Titta Ruffo sings in Spanish - El Guitarrico - Zarzuela - Agustín Pérez Soriano

Titta Ruffo (June 9, 1877 - July 5, 1953) sings Zarzuela!!

In Musical America, December 27, 1913, Ruffo wrote the following: "In view of the fact that numerous vocal instructors have endeavored to claim the credit of having been my "teacher" I desire to state emphatically that my brother Ettore is the one to whom practically all such distinction is due. I studied four months at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome under Signor Persichini and was told that I possessed neither voice nor musical talent. Afterward I received instruction from Signor Sparapani for two months and from Signor Casini for four months, but as this was not sufficient tuition for an operatic career I placed myself under the tutelage of my brother. I remained his faithful pupil for six years and am the living proof of his scientific method of voice production. All those asserting that they have been my "teacher" and therefore responsible for my success arrogate to themselves false and mendacious prerogatives." This is the ultimate chiaroscuro voice. So dark and yet so full of squillante!! No one can touch this version for ultimate vocal splendor!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Titta
• Ruffo
• El
• Guitarrico
• Zarzuela
• Agustín
• Pérez
• Soriano
• baritone
• dramatic
• helden
• bel
• canto
• caruso
• corelli
• del
• monaco
• opera
• Spanish
• art
• song
• Hector
• Palacio

[du6053]

I really enjoyed this. Thank you

[alber6161]

NOT HUMAN VOICE: OH MY GOD!!

[MrCafiero]

LOL! I hope you enjoy it!:)

[meltzerboy]

Then please don't tell your friend! Thanks in advance for the Mardones.

[MrCafiero]

AH NO!!! My friend who is a tenor from Mexico would *KILL* you for saying that ;^). He sings a lot of Zarzuela! LOL!

I don' t have Mardones doing this song, but I am posting another one of him now.

[meltzerboy]

Exactly, perfect tonal color for zarzuela; Ruffo is too rich sounding. On second hearing, Fleta's version is also great. I wonder if Schipa ever recorded this.

[MrCafiero]

That is funny because Kraus' version seems very white tone, almost popish in timbre!LOL! Ah well, it is a "song" after all. I think I might have Mardones doing it. I will look!

[meltzerboy]

Fleta is certainly stylish and those diminuendos, his trademark! Still I prefer Kraus here even though I'm not a great fan of his overall.

[MrCafiero]

Can't say that I like Kraus' version, but listen to Fleta. It is very good also.

[meltzerboy]

Ruffo's vocal opulence and splendor is magnificent, as always. But for a better interpretation of the song, one must go to Alfredo Kraus' 1965 version on YT.