Beniamino Gigli ~ Cielo e mar ~ La Gioconda ~ (Ponchielli) ~ Rare Vitaphone Film of 1927

[jbeer82]

Gigli rules.

[CotaDangelo]

Thank you so much for posting it! what a rarity! Gigli, one of the top 5 tenors of last century, and the most beautiful mezza voce, for sure!

[federricoilgrande]

Gigli, assieme a Bjoerling , semplicemente la voce più bella all times

[Cantormatis]

there is a vitaphone here of Cavalleria Rusticana that believe me, might change your mind about his acting. As for parking and barking and the windmill school of acting, listen, who cares? The acting is in the VOICE- This is opera, and this is the problem with the crappy singers of today, who can act but not sing. Feh!

[EdmundStAustell]

Oh, wonderful! Thank you for posting this! Where on earth did you ever find it? I love Gigli, who was possibly the greatest tenor of all time. And, of course, and I say this smiling, and still full of admiration, the worst actor ever: just before the aria starts, he looks for all the world like a major league umpire calling a play at home base:)! But he is still Gigli!

[ceb2633]

He was a lovely singer. I have an ancient "Andrea Chenier" which I treasure. And he was a terrible actor, but wonderful listening. Thank you for this gem.

[AulicExclusiva]

The floated "Buona notte!" that ends the recitative always used to receive a round of applause. What soaring, liquid, golden flow of beautiful tone! No wonder he was worshipped around the globe.

A wonderful document. Thank you.

[meltzerboy]

@AulicExclusiva According to reports, Gigli shared with Bergonzi and Tucker (the latter two I can vouch for) the title of worst operatic actor. It doesn't matter much, however, when you sing like this. Thanks to AE and Alec!

[AulicExclusiva]

@meltzerboy The "windmill" style was very much in evidence, even among "legitimate" theatre actors. What Lawrence Olivier called the "point and spit" style. (BEHOLD! [point] THE SUN-!! [harrumph]) In any case, no one can resist Gigli's voice.

[CurzonRoad]

@meltzerboy

Very Interesting commentary... yes, Gigli is hard, impossible to resist. Anselmi's Diamond Disc is also worth hearing!  THANKS!

[petrof4056]

Truly a treasure!

Thank you so much!