GIGLI & DE LUCA -PEARLFISHERS DUET - RARE FILM

GUISEPPE DE LUCA AND BENIAMINO GIGLI SING THE FAMOUS DUET FROM BIZETS OPERA...THE PEARLFISHERS. FROM A RARE 1928 VITAPHONE FILM SHORT. THE QUALITY IS NOT TOO HOT I'M AFRAID, BUT STILL WORTH A LOOK...
ENJOY!!!!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• GUISEPPE
• DE
• LUCA
• GIGLI
• -RARE
• VITAPHONE
• FILM

[jhb134]

The costumes look, almost-ridiculous (to modern eyes) and the gestures can seem "stagey". DOESN'T MATTER, because these two, giants of the early days of recording partner-together WONDERFULLY, in such a unique and enduring way!!! ... Anyone can offer Bjorling/Merrill, Caruso/Ancona or other GREAT recordings as alternatives, and justly-so. ... This, old Vitaphone video captures two of the best at THEIR best, and thanks to tauberfanlehar2 for providing it!

[TAUBERFANLEHAR2]

@jhb134 THESE EARLY VITAPHONES HAVE SURFACED SPORADICALLY SINCE THE EARLY 1960'S, WHEN COLLECTORS REALISED EXACTLY THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN SOUND FILM HISTORY, MUCH OF THE ORIGINAL NITRATE FILM SURVIVES. THE ACCOMPANYING DISCS ARE THE PROBLEM, THEY OFTEN TURN UP IN SUCH A POOR STATE, MARRYING THEM UP TOGETHER IS ANOTHER MATTER. THE VITAPHONE PROJECT IS BUSY RESTORING MANY FILMS, WHICH I SUPPOSE WILL BE RE-ISSUED IN SOME WAY.

DAN

[Beekeeper911]

Thank you for sharing this rare film.  I would give much to see the original. It would be like stepping through time.

[TAUBERFANLEHAR2]

@Beekeeper911 MOST OF THE SURCING VITAPHONE FILMS ARE IN POOR CONDITION, OFYEN OUT OF SYNC. THE BEST OF THE GIGLIS IS THE CAVALLERIA EXCERPTS. IN ANY CASE IT GREAT TO SEE HIM EARLY, MOST OF HIS GERMAN FILMS ARE RATHER POOR IN STORY, YJESE VITAPHONES AT LEAST GIVE US A GLIMPSE OF GIS OPERATIC ART.

DAN

[mikelheron20]

Wonderful.

[ElFantadu]

Danke fürs Einstellen

[alguso]

surprising good sound. the colour of their voices is perfect. the music is very beautiful.

by simply hearing it I would recognise Gigli's voice. Thanks for this rarity.

[Musikfreundism]

Wegen dieses wunderbaren Tenors hat Carlo Cazals ebenfalls Belcantogesang studiert.

Für ihn war Gigli immer neben Caruso der beste Sänger der Welt.

[ubedajils]

Maravilloso. GRACIAS por comaprtir esta rareza.

[chrisjuk1]

wonderful!!! thank you so much for sharing such a rarity

[Bigman240]

They sure could sing once upon a time!!!!!! THE GLORY OF SINGING!!!!!

[Bigman240]

TWO GREAT LEGENDS!!!!! AMAZING DOCUMENT!!!!

[lotsabirds]

These old performances are great! I must say though that the tempo of this performance seems to be too slow. I know that the practices of the time were more toward dazzling the listener with long phrases and breath control....but for me even though the voices are known to be of two of the best singers ever, the brilliance of the melody and the harmony are lost by the very slow pace of the vocal performance. The Bjorling/Merrill performance allows one to really feel the drama of the duet.

[jspben2320]

I have never heard this duet sung in anything but French...interesting. Will have to search for other recordings.