The Prologue to Pagliacci sung by Lawrence Tibbett

My favorite rendition of the Prologue. Lawrence Tibbet(1896-1960)was the first world famous American opera singer(together with Ponselle).

PS: Notice the way he sings the line of "Un nido di memorie infondo a l'anima cantava un giorno" in one breath while also in delicate mezza voce. Now that is something not even Warren could do.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Primobaritono
• opera
• baritone
• Ruggero
• Leoncavallo

[operalament]

you know, i have listened to this recording many many time over the years, and it remains almost unbelievable. no one today would attempt that phrase in a single breath. however, the performance at the end of the film metropolitan was more thrilling i think, he was a much more mature artist at that time. you know, 30 years ago tibbet was nearly a forgotten man, i am so glad to see that thrugh u tube is becoming rediscovered. he remains the greatest baritone the world has ever known

[stephenTGV]

One of the most noble and great singers of all times. Unsurpassed performance.

[diarci]

I bow to no one in my admiration for Tibbett, but as a matter of fact he fololowed Ponselle by 5 years.

[djdannyv1]

Phrasing is how fast or slow you apply the arrangement with your singing, show me someone who phrases like Lawrence.

Danny Long Island.

Listen to how fast Lawrence sings, no one I have ever heard sings it like Lawrence.

[djdannyv1]

All the great singers of the day where all special in their own way, Lawrence is the best of the best. Resonance and Phrasing is all I have to refer to and the voice tells the story. Range he could also hit the high register without straining his voice.

Thank you for posting this classic music.

[operalament]

@ThaiMike2010 another of the many elegantly phrased comments here on youtube. Thank you so much for enlightening me.

[lihothand]

Lawrence sings this song / aria slightly different from Warren Gobi or Merrill, All great but Lawrence sings to the dialect required. Baritones must have range and resonance this Baritone has it all. At his peak no one could compare. My Father was a skilled Baritone and this was his model. I trust my Fathers Judgement and my ear tells me that no one compares to Lawrence.

Danny Long Island

[lihothand]

So when I was a boy, my Father and I would sing together this wonderful song. Lawrence is the best at keeping your attention with his phrasing and timing. His voice is unmatched up to this point. 01/22/2011. No one could sing like Lawrence. If anyone has this type of talent please by all means take advantage of it and see someone who will promote it and change the landscape of music, Please.

Danny From Long Island.

[redgrapeskins]

I listened to the live Met Tibbett Prologue from 1941 and that is a good half tone higher than this [I just compared the "incominciate" and that live performance is sung very slowly--a remarkable feat indeed- Tibbett often took his time phonating vowels,so as to let that big sound pour out- Whether he was greater than Warren is open for debate - All voices have different textures and roundness of tone so some require more effort to produce-Tibbett was a master

[VinylToVideo]

With singers like this on record it's amazing the awful baritones around today even have careers. We'd be better off having actors lip sync on stage to opera recordings made between the 1920s and 1960s.

[rovingdesertfox]

@MusicMan1519 Yep.

[MusicMan1519]

@rovingdesertfox I think he was referring to "un nido di memorie... etc... cantava un giorno" starting around 2:05. Am I right?