Search - Great Voices :: Great Voices-Tenors

Loads of fun--and a wonderful introduction to great voices!

Steven A. Peterson | Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL) | 07/10/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The 4 CD set featuring tenors from the breadth of the 20th century begins with Enrico Caruso singing "Che Gelida Manina" from "La Boheme"--as well as the delightful duet "O Soave Fanciulla." Then, Caruso taking on three works from "Rigoletto"--"Questa o quella," "La donna e mobile," and "Bella figlia dell' amore." Some might think of Caruso as a singer from a misty past, but his voice still rings powerfully over the years. Then, Beniamino Gigli, another wonderful tenor. He gives us arias from "La Favorita," "La Traviata," and "Manon."



And on it goes. . . . Some of my favorite opera singers from the past appear here: Tito Schipa, Lauritz Melchior (his "Wintersturme" from "Die Walkure" is pretty wonderful, as far as I'm concerned!), Richard Tauber, Jussi Bjoerling (his voice gives me goose bumps), Richard Tucker (he once described himself as "the greatest tenor in the world"), and so on.



Then, some perhaps lesser known voices (at least to me): Francesco Tamagno, Fernando De Lucia, Giacomo Lauri-Volpi (his aria from "Il Trovatore" is nicely done; I had heard his voice on other albums, and appreciated him), Giuseppe Di Stefano (not one of my favorites, but still a fine tenor), John McCormick (ditto). . . .



Want a sampler of tenors from the first half plus of the 20th century? This isn't a bad starting point to experience such talent. . . .

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