ERI TU - Mattia Battistini

From Verdi's Ballo en Maschera
An Acoustic recording made in 1907 by One of the Great Baritones of the Bel Canto era

Category:

Music

Tags:

• eri
• tu
• verdi
• baritone
• mattia
• battistini

[meltzerboy]

One of the greatest recordings of this beautiful aria by a true master, the legendary Battistini. IMO the performance is secondary only to that of Ruffo. Other superb renditions include those of De Luca, Gobbi, Warren, and Merrill.

[stevevandien]

You are quite right. The best "Eri tus" I've heard over the past 50 years -- besides those of Battistini, Ruffo, Amato, Stracciari, Granforte and Bechi . -- were by Warren, MacNeil, Merrill and Milnes. The most recent was recorded nearly 40 years ago. We have no Verdi baritones of this standard today, much more's the pity --

[luigisolera]

I include Giuseppe Taddei among the best Eri Tus of all times. His is a true Verdi baritone, perfect in rythm, pitch, dramatic inflection, precise attack, all energy.

[piasecznik]

@hobo1975 Don't know. He seems lighter to me than for example Jadlowker, who recorded in the same age and was what is probably best classified a heavy spinto, though with glorious coloratura.

[ONeirda]

@hobo1975 That's true in its physical dimension. But please read my comment to 'piasecznik': Mattia Battistini definitely was a high baritone who sang in a refined bel canto stile, who nowadays most probably would sing Heldentenor parts (and most probably less beautifully than in his natural Fach high baritone...). Well, that's just how I personally assess his voice. Unfortunately we can't ask him directly anymore :-( Best regards, A. from Bürglen, Switzerland

[ONeirda]

@piasecznik You are quite right, I think. And others, some experts, share your opinion to: Viktor Fuchs, later a Viennese singing teacher, in his youth had the chance to follow Mattia Battistini on his tours through Europe for some time. He writes that Battistini certainly would have had the ability to sing tenor, but, wise enough, he stayed to his beautifully refined bel canto line high baritone "Fach". (Viktor Fuchs, The Art of Singing and Voice Technique, 1963, New York.)

[hobo1975]

@piasecznik you just dont know how to understand old recordings,upper harmonics will always be dominant in old recordings.

[xavierfersanta]

@Rigelcentauri58 La grabación está acelerada y se escucha medio tono más agudo.

[piasecznik]

Interesting how Fach perceptions have changed. Today he would almost certainly be a tenor, and not even a dramatic tenor.

[mistalala]

TOTALLY AGREE