Virgilijus Noreika- a stunning Lamento di Federico

Virgilijus Noreika (b.1935)

For quite some time now I've been looking for a recording of Cilea's "Lamento di Federico' that could match Mario Lanza's peerless version of 1955 (made for the Warner Bros. film "Serenade"). Well, here it is, courtesy of Lithuanian tenor Virgilijus Noreika. This is a very rare record, and for its discovery I owe a debt of gratitude to my good Youtube friend CraigFrancisSoto, who was gracious enough to provide me with a copy.

Noreika, a graduate of the Lithuanian State Conservatory (1958) and longtime member of the Lithuanian Opera Theater, sings with a voice that is warm, plaintive, and beautifully modulated; his manner is earnest and genuinely heartbreaking. The opening phrases of 'E la solita storia' are laden with pianissimos that are delicate without being wispy, but Noreika certainly does not stint on the climaxes (just listen to him fully unleash the voice on "vorrei poter tutto scordar" and "Mi fai tanto male! Ahime!"). Noreika studied in Milan in the mid 1960's, and it shows- his Italian diction is very good, better than most of his Soviet peers.

Those who have seen my Lanza video of the "Serenade" performance might conclude that I dislike crooning a la Tagliavini or Simoneau in this aria, and prefer the weight of a lirico-spinto or dramatic tenor. I still do favor Lanza by a very slight margin due to the latter's richer timbre (to this day I have never heard a tenor who could quite match his inimitable coloration and proliferation of overtones) and superior breath support, but the cumulative impact of Noreika's incandescent reading is shattering, right up there with him. And I prefer this to Lanza's other recordings from the Hollywood Bowl and Toronto. Noreika gives me goosebumps, and that is plenty for me! I will always treasure both versions and hope that other opera enthusiasts on Youtube enjoy this memento of a wonderful tenor. The recording dates from 1968.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Vigilijus
• Noreika
• Lithuania
• tenor
• opera
• aria
• L'Arlesiana
• la
• solita
• storia
• Lamento
• di
• Federico
• Francesco
• Cilea

[tenorgoodfella]

Wow..! I had never heard him before. Fantastic. I love it.. great honest sound. Wish I could hear more from him. Thanks for this great post.

[BassoProfundo87]

Dios mio! This is absolutely beautiful!!!!

[burgomister]

норейка всегда был выдающийся тенор ! полет голоса редкий такой не у всех лучших теноров мира ! браво !

[howlingael]

I beg you. Listen to aragaill's version

[stevenpaulniles]

Ma nouvelle interprétation préférée de cette chanson. Je n'ai jamais entendu de ce chanteur, mais il est évidemment quelqu’un de très spécial et poetique.

[francesca7564]

@abracadabranque

J'aime bien ton expression " dégueulando " c'est vrai que c'est étrange et très personnel ...

Mais je suis contente de cette découverte

Bisous

[abracadabranque]

Un peu délayé,mais bien emmené,jusqu'à une fin pas complètement aboutie,presque douteuse avec ce dégueulando.Mitigé.

[francesca7564]

Diable !!! Cà c'est du vécu !

Merci pour le post .

[djschlom]

not perfect with the words, but nearly so with the vocalization. Just wish I didn't know the song so well that the heavy modification of the "perche Deggio tanto penar" phrase did not stand out so much to me. Bravo! thanks for posting.

[RamintaSM]

It was thoughtful of you to share the recording -- thanks. I'm glad to know the work of this national treasure of Lithuania is reaching more people.

[sergio944]

I love having talented cousins.