Enrico Caruso Rachael, quand du Seigneur La Juive Halévy

[Aetion]

This is the very best rendition of this aria I've ever heard. None can be compared to this, NONE! [IMHO of course :)]

[31operafan]

This is indeed a fantastic recording. As sick as he was when he recorded this, he did a fine job nonetheless. I heard Eleazar was one of his favorite roles. He researched it intently by sitting in on synagogues and reading books on Judaism, since Eleazar was Jewish. (And the composer, Jacques Fromental Halevy, was also Jewish.)

[bodiloto]

La perfezione.

[McElvis1948]

This appeared on an LP called A Treasury Of Immortal Performances about 1962 or 3. I thought WOW, this is incredible. I later realized that my new found idol recorded this about a year before he died. In that recording you hear why he was the greatest. My guess is that my other idol Mario Lanza listened to this in his day and came to the same conclusion.

[RodTenor]

I absolutely agree. This is a guilt song. He sings about how he always cared for his daughter and how he is now responsible for her imminent death. Note that he sings everything very straight until 1:20, then repeats the phrase «et c'est moi (it's me!)...» with the change of tempo. Caruso, someone who understood what he sang, emphasizes the self-deprecation by a snarl, like spitting in a mirror at his own reflection. It is no fault in the pronunciation. That is why I love listening to him.

[Jesusechave]

Formidable interpretación del gran tenor dramático Enrico Caruso. Es la mejor interpretación de esta famosa aria de La Juive ; conozco las de Beniamino Gigli, Mario del Mónaco, Plácido Domingo y algunea otra. Caruso es superior a todos ellos en este papel. Está realmente memorable.

[caruso81]

Million Stars :DDD

[caruso81]

And very good quality of recording, I might add.

[tomfroekjaer]

This video should have deserved at least a million hits - one of the greatest performances of any tenor ever (and he even had a head cold...).

[meanmrm]

I fell in love with caruso´s voice when i listened to him singing this aria. It´s just...

amazing! one thing i never really understood, though, is why he opens his "e" in se "c'est moi" so much befor the high note. Is it the french?

Anyways, the best recording of this aria by far!

[Cantormatis]

@meanmrm I think it is simply an affectation. It should be closed, but it's a marvelous snarl that I think he was going for- and got.

[GermanOperaSinger]

No not even Tucker could outdo him here. This is the definitive recording of this aria.

[Kievest]

Caruso's divine art was about truth, love and beauty! Here, his voice is dark, sober, majestic and totally alive! He was not a self-indulgent artist! His ability to communicate every nuance of meaning and emotion in the score was legendary. In addition to a mag- nificent tenor voice, it is the expressivity and humanity of his art that makes it timeless! Thank you for this sublime posting! Nice photos!

[tomfroekjaer]

@Kievest: what a GREAT comment, Candace! - Never saw it before (your comment...). Best, Tom

[jfsanin]

Great

[meltzerboy]

The ultimate, definitive version of the aria, combining sweetness of tone, intensity, and passion as no other tenor has done, including Tucker, who made a fine recording of it as well. Though one of Caruso's last recordings and roles, he is still wonderful.

[aaronsande]

Agreed! I wish more excellent recordings of Caruso were posted on youtube...