Mario del Monaco - Don José

Live performance, June 1959
Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow

Category:

Music

Tags:

• VTS
• 01

[SHICOFF1]

@ShawDaman He was one of those guys who sounded better live than studio rec. and in the house it was very pointed and clear. I still remember his eyes as Otello flashing and we had great seats. A night or two later I heard Di Stefano and Tebaldi in Tosca and that also was a treat, she was in her prime so I was lucky to hear her and the house was smaller then the Chicago house I had been familiar with, it was really great.----Memories.

[888lupo]

E FANTASTICO!!!! DOVE OGGI EROE COME LUI??? LUI ERA LEONE SUL PALCOSCENICO!!!! PURTROPPO OGGI RIMASTI SOLO POVERI CONIGLI SPAVENTATI !!!!!!!!!

[SHICOFF1]

Of course I mean below that JB did not sing Otello and Turandot and Don Jose on stage but MDM did and very well besides. I like both differently for different reasons but MDM was the greatest dramatic tenor of his time just as JB was the greatest Lyric of his time, both great but different types completely.

[SHICOFF1]

@JHB134 Yes JB was fantastic but you cannot really compare a lyric tenor to a dramatic one. You may prefer JB but it's a different voice type. JB never sang the role of Don Jose in Carmen on stage anyhow , just the aria and you can say i prefer one or another but they are too different to compare voices. JB did sing roles like Otello or Turandot and MDM did not sing some JB roles. Both great, JB was a great concert singer also but a Lyric Spinto voice. I like Both differently, very different.

[jhb134]

@SHICOFF1 (sounded better, live) - No doubt, that's true. There's a true FORCE to Mario, and there's a very-fine rendition. of his, in this exceptional aria. Somehow, though, some of us prefer Jussi (Bjorling), for reasons.

[giampierone010]

è una interpretazione che lascia sbalorditi...mai sentito un coinvolgimento così vero e sanguigno...un artista completo...e una sicurezza vocale impressionante...grazie per il video

[Maripudelmonaco]

uno de los más grandes  DON JOSE de todos los tiempos. INMENSO !!!!

[intelegentable]

MDM was truly phenomenal. This video with him and Arkhipova is my 2nd favorite Carmen on film, they both are truly great singers and their acting is powerful ,intense.They are a wonderful pairing,they play off each other brilliantly and bring real tension and passion to the roles.MDM is so into the role you sometimes think he can't give anymore vocally or dramatically but till the final scene he pours it on. Bravo!

[sugarbist]

This is really an amazing performance

[SHICOFF1]

SOME GREAT OVATION AFTER THE ARIA, REALLY GREAT APPLAUSE. BRAVO!!!

[ShawDAMAN]

@SHICOFF1 I agree, great singing, voice-wise. I remember seeing the finale of this performance but I didn't recall this flower song. Thanks for sharing. When he "locks in" to his high notes its great, you can hear how big and 'buzzy' they are.