(Digital) Enrico CARUSO: Cavalleria Rusticana ~ Brindisi (1905)

This is a digital companion to the previously posted acoustic version (see "RESPONSES") / "The Great Caruso" performs the famous Drinking Song from Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" / Recorded: February 27, 1905

PHOTOGRAPHS (all undated):

FRAME ONE: Caruso on a street in New York City.

FRAME TWO: Caruso at the back stage door of the Metropolitan Opera with the famous Italian comedian Gravina, whose frozen, bug-eyed stare was used to great effect. Behind Gravina is Caruso's accompanist Salvatore Fucito, and Caruso's secretary Bruno Zirato (top).

FRAME THREE: Caruso with Eva Didur (left) and Olga Didur (right), daughters of Polish bass Adamo Didur. At far right is vocal coach William Thorner, said to have "discovered" Rosa Ponselle, introducing her to Caruso, who in turn arranged for a meeting with Met General Manager Giulio Gatti-Casazza, leading to her November 15, 1918 Met debut in La Forza del Destino opposite Caruso.

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Enrico
• Caruso
• Cavalleria
• Rusticana
• Brindisi
• Drinking
• Song
• Viva
• il
• Vino
• Opera
• 78
• rpm
• Phonograph
• Silhouette
• CurzonRoad

[tomfroekjaer]

Great post, Dough ! How could I have overlooked this for so long ! And brilliantly restored, rare photoes ! Thanks!

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Tom: Thanks... very much! Cheers, etc. Doug --

[AulicExclusiva]

Boy, he really makes a meal of this piece, and what's with that weird high note at the end?

[CurzonRoad]

Over the years many have made note of this. Maybe it was something his comic friend Gravina did or said ???

[GraefinVonSalamanca]

Grazie tanto!

Io ce l'ho questo ricordo - pero sempre lo sento con piacere!

Saluto

Eva

[CurzonRoad]

Dear Eva: Grazie tanto to you! Doug --

[mayatatyana1]

Doug, Caruso is magnificent. Splendid work on the video. Thank you. Maya

[rupepill]

This recording, by the way, was in a sense some kind of departure; from and after the following year most of Caruso's records were made with an orchestral accompaniment.

[rupepill]

@AulicExclusiva The switch to falsetto is so abrupt as to raise eyebrows and also the question why? Perhaps it was just some peculiarity of the acoustic process that provided the distinctly odd and rather jarring effect felt by more than one listener to that note.

However, the rest of the aria is sung with very engaging liveliness even impishness, entirely appropriate to the occasion of having a convivial drink. - or perhaps even several drinks.

[Kievest]

Astounding performance...tone, timber,

power and glory! Lifts me out of my

seat!!!! Thank you for great posting and

photos!

[AulicExclusiva]

I am always amazed that this excentric Brindisi has appeared repeatedly in every format, whereas Caruso's other Cavalleria records, especially the overwhelming Addio alla madre, are seldom heard. I recall only one LP re-issue of the Addio.

[AulicExclusiva]

I don't know that Caruso already knew Cesare Gravina at this early date. The first of Gravina's 59 Hollywood movies was made in 1915. He was in Italy before then, appearing in a classic series of Italian two-reeler comedies. Gravina, by the way, plays a wonderful part in Erich von Stroheim's 1922 film, Foolish Wives. He died in 1954.