Search - Carlo Bergonzi :: Operatic Recital (Dig)

The finest musician!

Armindo | Greece | 11/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

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In short, Bergonzi's first Decca recital is a lesson of excellent breathing, singing, phrasing, feeling and communicating feelings, understanding a role but above all, a lesson of music! It's no surprise that singers who nowadays stand out (Vilazon, Licitra, Giordani and others) have at some point in their career been his students.



I recently watched one of his late recitals on DVD, namely his Lugano performance and it was one of the most rewarding and emotional operatic experiences in my life. At the age of 57 he could still deliver the feelings, the musicianship and rely on a stupendous technique that never abandoned him. Callas' remark during their Lucia performances when she would wait backstage to hear him sing the finale because "there is no tenor today who sings it this way" is still very, very true. He always had a unique way of delivering any aria of any composer, from his favourite Verdi, the popular Puccini to the delightful Bellini and Donizzeti.



On this, his first Decca recital we hear some of his trademark Verdi roles and quite a few verisimo arias. Ah, si ben mio is one of the finest examples of Verdian tenor singing with the trills wonderfully executed. Donna non vidi mai makes one wish he'd recorded the role in studio (I'm still hunting the Kirsten/Bergonzi live MET Manon Lescaut).



Any Bergonzi recording is special and this early recital shows him at the start of his legendary career.

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