Richard Bonelli live at the Met in 1940 - "Cruda, funesta smania" from "Lucia"

Richard Bonelli sings "Cruda, funesta smania" from Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor." This is from the February 3, 1940 Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast where Gennaro Papi conducted. Other cast members included Lily Pons (Lucia), Frederick Jagel (Edgardo), Virgilio Lazzari (Raimondo), Lodovico Oliviero (Normanno), Thelma Votipka (Alisa), and Nicholas Massue (Arturo).

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Richard
• Bonelli
• Cruda
• funesta
• smania
• Lucia
• di
• Lammermoor
• Donizetti
• Metropolitan
• Opera
• radio
• broadcast
• live
• 1940
• Gennaro
• Papi
• yt:quality=high

[SHICOFF1]

Bonelli was Uncle Richard to Robert stack the actor, famous in the untouchable series on TV in the late 50's and early 60's! His mom was the sister to Bonelli. I don't know if Bonelli was a changed name for the American? Vinyl may know but anyhow good post. Notice how Stack looked like his uncle.

[VinylToVideo]

@SHICOFF1 Yes, he was born George Richard Bunn.

[vpo2g2]

One of the greatest baritones ever. Compare to the juiceless mutts we have today. (PS: the "fast" vibrato means freedom. Listen to his high notes)

[lirica2011]

Bellissima e affascinante voce!!!

[racheleleeba]

Very thrilling singing. Thank you.

[jmccracken1963]

VERRRY well-sung by Bonelli! Notes right on pitch, lots of passion and fire - he IS Lord Enrico Ashton. Good contributions from Lazzari (Raimondo) and Oliviero (Normanno), too. I wish that Papi hadn't taken the cabaletta at such a clip, though; the music needs more time to "breathe." But as for Bonelli? As with so many singers of the past, he could name his price today and command top dollar - but singers with that sort of individual character are rare today. Thank you VERY much!!!!!

[GermanOperaSinger]

One of my favorite baritone voices. Never knew he'd Anglicized his name; I always assumed he was Italian-American. You'd certainly never be able to tell from his rich Italianate voice.

[OscarLevant1]

We would be lucky to have him today. Notice how he has that same fast vibrato as all of the Caruso/Ponselle generation.

[ShawDAMAN]

excellent.

[SHICOFF1]

Oh wow thanks and I know a few other Americans had name changes for the opera like Valentino another Baritone and of course Merrill and Warren but they went with American names . Stack in an interview I have said he studied with his uncle for a short while but really had no special singing talent.