Beniamino Gigli gives a little bel canto masterclass

Operataste, you shouldn't be apologising for your english, it is us who should be extra-thanking you, not only for posting this amazing clip but also going into the trouble of translating too!... My Italian is very rusty so your info has been great. Not being a trained singer, I'm still not sure what is meant by "breath without diaphragm" - I thought all singing uses the diaphragm and support muscles to control the voice. But still, thank you very much for a great post. Mille gracie!

What Gigli did was not to repeat: he used to pass from the full voice to the falsetto without any effort, it was simple to him. He used to make light phrases without the diaphragm (sul fiato), that means only focusing at the words on the lips, and using the same force as an popular singer singing very "piano". But he was unique, what was easy to him can be a disaster to other singers. My advise is: run away from this!

@freespiritQC I wanted to congratulate your sensible and balanced response, and I accidentally hit the thumb down! I'm sorry I don't know how to reverse that!

You are totally right Samurai9, the diaphragm is used principally in the intake of breath, but the lower abs and pelvic muscles are the ones most involved muscles in the exhale, which, of course, is the breath one sings on. =) Anyone who has seen a baby cry, knows that is true.

If, for just a heartbeat of a second, you thought Pavarotti could challenge, let alone eclipse Gigli, you have disqualitied yourself from this or any other forum. Rest assured Pavarotti never thought so himself.

Um, yeah, Pavarotti held him in high esteem technically, preferred di Stefano musically, and was himself one of the greatest singers that ever opened his mouth. They belong in the same ranks, absolutely, any person that doesn't acknowledge that is not just silly, they are a snob, fascinated by minutiae of recorded history, firmly convinced that everything of value 'came before'.

You are right, they play in the same division, maybe the best ten ever. Let´s leave it at that that and enjoy. Thanks.

ma sei scemo, sordo o ci fai?
ti vuoi mettere tu a posto di Gigli? Del Monaco diceva che era il più grande tenore lirico esistito!
E tu osi mettere bocca? ma canti meglio di lui? facci sentire a tutti come sai abbaiare, cane..
Certe cose tienitele per te, fai più bella figura!

ma che cosa dici ????GIGLI HA DETTO UNA CAVOLATA ??? solo per urlare ???? ti ricordo che stai parlando con uno dei tenori del secolo, e se dopo ci sono stati grandi tenori lo devono anche a LUi perchè tutti i più grandi si sono ispirati a GIGLI ... IGNORANTE porta rispetto

sei tu l'ignorante, ciò che ha detto è errato e basta. infatti non canta come spiega, secondo te per cantare piano bisogna spoggiare??? si vede che non sei un cantante