Giuseppe di Stefano - Che gelida manina (live)

Today is 24 July 2008, the 87th birthday of Giuseppe di Stefano, who passed away earlier this year.
Di Stefano had perhaps the most beautiful Italian lyric tenor voice of the century, but unfortunately he squandered his talent...the man disregarded use of a proper technique, which caused him to lose most of his singing voice by his late 40s. I believe when Jussi Bjoerling heard Pippo for the first time he remarked that the young tenor would someday become the greatest in the world...he could easily have been...but sadly it was not to be. Although warned several times by various people to stop singing as he was, he always dismissed the issue. It is my opinion that it is solely because of his magnificent voice that he disregarded technique; if he sounded so good singing the way he did, why learn the proper method?
Here one can analyze the voice in a Che gelida from a live 1950 performance of Boheme. Although the diction is flawless and the quality of the voice is fantastic, one can hear how he dangerously sings open vowels on the notes above the passaggio...as he ventured into heavier roles, this manner of open vowel singing evolved into open vowel SHOUTING, which in time destroyed his wonderful voice completely. What a waste of talent...but I suppose he gave us enough.

Happy birthday Pippo, please don't take my criticism to heart, I still love you!
Rest in peace.

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[Yoni89]

i hear that white stuff still..

Happy birthday pippo! Rip.

[GermanOperaSinger]

Absolutely...read my video info. It explains what was wrong with his technique.

Sorry if I sounded bitter towards Pippo, I love him; he's one of my five all time favorite tenors.

[Yoni89]

is the passaggio when the voice breaks from the chest voice to the head voice?

If so, that means he was singing notes that should have been in head voices but with his chest?

That does not sound good! If I understand what passaggio is.. lol..

[GermanOperaSinger]

To put it in simple terms, yes.

[berto1999]

Without Di Stefano, the opera would be boring and petulant.

Di Stefano is the embodiment of opera.

Without Di Stefano, I would have never listened opera.

Without Di Stefano, the opera would have never evolved.

Giuseppe Di Stefano is the apotheosis of opera, the zenith of opera.

Singing better than Pippo is impossible!

[4cups]

THE BEST!!!

BRAVO, di Stefano

[fainaromana]

Non oso dire che questa interpretazione sia insuperabile, perché sono un profano e le mie conoscenze musicali sono limitate, ma quanta dolcezza, quanta passione e spontaneità. Emozionante.

[fmercury91]

Di Stefano also partied quite a bit at night. I'm sure that didn't help preserve his voice. However, Pippo was magnificent in so many ways. Rudolph Bing once called his high C diminuendo on "Salut! Demeure Chaste Et Pure" the most beautiful sound he had ever heard come out of a person's mouth. Pippo was quite possibly the best Faust and Rodolfo who ever lived. In his prime he gave us what are quite possibly the most beautiful recordings to come from any tenor.

[ivelosthewilltolive]

Beautiful, thanks for posting.

[Darean51]

is it just me or are many major tenors fat but the two best (in my opinion) were not (Del Monaco and Distefano) any ideas?

[segu82]

@berto1999 ma tu scrivi ESATTAMENTE quello che penso io!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ubedajils]

@GermanOperaSinger Kraus out? Kraous out, you said?? ... Por supuesto, el gusto es objetivo, pero si tiras a kraus, tendrías que tirar a bjorling... No discutamos por eso.

[hasinanayab]

Dear Friendz indeed he is a great singer but you have to listen Great Ustad Baday Ghulam Ali Khan "He is the king of all classical music" please listen his other songs too, Music is the only religion which is acceptable every where, with regards.

[chrissing7]

firstly, I love his opera and Napolitan song, but when I listen his Cielo e mar, I was kind of dissappointed cuz his high Bb was not so well and to me his voice was tired. however, his early voice was amazing. I wish I could sing like him...

I love his lyrical role of opera...not the dramatic role of opera...

just my opinion...