100 Greatest Singers: RENATO BRUSON

THIS PROJECT IS RESERVED ONLY FOR THE GREATEST! Italian baritone Renato Bruson one of them? Please let us know your opinion!

Renato Bruson, Baritone (born 1936)

Giuseppe Verdi - Rigoletto
Cortigiani, vil razza danata
With Armando Gabba, Baritone
(Recorded 1984)


My personal opinion: For those who preferably hear with their eyes, the operatic stage offered many attractiveness: The charming Hilde Güden; the elegant Lisa della Casa (Arabellissima); the tenor with the most beautiful legs, Franco Corelli; Mario del Monaco, who confused the stage with an italian sword and sandal movie; the model-sized Anna Netrebko or "The Prince of belcanto" Juan Diego Florez. On records, physique du role is irrelevant. It was Wagner, who demanded to hear the figur´s character in the voice. A microphone can be cruel, sometimes it changed into a microscope and unfold deficits without mercy. In recording-studios, the sound projection is totally different from in-house-performances.
It was Herbert von Karajan who forced the development of opera in TV and movie, and of course he took attractive people for his projects: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf as Marshallese, Mirella Freni as Mimi and Placido Domingo as Pinkerton. Living in the shadow of good-looking stars - the list is long: Eileen Farrell was one victim, Gianni Raimondi and Jaime Giacomo Aragall others. Today, Joseph Calleja and Aquiles Machado are overshadowed by Villazon and co.
Renato Bruson had made a great international career, but he never became a superstar such as Gobbi, Bastiannini or Cappuccilli, although he surpassed them. He was the greatest belcanto-baritone of the last decades, and recordings confirm his reputation. Critics considered him as the "finest Rigoletto since Gobbi" (in the old movie, Gobbi sang with an ugly nasty sound, but again it was the physique du role, that made him unforgettable). Wikipedia wrote about Bruson: Critics "appreciate his elegant and expressive phrasing, velvety tone, musical intelligence and acting qualities. He excels in long, lyrical lines."
Bruson´s career came late. The general director of the Parma Opera House asked him in the 60s: "Where have you been all the years?" and Bruson answered: "That´s what I ask you!". After a performance in Parma, the Met offered a contract, but Bruson left New York soon after, "The system was wrong!" He made his name in Italy, came to Scala where he´d sung unsuitable roles too. He became famous with Roderigo (1978, Abbado, M. Price, Domingo), substituted for an indisposed Cappuccilli.
In a review I could read: "To hear him means to realize, what rough and ugly other voices we have learned to accept." Could you accept him in this list? Let us know!

THE COMPLETE OVERVIEW: GO TO "ALL SINGERS IN THIS LIST"

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Renato
• Bruson
• Baritone
• Tito
• Gobbi
• Rigoletto
• Cortigiani
• Giuseppe
• Verdi
• La
• Scala
• Milano

[100Singers]

I like your comment very much, thanks. You´re right, it´s no demerit, but it seems, it´s very helpful. We had good-looking singers who were also great artist, an example is Kraus. But I believe, Bjoerling was a victim of his time. Although he was still in his prime, we only have few footages of him but many complete AV-recordings of Corelli and del Monaco, hollywood-like singers. And Villazon? Someone wrote, he looks like a clown, a goblin

[tomzoricic]

I deeply respect Bruson as one of the greatist drammatic baritones of XX century. But please I wish to see your complete list of the greatist artists. Where it is?

[100Singers]

As I wrote: Go to "All Singers in this list" here in my channel. Kindest regards from Mike

[stevevandien]

Bruson was (is?) certainly a major singer. His voice has more than enough weight and color for the great roles. His technique is generally fine, although he's never seemed comfortable above about F or F sharp -- note how he avoids the traditionally interpolated G at 4:50 --

[Homoclassicus]

I have only one doubt about the text you wrote: are you suggesting Villazón is handsome? For God's sake, then opera has really run out of handsome people! Now seriously, I think there is no demerit in being beautiful and, of course, using it as a stage advantage. That didn't prevent Güden, Corelli or Schwarzkopf of being great artists.

As for Bruson, he does deserve it. He was a truly great artist and had one of the most beautiful baritone timbres.

[AnryK2690]

I am absolutely and reasonably sure that Bruson did not surpass Bastianini and Cappuccilli. Nor was he much better than Gobbi but he might have better voice.

[paddyswok]

It makes me laugh to read posts that criticize any singer of the magnitude of Bruson. The beauty of the human voice is that, like a fingerprint, it is unique! So, rather than comparing each singer, and thus suggesting an ''absolute'' standard of THE Verdi voice, why not simply celebrate the fact that Verdi's music has remained alive and constantly reinvigorated by ALL of these great men in their own way. That is art, as opposed to science. Enough criticism, just relish these great performances.

[federricoilgrande]

Bruson fra i primi 100 cantanti di sempre? hahahahahahahaha

[DonPaolissimo]

I never "got" Bruson. He always sounded as though he's suffering from a sinus infection! Of his contemporary Italian baritones (Cappuccilli, Nucci & Zancanaro), I really enjoy listening to Nucci & Zancanaro far more. I could listen to those gentlemen all day, but get rather tired of Bruson after just one selection. His lack of feeling & passion also bother me & he has a quite ordinary top!

[toastp]

Cappuccilli tiene un voz con tan mucho elegancia como Bruson... si no mas. Pero todavia, pienso que Bruson canta con mas pasión que la mayoria de los baritonos contemporáneos.

[raigekimaru]

I long for the day when my voice blossoms into a rich dramatic baritone that can sing the dramatic demands of Verdi.

[stevevandien]

Milnes must have been having a bad day.  I've met him and he was very nice --

[ricardocalado]

Amazing! Perfection...

[soprana53]

We had him here in my hometown just one month ago. He was doing "Il Due Foscari" with us, and we had two rehearsels and the performance together. And you can be sure : his voice is NOT small the slightest bit, maybe not quite as big as it used to be due to his age, but he fills the hall with his sound even nowadays quite easily.