Beniamino Gigli gives a little bel canto masterclass

Beniamino Gigli, tenor
Gigli gives a tip when talking about vocal technique.

Translation:
- "Therefore, I'll do a breath, a breath without diaphragm. I'll tell you that I'll do that over the breath:
- M'ama, sì m'ama lo vedo... lo vedo
(highlight of the aria Una Furtiva Lagrima, from L'Elisir D'Amore - Donizetti).
It's not necessary the diaphragm. Why? I'll say: this 'canto' is supported only over the breath, over the 'fiato', but when:
- quando io mi debbo impegna-a-a-re...
now is necessary, when is need to pledge, is necessary to find the diaphragm."

Sorry for my imperfect italian translation, that's not my natural language.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• beniamino
• gigli
• vocal
• technique
• masterclass

[b00i00d]

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!

[operataste]

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!

[operataste]

Someone that had never learned can't teach how to do anything. Gigli is one of the best singers of all times, his technique was perfect. He used to sing more than 30 pieces (between arias and songs) at one recital, without loosing his voice. That's the real technique! Like him, there were few others.

[abednego20]

¿Alguien ha oido una versión completa de "Una furtiva lacrima" interpretada por Gigli? ¿Sabéis si la cantó alguna vez entera? Estoy loco por encontrarla.

[operataste]

There are two or three complete studio records of the aria, and many others live recorded.

[operataste]

To sing is a technique that the singer amount a large set of feelings, memorize them when they produce good efect and avoid them, when the results are not good. The human anatomy really helps to the singer understand more about what happens in his(her) body, but isn't enough to sing. I know that nobody said that it's enough, but I can't consider that Gigli was wrong. Someone is right if the human knowledge goes up to that. When something new is discovered, then the truth "changes".

[345murphy]

There is only one word in the English language

for Gigli which is IRREPLACEABLE. Gigli had the voice with the diction, and phrasing all combined together. No tenor will be able to ever match Gigli's very unique gift his voice.

[philomelodia]

Pavarotti's style was entirely different. I'm a devoted fan of Pavarotti but, I gotta hand it to this guy. He was fantastic. Pavarotti himself acknowledges him as a master. I'm just glad nobody has dared compare Paul Pots to this guy. Lots of uninformed fans of his out there are making outrageous claims that he excels any number of the greats. It's bosh but people are going for it nonetheless.

[edwardtagg]

Pity -no english translation - havent got a clue??????????

[crapfacejoe]

@philomelodia How can anybody be devoted to Pavarotti when there are voices like Gigli, Caruso, Lanza, Del Monaco, Corelli, Schipa... Pavarotti fans are almost as ridiculous as Paul Potts.

[foxofthebahia]

Thank you so much beautiful!

[deutschefach]

@TheVerdiBaritone He solved the most important problem. Gigli learned to sing on the voice at all times. He sings pianos like Garcia advised "la voce di petto in testa". He is a master of opening the vowels at all volume levels and flowing rather than bottling up either air pressure or muscle resistance. But the key is the opening of the vowels to their max. This allows the chest voice to connect to the head tones with no gear shifting. Schipa did this as has Gedda. For me Gigli is best.

[deutschefach]

Respond to this video... The point he is making is not that one makes the support but that the support follows the production. If the production is light, there is support ma non troppo. He sings open regardless of the volume and does not add weight. He does not cramp his body or the sound. It flows. That is what he is saying. La differenza: E la voce di petto in testa. Non e sola la voce in testa."

[deutschefach]

@operataste I can not disagree with you more. If one wants to sing at Gigli's level, it can not be done without solving this problem. This is a problem that makes or breaks a singer. Fear is not a solution. Finding a solution to this is what makes a singer like Gigli or Gedda superior "technically" to Pavarotti. This is the difference between Del Monaco and Corelli. It has to do with vowels remaining open at low as well as higher volumes, and "con sofiato" singing.

[TheVerdiBaritone]

Jussi Bjoerling's wife said her favorite tenor voice was that of Beniamino Gigli!!

[griffithafrank]

...this dudes voice begins at a frigging middle C. No wonder singing an A was so easy for him...

[AnnaBill2009]

Great!...Thanks 4 sharing lots of techniques in singing for this Video..

Thanks for the share Voiceitaliano...

[breton2]

@operataste I think you are totally right, your advise is just fine.