Virginia Zeani - 'Caro nome' - Rigoletto - Verdi

Virginia Zeani's early career began with lyric coloratura roles such as Lucia, Amina and Violetta. She is heard here in 1955 at the age of 29 singing Gilda's aria from Act One of Rigoletto.

To hear how her superb voice matured, unblemished, listen to recordings made some fifteen years on of 'Tu che le vanita' and 'To this we've come', and, on Google Video, to 'L'altra notte' from Mefistofele in 1981.
This recording is from a live transmission by Italian Radio.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Opera-Italy-Verdi-Philip
• II-Don
• Carlos-Huguenots-Soprano

[elegie84]

What a beautiful color of voice. I would bet she was a spinto soprano because she has so rich mid tones.

[CharlotteinWeimar]

@elegie84 You are so right. She began in her words as a "lyric soprano with high agility" & over a 35 year career developed into a spinto, singing such roles as AIda, Elisabetta in Don Carlo etc & even some Wagner. - a true "Assoluta"

[elegie84]

@CharlotteinWeimar

Great voice! That's what I can say :) And she was so young when she sang that aria - unbelievable because she had so cultivated voice in such young age!

[CharlotteinWeimar]

@elegie84 Many of us believe she is a very special and truly great singer. You will find numerous arias on my channel from private recordings made throughout her long career and they are without exception of the highest standard. At 84 she is still teaching and has just been honoured as Teacher of the Year.

[CharlotteinWeimar]

At long, long last a major article will be published in OPERA magazine in November 2009 entitled THE LEGENDARY VIRGINIA ZEANI.

[CharlotteinWeimar]

Did you hear this great singer give a memorable performance live without a mic? If so please post an objective description to add to the wonderful YouTube archive before the memory is lost for ever. Recordings don't tell everything. Quality, size of voice, character, integrity, movement & the effect on an audience need describing too. How I wish I could have been there in 1734 to hear Farinelli stun an audience with a single note, but we do at least have Charles Burney's marvellous account.

[basenjidiva]

Never, in my life, have I heard this aria sung with the beauty, sensitivity, and dazzling vocality Zeani brings to the role.  Her crescendos and diminuendos are unparalleled; mezzo voces & pianissimos seem effortlessly produced, & color the sentiments appropriately. Clarity and fiorature are faultless, the result of technical perfection of a glorious instrument. Phenominal rendition, demonstrating extraordinary ability combined with flawless taste! Brava, mia cara Diva! Sempre Zeani!

[cptnunderwhere]

Pretty sure Toscanini named her as the most beautiful voice/singer he'd ever heard. It was in an article in Opera News a few years back.

[Ellevius]

Perfect. 

[jimreilly43]

this is not only beautfiul singing but there is a real sense of Gilda's womanhood/personhood--i.e. here she is more than an inncocent girl with a lovely voice

[MrSkylark1]

@cptnunderwhere

Actually Toscanini claimed ELIZABETH RETHBERG has having the most beautiful voice as was true of the MUSIC CLUBS of America. Suggest listening to Rethberg on You Tube. There has never been an Aida to match.

[Tenorbravo]

WOW..This is PERFECTION...What a talented soprano Ms. Zeani is. I can´t continue typing.................. I am spechless. Viva Ms.Zeani " para siempre."

[ROMANABSOLUT]

@corellithebest : THANK YOU ! From a small Latin country in the middle of a Slavic sea, we still dare to "produce" talents. And we are proud about it ! I would also add the sopranos Cleopatra Melidoneanu, Ileana Cotrubaș, Felicia Filip, Irina Iordăchescu and Viorica Ursuleac. Unfortunately, the Westerners learn about them if they sing there only. I wonder myself, WHY do Romanians KNOW about the West's artists ? Are we more open to the culture or what ?

[susuflorin]

what softness of voice...

shame on me for not knowing this sooner

fantastic!

[elegie84]

@CharlotteinWeimar

She's unbeliavable! :)