Enrico Caruso as Bass in La Bohéme: Vecchia zimarra

This is Caruso singing the BASS of the "Coat Song" in La Bohéme, Act IV. It was never intended for public release and only distributed to a few of Caruso's friends. Recorded on the 23rd of February 1916.

Here's the story: the MET was performing the opera in Philadelphia with the soprano Frances Alda, the baritone Antonio Scotti, the bass Andrés De Segurola and Caruso as tenor, of course.

When Andrés de Segurola was about to sing the aria, he whispered: "I lost my voice, I can't sing."
Caruso said: "Don't worry. Just stand still and move your lips and I'll sing it for you."
And so he did with his back to the audience and according to Alda absolutely marvellously. The audience applauded De Segurola and never noticed it was Caruso singing. Also the critics of the press didn't notice the swap.

In my - rather biased - opinion Caruso was an empathic genious, so he may even have duplicated the "feel" of De Segurola's voice and therefore sounded like him ....

But at least it is a spectacular demonstration of the versality of his voice.

You can hear Frances Alda talk about this "incident" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCZcREtH7fc&NR=1

Some additional information here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRbJJ5BeKOU&NR

Category:

Music

Tags:

• enrico
• caruso
• bass
• la
• boheme
• puccini
• opera

[aaronsande]

What I find most amazing about this, since the aria's range is not too low for a dramatic tenor like Caruso, is that he knew the aria well enough to pull it off so successfully that no one noticed! Think about that: I wonder how much of each opera Caruso had memorized? Was this a fortunate situation, or could he have done this in other instances?

[tomfroekjaer]

@aaronsande: @aaronsande: don't know if this was general (that Caruso knew the whole opera by heart), but I rather think not. It seems that Caruso jokingly (but maybe not) had said earlier in the day that he would help De Segurola out if he couldn't sing (being aware of his thoat infection). So maybe/possibly - or not, don't know - privately rehearsed the "Coat song."

[LordMgls]

WOW! I had long been wondering why he had recorded this aria, since it is to be sung by a bass! What a situation! Thanks for sharing this story with us :-)

[tomfroekjaer]

@LordMgls: very welcome ! Did you hear the story of Frances Alda in the link? Great stuff !

[31operafan]

Yes, I remember that story, and it also amazed me. :) C Caruso had a reason not to release it to the public: he once said it would not be fair to other basses. That's very considerate of him. :)

[aaronsande]

@tomfroekjaer Ah! If that is the case, I reduce him back to the status of "minor deity" =D

[Aetion]

How interesting!

Thanks Tom.

[mozartibnkhajjam]

very interesting story, never heard about it befor - and the interpretation of Caruso is fantastic. thanks a lot.

M.

[LordMgls]

@tomfroekjaer Of course, my friend! I couldn't miss to witness such an interesting document! I think I am going to blog this.