,but we have to be admirers and also fair and impartial critics of opera.

[cer1n]

Bergonzi always sang using a ploithora of tonal colors and he really carred about the dynamics.Corelli was the king of mannerisms such as gliding on the high notes,breaking the legato line,holding high notes too much,abusing messa di voce, sloppiness of rhythm etc.He was a thrilling tenor but not as musical as Bergonzi.

[GermanOperaSinger]

Bergonzi was the 'king of mannerisms'? As opposed to who? Corelli? You must be crazy. Corelli may have had a more exciting voice but he was the 'king of mannerisms' while Bergonzi had almost none, he sang everything in such an artistic way, very good taste, made every phrase count. Besides they are two completely different voices, different size, timbre. The repertoire was somewhat similar but each contributed in their own way...and Corelli was NOT GOOD by the 1970s, buddy.

[RBERARDIS]

the master at his best, even I cant sing this good

perfezione in azione

[fideliosmum]

That would make a statue go weak at the knees.

[misterfabiomusic]

Assolutamente sublime, un'opera poco conosciuta, ma a mio parere di una bellezza strepitosa....qui cantata da una voce come Poche!!!

[vladtemible]

Incomparables son Estos Grandes Maestros!

Bendito sea Bergonzi! y Bendito Usted Gabba!

[Glenmed]

Monumental and colossal.

[iduefoscari]

This may be the finest opera singing on You Tube!

[Andante735]

You may be right! If not, it's extremely close. What a master - when he sings it's a lesson in perfection. I certainly cannot imagine anyone singing this aria any better.

[maxmarce]

Todo lo que canta lo hace facil.

El talento es increible.

Un gran Maestro!! del canto.

[scottreiburn]

A golden standard by which all others are measured, but cannot come close. Such exquisite bel canto singing, every note means something...Ahh....Thanks for posting!

[PosasPizza]

Golden boy, platinum voice!

Grazie tanto Maestro Bergonzi!

[ilgatto79]

bellissima interpretazione...in questo repertorio Bergonzi era inimitabile

[rovingeye5]

Can it be sung any better? I think not!

[Florianopera]

I don't think either! Bergonzi is my favourite, has always been and will always be

[fideliosmum]

Mine too, I've always loved his voice and always will.

[Andante735]

NO!!

[rovingeye5]

maybe the "new" american tenor James Valenti will inherit the Bergonzi throne. Have you heard? His voice is huge.

[Andante735]

I've not heard of him, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was touted as the next best thing to sliced bread, and turned out to be unleavened wheat. I'll be fair about it, just like I have so many times with the "new", but I doubt I'll be all that impressed. As far as any inheritance of Bergonzi's throne, let's just say that seat is permanently taken.

[rovingeye5]

I think you'd like James Valenti if you like Bergonzi. He debuted this summer at La Scala. I also like Barbara Frittoli. Have you heard her in Suor Angelica?

[Andante735]

Very nice; Scala is a good start. No I don't care for Frittoli, although it is a pleasant enough voice tonally, I find the rest of a bit bland, and the top is getting a bit sketchy. Listen, I've seen Stratas and Scotto sing Angelica. After that it's not easy to be impressed.

[Andante735]

If you've not already watched it, Scotto's final scene from Suor Angelica is in my favorites. There's nothing quite like it. Sorry to go off the topic.

[rovingeye5]

Frittoli has a way to go maybe but she's an impressive actress- good emotional content, heart & soul. Of course it's hard to beat Stratas & Scotto for those qualities too, not to mention their impeccable musicianship.

[Andante735]

Perhaps you're right about that. I've not seen or heard her enough to offer a qualified opinion. What I did hear didn't sway me in any strong direction. Of course she's Italian and so am I, so I'll give her more attention:)

[cornucopia2]

Ma come "NO" ! E' l'unico che possa avvicinarsi alla magnificenza di Gigli: per favore, questo non è terreno per Corelli, Del Monaco e co. !

[manumaltes]

Increadible singing. Unique style. Wonderful. Bravo!

[baritolo]

Stupefacente!

[AMONROIG]

Excelente!!! Maravilloso

Meraviglioso!!!!!!

Wonderful!!!!!! Le Meilleur!!!!!!

[banco63]

Realmente, la versión de Bergonzi es impresionante. Su estilo es inimitable