This is Giuseppe di Stefano in a 1951 recording, released on RCA as a
highlight album, also with Albanese, Warren, and Munsel. It was the
first Boheme ever played for me, when I was 14 years old, and I was
captivated, and bit by the opera bug that very day! BTW, this specific
recording was in the household of a fellow RMOer!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcYEdFG9zJ4

Ed

What do you think of it? I rather fancy it, but I wouldn't rate it
among the very best I've heard.

On Nov 2, 6:48 pm, Ancona21 <ancon... at (no spam) gmail.com> wrote:





On Nov 2, 9:59 am, wkasimer <wkasi... at (no spam) comcast.net> wrote:

BTW, I browsed through my CD's last night, and took the opportunity to
listen to a bunch of recordings of the aria.  Gigli's 1931 recording
will no doubt thrill Gigli fans, but I find the sobs, chuckles and
catches pretty irritating.  Bonci is much more to my taste
interpretively, but the quick vibrato doesn't really suit Puccini very
well - it's a 19th century singer out of place in 20th century music.

I love Tauber, but he has the fake the C.  No such complaints about
Wittrisch, who always fares well in comparisons like these - he really
should be much better known.  Patzak didn't have much of a voice, but
his version has lots of charm.

The three Swedes - Bjoerling (1936), Gedda, and Winbergh - all do very
well; they just can't compete with Bergonzi.

Bill

I'll bet you don't have this one:http://groups.google.com/group/RMO-ClipJoint/files?hl=en
What do you think of it? I rather fancy it, but I wouldn't rate it
among the very best I've heard.
A21- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Whoa! I tried to play it and got a message that I had to purchase
something to hear it! What is that about? I will try again!!

On Nov 2, 6:48 pm, Ancona21 <ancon... at (no spam) gmail.com> wrote:

What do you think of it? I rather fancy it, but I wouldn't rate it
among the very best I've heard.

But it's far from the worst, A21.  The voice is a trifle slender, but
he doesn't try to compensate, and sings quite beautifully.   I don't
recognize the singer - who is it?

Welcome back -

Bill

On Nov 2, 7:36 pm, wkasimer <wkasi... at (no spam) comcast.net> wrote:

On Nov 2, 6:48 pm, Ancona21 <ancon... at (no spam) gmail.com> wrote:

What do you think of it? I rather fancy it, but I wouldn't rate it
among the very best I've heard.

But it's far from the worst, A21.  The voice is a trifle slender, but
he doesn't try to compensate, and sings quite beautifully.   I don't
recognize the singer - who is it?

Welcome back -

Bill

Thanks Bill - it's good to be back, I think. Before I name the singer
listen to three new clips - one by Bizet, one by Verdi and a beautiful
little lullaby. This tenor is far from famous but he was discussed
briefly here some months ago. REG in particular might recall him
because of his slight association with VdlA.http://groups.google.com/group/RMO-ClipJoint/files?hl=en
A21

I love this version, but my favorite remains Bergonzi's in the London/
Decca complete recording with Tebaldi. Bergonzi is in gorgeous voice,
his phrasing and dynamic shading are sublime, and the top C is suprb
as well.
Best,
Ken