100 Greatest Singer: PAVEL LISITSIAN

THIS PROJECT IS RESERVED ONLY FOR THE GREATEST! What´s your opinion about Pavel Lisitsian? Please comment!

Pavel Lisitsian, Baritone (1911-2004)

Peter Tchaikovsky - Pique Dame (Queen of spades)
Ya vas lyublyu (I loved you) - sung in russian -
(Recorded in 1949)

My personal opinion: Walter Legge once called Tito Gobbi "the acting voice". That doesn´t mean an overacting or stentorian voice, qualities we know from great volume baritones and basses such as the imperious Ettore Bastianini, the mighty Jerome Hines, Joseph Shore, Piero Cappuccilli or the giant Titta Ruffo ("la voce del leone") and the impressing Lawrence Tibbett. Gobbis baritone wasn´t such as big, but he was a differentiated singer, he more acted with his voice than his body. I would like to prefer one of this singers, if there wasn´t armenian born Pavel Lisisian, about whom Alan Blyth asked: "Did we hear in the last 30 years a more exciting baritone voice?" Lisitsians successor became Georg Ots, but I don´t like his ugly vulgar phrasing.
Pavel Lisitsian must be a surprise for every admirer of elegance and sonority. His home was the Bolshoi Opera House and he gave guess performances in the USA. In 1966 he retired from stage. It seems to me, with Lisitsian a great talent was underrepresented. I´ve only heard him in five recordings, but I can suggest all segments here on YouTube. He´s still an insider´s tip, but one of the best. Unfortunately he was covert behind the iron curtain, the fate of many great eastern singers (the great Lemeshev was another one). The only baritone I know who came close, very close is Dmitri Hvorostovsky, especially in this wonderful aria from Tchaikovsky´s "Pique Dame". Please let us know your comment!

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Pavel
• Lisitsian
• Tchaikovsky
• Gobbi
• Bastianini
• Shore
• Tibbett
• Cappuccilli
• Baritone
• Hvorostovsky

[picapin]

Now, this could not be more elegant. This is a total luxury indeed. A worldclass voice!!

MUST be included.

[Ginotti]

This is one of the most marvellous recordings ever made.

The ringing yet caressing tone, the smoothnes of the legato, the supreme elegance and romantiz quality in the phrasing...

Compared to this man Hvorostovski is a third rater

[MultiMorgenster]

Heard him for the first time today - made my day!

[SVEETTIS]

Best for russians in Finland !

[65Skelton]

these guys are really something else

[Petro645]

Bravo!

[Agorante]

The reason Hvorostovsky and Lisitsian are both so good in this piece is that neither of them seems to need to breathe. I suspect that Dimo studied this recording.

When the Iron Curtain finally fell I said it was 1492 for baritones - a whole new world had emerged. Suddenly we had Hvorovstosky, Leiferkus, and Chernov - each one arguably the best in the world. If it had fallen with Stalin's death that could have been Lisitsian. Dirty commies.

[DarrenSeacliffe90]

Lisitsian's terrific in it but I still find the best version of this song the one sung by Panteleimon Nortsov.

[mizofan]

I really like Hvorostovsky with this too ( i was delighted to discover him at Cardiff Singer of the World 89), but Lisitsian is really magnificent. Didn't he drill for diamonds when younger? Turned out the most precious jewel by far was his own voice.

[mariadelamor21]

Puede haber algo más hermoso y conmovedor?!!!

[Musikcamp]

no tears, no soul after having heard this.

More Heaven is not necessary!