Beniamino Gigli - Che gelida manina (Studio Recording)

Beniamino Gigli (March 20, 1890 - November 30, 1957) was an Italian singer, widely regarded as one of the greatest operatic tenors of all time. He was blessed with a voice of immense beauty and technical facility but, regrettably, he was not always the most tasteful and stylish of singers, especially in the latter stages of his career.
Here he sings 'Che gelida manina' from La Boheme, studio recording.
This particular piece has been uploaded before, but mine is in better sound quality (in my opinion).
Of particular interest is how Gigli approaches the C in 'la speranza'. Where most tenors would sing 'la spera~C~anza', Gigli sings 'la~C~a speranza'. Interesting to note and I've never heard anyone else sing it like that.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Beniamino
• Gigli
• che
• gelida
• manina
• Italian
• tenor
• Giacomo
• Puccini
• la
• boheme
• opera
• rodolfo
• studio
• recording

[hiyadroogs]

This is my favourite Che Gelida Manina. This is how to sing a declaration of love, not the booming rabble rousing of modern tenors. There is a humility & sweetness in Gigli's voice & tonal phrasing that just wins you over. The first Bb on the words 'chi son' is like the violins coming in, it's gorgeous in its tonal beauty. & the concluding phrase at the end is pure morbidezza, - a lost art..

[jws2718]

This is probably my all time favorite recording of Che gelida manina. The way Gigli colors his voice is gorgeous. Thanks for posting it.

[canpete1]

exquisite

[millonety123]

@maferreira1984, Gracias, por las explicaciones y la molestia!, Una de mis 4 o 5 favoritas arias de siempre y uno de mis tenores favoritos y de los mejores de todos los tiempos. La voz de los tenores es como las de las mujeres que te gustan: sí te hace 'tilin' su timbre entonces te enamoras,....así de fácil!....por supuesto hace falta que halla una buena voz detrás, . Saludos!

[maferreira1984]

@millonety123 : At 3:24 you will hear an ultimate example of the "high C", "el do de pecho".

The term "de pecho" ("from the chest") is sort of inaccurate, though, as no high C in a male voice comes from chest ressonance only, it has to be - anatomically and acoustically speaking - produced along with head ressonance.

I believe the term is used to set it apart from the falsetto high notes that tenors used to produce until mid 1800's.

Some of the things you read in bios are not accurate at all.

[GERMANYFrankie]

the master!

[millonety123]

@124235346, por supuesto que estoy de acuerdo contigo. Me referia simplemente a lo escrito en biografias. Yo no tengo ni la cultura musical ni el oido experto para saber si 'exactamente' ha dado un Do o un si bemol, conozco el pentagrama y nada mas. En lo que si creo saber es en reconocer siempre a un gran cantante y una maravillosa voz, y Gigli es ambas cosas y uno de mis favoritos. Saludos¡

[124235346]

@millonety123 "el do de pecho" no significa nada. Si te refieres al Do Alto, C5, o high C, es ridículo porque en esta misma aria hay un high C..

[jbyeats]

I learned a two things listening to this great aria by Gigli .

One --- that the creator of this Universe works in mysterious ways .

What a revelation to listen to this . Anyone not moved has no soul.

Two - To those naysayers - I would only quote another commentor -

who said - Before you offer silly criticism - TRY SINGING YOURSELF.

This is a vocal TOUR DE FORCE .

[millonety123]

GIgli hace una fantastica re-creacion de esta aria, con sello personal. Ahora bien, tengo una curiosidad: he leido en una nota biografica que ni el ni Schippa nunca dieron el do de pecho, o por lo menos les era dificil, es cierto esto?

[millonety123]

GIgli hace una fantastica re-creacion de esta aria, con sello personal. Ahora bien, tengo una curiosidad: he leido en una nota biografica que ni el ni Schippa nunca dieron el do de pecho, o por lo menos les era dificil, es cierto esto?

[MrBudrake]

one of the best