Otello Cage Match: Iago's Credo pt 2 Warren Vs. Bastianini

These two were contemporaries, and two of the foremost Verdi baritones of their day. While Warren was a famous Iago, Bastianini only sang the entire role once. However, he did perform the aria in concert.

1. Leonard Warren (1911-1960)
2. Ettore Bastianini (1922-1967)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Verdi
• Otello
• Opera
• Baritone
• Credo
• in
• un
• dio
• crudel
• vanne
• warren
• bastianini
• ruffo
• gobbi
• tibbett
• merrill

[Sieglinde84]

When I hear Warren, I feel sometimes I'm hearing Milnes. It seems all american baritones "stole" his style and his manierisms, too.

Milnes's voice is a little warmer. Warren sound here a little metallic.

Bastianini is perfection himself. And I feel his Iago a kin of (Salminen's) Hagen - a sad, lonely man, not only a villain.

[baritonoguapo]

I am a big Leonard Warren fan and not much of a fan of Milnes. To me, Warren had the more beautiful voice and I think he was all around a more expressive singer. I find Milnes voice warm up to around 1975, afterwards he always sounded nasal and strained to me. I posted a comparison between Milnes and Cappuccilli as well.

[Shipskeel]

This is a poor recording of Warren. His voice is much heavier than Milnes's voice.

[baritonoguapo]

You are right, this recording is relatively early in Warren's career when recording techniques were still poor. Warren's recordings from the late 50's. Shortly before his death are absolutely sublime.

[soprano123]

Bastianini's voice is absolutely awesome!

[figaro92]

Bastianini is the best!!!

[angelamaria1944]

Bastianini senza dubbio.

[jcab2323]

comparing Warren with Bastianini doesn't make much sense.. Bastianini was the best!

[Beth29252]

Bastianini for me for both diction and interpretation. I love Warren, he had one big beautiful voice, but this recording which is of poor quality didn't do him justice in my opinion.

[tempo986]

Warren was a great baritone but not Italian! No comparison can be made with Italian baritones.

Italian Repertoire is best with mother tongue but of course the singer must be a great singer as well. English speaking people and artists can't realize the importance of the interpretation unless they speak and dream in Italian!

Going back to baritones, I would'nt make comparisons with BASTIANINI and WARREN but with CESARE BARDELLI and ETTORE BASTIANINI perhaps!

[cdgray2]

I may have missed, but is there an example of Cornell MacNeil from the 60's when he was in top form?

[cdgray2]

They were both fantastic, and oddly enough, both died entirely too young.

[chcouto]

¡¡¡¡ BASTIANINI |||||

[trem0lo]

I feel like Warren is using too much head resonance--he almost sounds like a tenor. Bastianini's voice "speaks" much more clearly and has a darker baritone color.

[rdevrij]

They are both sublime and I love them both for the extraordinary artists they were, and the voices they had. But just to add to the opinion poll: if I had to spend eternity on a desert island with just one recording, I would have to take Warren's; his interpretation of Verdi is spine-tingling.

[Rogemarin]

Bastianini!!!!!!!!!!!!