Enrico Caruso sings "Vesti la giubba"

[kalaverex]

I came here for the voice in this song not for the old guy with all respect,but really...

[Giovanni6091]

yeeeeeees great actor too

[Mikep487]

I agree GermanOperaSinger, Lanza was magnificent! Compared to Mario, Pav's voice was reed thin. Mario had the best top to his voice of any tenor ever. Jealousy prevailed in his time because only one of his genius could have catapulted himself to such worldwide fame so quickly. His looks and quintessential voice have remained unmatched.

[kmkbluemoonstone]

Why was someone else talking during the recording? No one would want Caruso's voice ito be interrupted.

[roremgirl]

Hi Onegin65, would you mind telling me where this video comes from? I'd like to find out who the guy is who is talking.. He says something really interesting about what a great performer can do when performing, and I'd like to quote it if possible. Thanks..

[tomfroekjaer]

"The only way I can describe it, is this way: When you were in the audience, you became part of Caruso. You felt he was inside of your body."

... He filled the whole opera house with his presence....

[331178jesus]

im sorry, but can i ask, is Enrico Caruso stiill alive, and if he is does he still sing

[ghosthunter2010100]

@331178jesus No, I'm sorry. He passed away in 1921 at the age of 48. He was still young. And how sad it was to lose such a great voice like that.

[331178jesus]

@ghosthunter2010100 Oh, thank you very much for letting me know, i really appreciate it

[ghosthunter2010100]

@331178jesus Sure, no problem.

[Polarcupcheck]

I give this a thumbs up before I even hear. That fact that people have preserved this is amazing to me. What are opera "snobs" good for? This! Preserving great history for future generations.

[detslviratuso]

the old golden age <3

[Rodolpho262]

See all the guys with moustaches near the end trying to look like him?

[irashevtsova11]

Раритетище!!!! Очень здорово, что сейчас есть такие записи!

[SergioCardosoLima]

Que maravilha, salve Caruso

[stavroatina]

omgggggggggggggggggggggggggggg­gg geniusssssssssssssss

[wiseroldfart]

I like the narrator's description. I know exactly what he means. He was lucky to have witnessed Caruso in person. I can only imagine how amazing Caruso was in person via his tinny recordings. Caruso had more "colors" than any tenor I've ever heard. When he opened up his voice, an unexpected richness emerged.

[HungryEars]

Grazie mille, Maestro Caruso!

[woodyaan]

What a genius!

[tomfroekjaer]

Caruso's 1907 recording was the first record ever to sell more than a million copies. A million records these days isn't much, but back then only few people could afford a record player.

The sound was, compared to our modern technology, quite miserable. Most of the nuances were lost and Caruso sang into a funnel. The electric microphone was only invented (in 1925, I believe) after Caruso had died. Yet, this recording still captures his unique voice and his empathetic genious.

[RudySunseeker]

@tomfroekjaer

Yes, technically speaking, recorded sound was of course inferior in those days. Still, I´m sure you agree, a triviality like that can be nullified by an imaginative listener.

The warmth and beauty of Caruso´s voice, the unfailing technique, the mission and commitment he projects is there for ages to come, no matter what.

In my opinion, Caruso will never be surpassed. People like you will see to it, thanks.

[tomfroekjaer]

@RudySunseeker: Fully agree with you on all scores.

Art is of course a subjective matter and for me personally the emotional intensity of his singing is paramount. This isn't Caruso singing, it's Canio with all his woes!

I think the gentleman (from Little Italy, I believe) speaking on the video exemplifies Caruso's empathy beautifully: "The only way I can describe is this way that when you were in the audience, you became part of Caruso. You felt you were inside his body."

[INKAGIRL100]

este es con carusooo!!!!. es magnifico!!...

[pjthemofo]

He doesn't. His vibrato is forced and he i already nearing the caprino sound he had in the end. Pavarottis early recordings are far superior in terms of singing technique

[tomfroekjaer]

@pjthemofo: enten er du en Pavarotti fanatiker som automatisk filtrerer alle andre tenorer ud som uduelige eller du er tonedøv. I denne aria er Pavarotti er en "nobody" sammenlignet med Caruso.

[65attila]

Why does Caruso in a 1904 recording sound better in this aria than anyone since?}

[TheHaches]

EStoy escuchando una recopilación en vinilos. Impecable.

A pesar de los años las grabaciones pueden dejar translucir lo fantástico de caruso. Inclusive el disco tiene una imagen donde sus manos tienen una posición especial y según lo que pude averiguar se trata de magia.

Un saludo.

[pitiscuac]

@TheHaches claro que apesar de los inconvenientes es maravilloso escuchar ah caruso .otro como el pues de onde...

[federic017]

Tecnica e comunicativa non c'è altro di meglio. Grande Enrico Caruso. Il cantante che ha insegnato __--come si canta-- un saluto

[99Gambo]

Marvellous, colourful version, without the benefits of modern technology. I do prefer the Gigli version, and also Jussi B's rendition, and there we have it. The Great - perhaps the greatest - Three Tenors.

[RudySunseeker]

Fully agree,

Caruso, Gigli and Björling are "The Three Tenors".

And will probably remain so.

[jesus45137]

pos ezta vonito.

[mjay1693]

holy crap they had video in 1904?!?!?!

[piasecznik]

@mjay1693

No, at least not video with an acceptable quality. I guess the video is probably from the 1910's.

[nineteenforty7]

Mysterious, ghostly and wonderful..!

[ggglllllll]

mofo stfu let me lisent to him sing!!!!!!! hes so awesome yet you ruin it!!!

[edmega332]

WHY ARE YOU TALKING?!

wow. that was aggravating.

DON'T WATCH THIS, find another Vesti La Guibba by Caruso!

[LittleModig]

WHat the fg????he's got no freaking mic!!!he's got to be high on who knows....what a voice!!!!the best.tell that to those freakin pop singers now a day.HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!t­ha's what cracks me up. ENRICO CARUSO THE BEST. THANX.

[ssz212]

I would like to listen to Carusso sing without the comment. He was a great singer. We all know that. No need to have a commentary right in the middle of the song!

[loadedpixels]

Enrico Caruso was a total performer, he can sing and act at the same time. Thank you, Onegin65 for posting this. First time I heard the song was from my parents' 60 Years of Music America Loves Best album by RCA Victor. When you hear these type of music at a very young age, it sticks in your mind for many, many years.

[LordMgls]

A great applause to the master Onegin65!

[g4thz]

It's so interesting the way performance of this rep has changed. This is the "heaviest rep" (or at least the "heavier rep"; I guess "heaviest" is Wagner lol) but his voice doesn't sound "heavy". Maybe it's the recording quality, or maybe during the last century we've been adding unnecessary weight. Seriously, to me he sounds lighter than a lot of lyric tenors who would touch this rep!

[phantom4087]

Are you kidding? The voice is broad and powerful. You need to train your ears to become accustomed to the recording.

[g4thz]

No, I'm not kidding.

I'm not saying there isn't strength to the voice. But it sounds healthy. It sounds easy, which is something that I don't hear in a lot of today's dramatic (or even lyric) singers.

[phantom4087]

Oh, that makes perfect sense. Caruso had an remarkably natural and easy production. Not only that, but the passion in the voice is heartbreaking and thrilling.

[MrCafiero]

It is the recording. Ponselle said in her autobiography that Caruso's voice was much darker and heavier than what you hear on recordings. In fact, Ponselle went on to say that Caruso could have passed for a dramatic baritone without anyone knowing. What people have added to the sound is constriction and gotten away from proper vocal function based on registration, which Caruso had.

[leadoffeohippus]

Aha I knew it. There's a 1911 recording of Caruso singing "Celeste Aida" here on youtube and his voice sounds just as heavy as warren. If the recording came out 40 years before Warren was singing, just imagine how heavy Caruso sounded live! Maybe even heavier than Warren.

[Pertile23]

Modern tenors tend to sing quite a bit further "back," less supported, and don't know how to sing pure vowels. The production, as a result, is thick, muddled, and lacks brilliance. I think quite a few people mistake this modern "dark" and muddy sound as being chesty or heavy...to me it's just bad technique. MrCafiero is correct about Caruso's voice as being dark and heavy, but it is supported and forward, with bite and brilliance (squillo). No modern tenor comes close to this sound.

[TheSageoftheSpoon]

@Pertile23 While he is not "modern", Jussi Bjorling blows this newbie out of the water with all due respect : )

[xTROJANxX]

personaly mario lanza was the greatest of them all at his peak

[pressurerisingin]

alterego doesn't have a clue. Actually Lanza was one the reasons pavorriti decided to become a singer. Lanza was very very gifted.

[Aetion]

Mario Lanza certainly had one of the greatest tenor voices ever. He inspired many people to become singers starting from Elvis Presley to Domingo, Pavarotti and Carreras.

[metal93metal]

O mio dio!!1904!!!1904!!!Piu di cento anni fa

[tjallew]

amasing, can't say anything els. I hope are developing tecnik could clean hi's voice on the record even more. Thank's Onegin65

[mamorusan87]

Ma figurati che a passato 100 anni di più dalla sua interpretazione! Ed è ancora ricordato! Enrico Caruso è grande!

[tovlade]

oh my god, it sounds magical in this recording... like i am there

[morkus26]

I love how the comments on videos such as this are so articulate in comparison to most videos on YouTube. If you are a fan of Caruso then I'd highly recommend the film 'Fitzcarraldo', check it out, it has a wonderful opera soundtrack.

[JaneCommoner]

Gay.

...Sorry, just wanted to lower the tone to be more in line with normal Youtube standards! I've recently started to really enjoy opera and I think this guy is great.

[phantom4087]

He's the best to ever have lived.

[boscopula]

" Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto "

[blaugrun67]

I PAGLIACCI ist meine Lieblingsoper von CARUSO.

[andmarkcg]

Always liked Domingo at this.

[Avieno]

Pavarotti?? My God, Pavarotti was good, but he wasn't a great performer, like Kraus, Gayarre (there are not recordings of him), Lanza or Caruso.

[phantom4087]

I agree with your point, except that, in the list of great performers, I have some slight disagreements. First of all, I don't understand why people like Alfredo Kraus. In his prime, he sounded like an old man, and his diction was god-awful. Second of all, I think that that list is missing the great Mario del Monaco. However, Caruso is the best, which we can all agree on.

[Avieno]

Well, in this theme the preferences of each one are personal impressions. But, diction of Kraus was god-awful?? Are you sure to have heard Kraus??? I have heard him many times, and, for me, his voice was "canonical". I don't know why you say that about him. You can look for in youtube: "Kraus Nessum Dorma" or another aria. Then, Gayarre was a spanish tenor of the begin of XXth century whom there is no records, and I agree Mario del Monaco was one of the greatest.

[phantom4087]

Kraus just sounded tired all the time when he was singing. Also, the diction only became terrible when he sang very high notes.

[EmilyGreene1984]

Obviously then you haven't heard Alfredo Kraus in his early years.

[AlterEgosRevenge]

Pavarotti, at his best, didn't have rivals.. (60' / 70')

And this recordings (like all the old one's) can't let you hear the real voice of these great tenors of our past, so i think that we can say something sure only with the last fifty years's voices.

Anyway, great Caruso, amazing Kraus, I don't know Gayarre, but Lanza?.. He can't stay in this list, sorry.

He was good but not like the greatest..

And please, listen the old pavarotti for compares, not an old tenor at seventy years..

[Yoni89]

Lanza can't stay on the list huh? Perfect bel canto technique, rich tone, excellent register.. No? Considered the second coming of Caruso by many MANY people.. No, can't be on the list? you have the golden rule on this one? You decide which tenors are on this list?

Where is this list? I'd like to have a look at it, I won't make any permanent alterations. Promise.

[GermanOperaSinger]

Just another opera purist who kicks out Lanza because he never made a full time career in opera. Even though he could outsing most people who did make full time careers in opera...such as, Pavarotti.

[Yoni89]

I believe Caruso caused the 1908 earthquake by singing a high C. My friend.

[Yoni89]

edit: 1909.

[LordMoe9]

Caruso actually didn't have a great high C. There's actually a recording of him doing Salut demeure where he does the High C in more of a head voice.

I know you were joking though, I laughed lol

[Yoni89]

Where is it?? I want to hear!

[phantom4087]

I had to get the complete recordings of Caruso to find it. I'll try to post.

[phantom4087]

The C is breathtaking.

[stevevandien]

Ha ha, good one!:)

[Yoni89]

Also, While the big P was in his prime, he did have a rival. Richard Tucker sung until his death from a heart attack, in 1975.

[Mooorhe]

Pavarotti and Tucker weren't rivals while Tucker lived, I don't suppose they are rivals now either.

[PorcelainJackal]

I quite agree with you. 'Tis a shame that Pavarotti couldn't have enjoyed the level of fame he achieved in the 1990s during his prime of the 60s and 70s. I thought his prime was during the 90s and 00s for quite some time, until I heard his '68 recording of "Spirto Gentil". He recalled Caruso, indeed.

[Yoni89]

Listen to his first recording, Che Gelida Manina, spectacular!!

[gillhill92]

caruso is by far the best tenor that we shall ever hear in our life time but mario lanza was a breath of fresh air .

[GermanOperaSinger]

Of all the tenors of the century, I find only Lanza's voice comparable to Caruso's. I'm sure Caruso's was better, but alas, we will never be able to hear how it really was.

[phantom4087]

Same, but Mario del Monaco had striking similarities to Caruso.

[gillhill92]

lanza was born the year caruso died

[kostet83]

So did Corelli and Di Stefano.

[kostet83]

this was actually a comment to gillhill92

[GermanOperaSinger]

Absolutely...with the death of the greatest tenor come born the greatest lyrical (di Stefano) and dramatic (Corelli) tenor of the century, as well as the one with the flawless voice (Lanza) who brought the joy of opera to the common people.

[sefferpot]

I think the greatest lyrical of the century already was born -1911!

[tomfroekjaer]

Are you suggesting that Lanza was the reincarnation of Enrico Caruso?

[gillhill92]

Not for me to say but caruso for me was the n01 .But Mario was the every mans tenor .I personaly prefer to listen to Lanza.

[dimare3]

I don't know about reincarnation, but a lot of people have asked the question. There did seem to be a great connection. They were two great tenors. Why does that sound like an understatement?

[tomfroekjaer]

Oh - I'm not excluding that at all. And certainly they both were fantastic tenors.

Not quite sure where I wrote something an understatement ??

[marcelowalsh1969]

Enrico Caruso (1873-1921) representou, como nenhum outro cantor, a música erudita e alma italiana. Suas imortais representações operísticas e não-operísticas mostram o pleno domínio do bel canto. Outros seguiram os passos desse magistral mestre: Beniamino Gigli, Mario Lanza, Luciano Pavaroti. O mundo deve comemorar com toda a pompa e criscunstância os 135 anos de nascimento do maior tenor de todos os tempos.

Marcelo Walsh

[shishilala]

Memories of my late father - a fine tenor himself, his favourites were Caruso & Lanza - thank you for this wonderful rare footage.

[Isidore98]

Nice to hear the seldom heard 1904 version of this aria (better than the 1902 and the usual 1907)

[mondrac]

Thank you so much for this wonderful footage.

[TheBlitz1]

enrico caruso my favorite

[TedL]

Is this really a video of Caruso?

[arcangel6]

Yes it is.

[heeromistress]

nice!

[remrom2]

he played a clown.

[Escamillo88]

Oh no, he played a clown... :-/

It's I Pagliacci, and he has to play a clown, when he plays Canio...

[orestesavalos]

the face of caruso yust like a zombie

[Zheff73]

Devouring human flesh was the source of his power.

[crazart]

Did he really eat people? You're scaring me. Getting rid of all my records and cd's.

[Roscieto]

He's just trying to be scary. Fon't listen to him. Caruso was described as a troubled man (atleast from what I have read) but he was never evil.

[crazart]

I knew it. I just played along, thanks for your reply though. I think he is still overall one of the best.

[Roscieto]

Actually, I have heard he was a kind person.

But from what I read recently, just lived a bit of a trouble life.

[Roscieto]

Haha...