Richard Tauber - Il Mio Tesoro

Richard Tauber singing Il Mio Tesoro from Mozart's Don Giovanni for Parlophone in 1939. It competes with McCormack's version but in much better sound. I think that this is the most perfect classical vocal record of all time. Had to switch to modern equipment as the record is too loud for the orthophonic. Next I'll do the other side, Dalla Sua Pace.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Tauber
• Giovanni
• Mozart

[78Maniac]

As a 78's collector, I ask you, Merrihew: why do you the most often play your records on that old orthophonic HMV-machine? The sound is better on the modern Numark-machine as you play it here (I have got the same machine), and the record suffers less than with the heavy orthophonic player! I play all my 78's on modern electric machines: Dual, Denon, Numark with special 78-diamonds of course.

[merrihew]

I play the newer, better sounding records on the modern equipment - 3.5 mil truncated elliptical stylus (other sizes for certain records). Some records actually sound better on the old equipment which is more interesting visually. See my posting "In defense of an orthophonic". I never play rare or pristine records on the orthophonic.

[toberhouse]

Everyone has the right to their tastes and opinions. But I'm sorry: this is not a good version. The voice is too heavy and inflexible: My favourites: McCormack and Simoneau ( a tie) followed very closely by

Wunderlich

[merrihew]

Simoneau clearly wins the post War battle using the criteria you note (his version is spectacular) but on what basis does one decide the appropriate approach? The fact that one dislikes something does not necessarily mean that its "bad".

[grig035]

This piece is usually done more lyrically, yes. If kachzvi18 is referring to Ottavio's first phrases here along with the rest, then kachzvi18's may be a valid point, since Ottavio first asks that his friends console his only love, and that could well be sung quite lyrically. But he then sings:

Tell her that I have gone

to avenge her wrongs,

and will return only as the messenger of punishment and death.

Here, I welcome Tauber's unusual vigor and find it fits the heroic change in the music.

[Manxypop]

Simply the best of the best - most Tauber I have heard is bad audio or old records. I heard he was good but THIS explains why he was so loved and revered. He is my favorite over Schmidt, Wunderlich and McCormack, but to each his own. Thanks so much!

[merrihew]

@grig035 What a wonderful discovery. It has a few faults but the voice is quite a bit fresher. Thanks for pointing it out.

[grig035]

@merrihew As I said, I might take Tauber's '39 "Dalla sua pace" over his '39 "Il mio tesoro" because no other "pace" seems so unfailingly musical & expressive; whereas Schiotz/McCormack do excel, each in their way, in "tesoro". But I just heard an unpublished '26 Tauber "tesoro" that matches Schiotz/McCormack in flexibility and precision and still has the emotional conviction of Tauber's '39 "tesoro"! That's now my favorite "tesoro", bar none! It's at /watch?v=iNvs-dm5A28.

[VinylToVideo]

I once had the chance to buy this 78 cheaply and missed it. Still regret it.

[sylvieshere]

Ah! It was my grandfather playing this song that introduced me to the wonderful music of the tenor, and then opera. I understand Richard Tauber is sometimes considered 'too popular' by the hard core tenor buffs - but he (and this wonderful piece of Mozart) will always have a very special place ion my heart

[federricoilgrande]

Bjorling e Wunderlich i due migliori Ottavio della Storia, no contest. Adoro Tauber, ma la pronuncia italiana è ridicola...

[operalament]

this is a great performance!