Luciano Pavarotti - Ah mes amis - Live at Covent Garden 1966

[pbarroso001]

Malgré la mauvaise qualité du son de ce video il ný a pas de doute que Pavarotti fut le plus grand tenor jusqu`á nos jours. Les C`s finales sont superbes, personne ne fut jamais capable de les chanter de tel façon; et nous sommes ici, pratiquement au début de sa carriére operatique (il a debuté le 29 avril au Theatre Reggio Emilia dans le role de Rodolphe de la Bohéme de Puccini)

[tCrOMez1990]

actually the last note is a C#, I think the slight crack bumo it up a semitone, it is incredible that he was able to sustain the C# for so long

[shermet]

What an awful recording..

[sopranosd]

the second recording of him singing this aria where the tempo is insanely fast. Very unsatisfying. !! I want to hear more Pav.

[wibutee]

Fantastic!!! He almost "boils over" at 5:50 - only a fraction of a second, and in a healthy way.

[vanzofaust]

Did the conductor have a plane to catch?

[Redboy4]

lol, sure sounds that way, or maybe he was in a hurry for the audience to hear Pav hit the high C's :)

[ccsabin]

He's always above par in the music department considering how easier it can be to act. Technically, everything was excellent.

[marokt]

The true wonder of Pav. that he sang this damned Cs like absolutely normal notes. Although they are absolutely not.

[TheEternaut]

Absolutely wonderful Moorhe!! Despite your apologies about the sound quality, it is quite better than some recordings within this site recorded even a few months ago. Superb work, and my eternal gratitude for sharing this jewell of music.

[corellipavarotti]

I saw Florez sing in Barcelone two years ago. Faust. To say i was underwhelmed would be an understatement. His voice is much better in recordings. Personal opinion.

[Mooorhe]

I'm seeing Florez soon, in I Puritani. Was the quality of the voice underwhelming? Or was it that he's difficult to hear?

[sopranosd]

I think Florez is fabulous. I had no trouble hearing him in Fille and Somnambula (at the Met, from row Z in the orchestra ). He is FANTASTIC in this role and has the most effortless top I've ever heard. Very different color and size from Pavarotti, though. Both are fabulous, but Pav. is ittle better, in my opinion, because his color is fuller.

[libetta]

this clearly demonstrates the energy and fire of the young Pavarotti. imo, he's the only one who sings this with such ease and flair. i don't think even Caruso can approach this aria as did Pavarotti. Merry X'mas to all!

[davidpegasso]

well, give the guy some slack, his voice was changing then that's why he had a little of trouble with launching the C'S since it did change since then, but better than flórez or Crauss Flórez, sounds too light and Caprino, & Crauss a little to elegant and nothing like Pavarotti's happiness

[GermanOperaSinger]

HIs voice was changing then? He must have hit puberty late. (that was meant to be sarcastic.)

[Mooorhe]

Well... I'm currently finishing off my 'King of the high C#' video and listening to those C#'s over and over again really makes me wonder if any of these tenors singing higher than the C actually hit puberty. :P

[ToltAztec]

Actually, Pavarotti was given the title of the King high C's after this performance. Few tenors attempt it. Pavarotti was truly the best!!! NOW everyone shut up and listen to the Aria instead of commenting. by the way, I already finished listening to the song. =D

[OettingerCroat]

in his natural repertoire, he is really unparalleled, certainly nowadays... his interpretations of heavier roles such as rigoletto are somewhat unorthodox, but I still liked it a lot

but natalie dessay is other-worldly. i can't get enough of her. she's one of the best overall, ever. Don't miss her Musetta from La Bohème à Paris next season!

[TheInquisitive4Ever]

Given the fact that this is in 1966, he seems to be experimenting with it. The "mon" is a bit under emphasized but the "ame" is spot on. But then again, this is one out of many performances. How many tenors sing the role of Tonio to begin with, and how many among the few who sing it does a stellar job, really? While not his best rendition, I'd still consider it stellar. He sounds effortless and yet explosive.

[OettingerCroat]

not his best rendition, but very good nonetheless

im so glad to have seen this piece live recently... with Flórez as Tonio and Dessay as Marie, live at the Met! It was quite awesome!

[GermanOperaSinger]

Not the best I've heard him sing it but such a historical and fantastic performance, I don't think I've ever heard this one! I wonder if he 'flicked' those first C's on purpose. He had a little crack on the last one but it's still great. Where did you get this? Fantastic post, can't thank you enough!