Gigli in "Che gelida manina," from Ave Maria

From the Bel Canto Society DVD (German version)

"One gains a wonderful idea of the disarming simplicity and generosity of the man [Gigli] which wholly exonerates him from a charge of ham acting. The voice itself pours out of him in that well-known, heartfelt manner, uniquely his, the honeyed mezza voce a thing to wonder at."
--Alan Blyth, reviewing this film in Gramophone

The Violetta in this film is Erna Berger. Bel Canto Society's other titles star Bastianini, Barbieri, Bechi, Bergonzi, Bjoerling, Caballe, Callas, Caniglia, Cerquetti, Christoff, Cigna, Corelli, Corradi, Cossotto, Dal Monte, Del Monaco, Di Stefano, Eggerth, Filippeschi, Flagstad, Gencer, Gobbi, Kiepura, Lanza, Lauri-Volpi, Masini, Melchior, Peerce, Pinza, Olivero, Pons, Schipa, Schmidt, Siepi, Simionato, Stella, Stevens, Stignani, Supervia, Tagliavini, Tajo, Tauber, Tebaldi, Valletti, more.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Beniamino
• Gigli
• Opera
• Bel
• Canto
• Society

[FABRIZIO82]

Gorgeous, true Bel Canto by the Michelangelo of tenors.

[pearlmuth3]

sweet as sugar and warm

[GiovdeMartino]

La voce piu bella del mondo!

[wiseroldfart]

A little too subdued for me. I prefer a little more gusto and Gigli was certainly capable of pumping a little more drama into this aria.

[TheCatholicFaithfu]

The "ham acting", however, is part of the Italian operatic experience. Gigli's trump card was his amazing tonality of the higher ranging notes of his tenor voice.

[lilymatti]

wat was hij toch prachtig

[kuddelfranz20001]

@FABRIZIO82 das ist eine wunderbare Bemerkung, danke

[kuddelfranz20001]

schön, dass es sowas noch gibt. Danke Danke

Franz

[ginodelia]

BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO.

[jd1906sf]

I love Pavarotti, but to say he surpassed Gigli in every way would have to be one man's opinion: a frivolous and unnecessary comparison. This is a MONAURAL recording from before WW II, and that astonishing voice, technique, style and emotion of Gigli is undeniable. DiStefano's version is my favorite, but Gigli gets me every time. Amazing.

[bigus]

not since pavarotti died anyway. then again he surpassed gigli in every way. i do love gigli however but in my opinion pavarotti was the superior tenor in pretty much every way. also bjorling for sure.