Luciano Pavarotti/Licia Albanese - O soave fanciulla - Live 1973

Luciano Pavarotti and Licia Albanese sing O soave fanciulla from act I of Puccini's La boheme live in a San Francisco concert, September 1973.

This was a joint concert given by Pavarotti and Albanese in memory of Gaetano Merola (founder of the SF Opera Company). This is interesting as it is a rare collaboration between two singers from very different times; as a result, the singing is variable in quality. Ms Albanese is at least 60 years of age here and is not sounding her best. This was recorded from the audience (the concert was, apparently, broadcast on television; I'm sure better quality copies exist) and one member remarked 'she can't sing!' rather conspicuously as Albanese began one of her arias (this was outside though, so I'm sure Albanese didn't hear it). Pavarotti isn't at his absolute best, but he easily won over the audience with thrilling renditions of his arias - an incredible Ch'ella mi creda among them. I hope you find this as interesting as I have.

The photograph (apologies for its poor quality) is from much later on. I'm led, by some other photographs I have, to believe that it's after a performance of Il Trovatore at the Met, probably in 1987.

Kurt Adler conducted.

(unfortunately the opening bars are missing)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• pavarotti
• luciano
• licia
• albanese
• opera
• music
• concert
• soave
• fanciulla
• la
• boheme
• tenor
• soprano
• italy
• duet

[UncleLouie867]

I love reading all the comments. To me, they're all fullashit. This one was "louder on the second note", "the other farted" - ah, ain't nuttin' like these opera queens. Personally i like the Boheme' with Margaret Truman and Caruso. That's my favourite!!

[MariaCallasLegend]

DO YOU HAVE MORE OF THIS CONCERT?AMAZING!!

[johnb340]

Stop sending me comments about my comment. If you don't like my comment, cry into your wine and ignore it. I am not comparing the quality of Pave's voice, whose golden composition is undeniable. It was a comment comparing the color of the soprano's voice to the color of the tenor's voice. I don't care if you don't agree...

[sugarbist]

@johnb340 Corelli CarusoTucker Lauri Volpi Fillipeschi Merli Pertile were some spinto&spinto dramatic tenors.Domingo was l lyric spinto at best & was hardly audible when I heard him in Pagliacci around 1997.Although Pavarotti's voice is not as big as Domingo,Pavarotti's voice resonances travelled through the theatre more so than Domingo's voice.Tagiavini's voice also travelled better than Gigli's voice, but Gigli was the greater&more famous tenor,even thoughTagliavini had a similar quality voice

[johnb340]

Domingo has a lower voice, this is a fact and I think he has more power; that's my opinion and as far as being deaf, why dont you go screw yourself.

[ThePavafan]

And she was louder a bit on the second to last amor but that's because she was closer to the microphone. But he drowned her in every other part of this duet especially on the high C.

[ThePavafan]

@johnb340 Are you deaf. Pavarotti totally overpowers her here. He drowns her totally on the last note. And by the way Pavarotti had a much stronger voice than domingo. And this is based on hearing them live.

[johnb340]

@ nockturnmortem: Yes, Domingo's latest roles were in baritone parts. in Parsifal and Die Walkure in a baritone roles. In Verdi's Boccanegra a challenging baritone role. He is a classic example of a spinto.

[Nockturnmortem]

@johnb340 jajajaja Mingo a spinto?????

[johnb340]

This is lovely. She overpowers Pavarotti though, especially on the last Amor; it would be better with a spinto Tenor like Domingo. She really is under- appreciated and was over- shadowed by Callas and Tebaldi. I love her voice.