Search - Ruffo :: Golden Years of Titta Ruffo 1912-1929

A sparkling, frankly miraculous voice -- deserves much more

Janis Cortese | Los Angeles, CA United States | 11/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ruffo is a relatively recent discovery for me, and I'm very, very glad I encountered him. I tend to be more a fan of the high male voice. Tenors and male mezzos appeal to me in classical and pop both, as well as low female voices like Marian Anderson and Carly Simon. I'm not used to falling head over ears with a baritone, but Ruffo is unlike any other I've ever heard, even with the relatively lousy fidelity of early recording technology.



His voice sparkles, and that's not a word I use for baritones very often. Usually, it's the tenors that have that clarion ring to them that draws the ear. Ruffo is the only baritone I've ever found who has that diamondlike ring -- his voice is brilliant, one of the 20th century's true miracles. It stunned me, honestly. I've never heard anything like him. What a shame that his voice and he were gone before the advent of high-fidelity recording technology. Even on these old recordings, he is mindblowing.



If you love opera, if you love baritones, if you just love fine voice, you MUST own this CD. One of the most astonishing things I've ever heard in my life is the duet from "Otello" on this CD -- between Ruffo and the immortal Caruso. Can you imagine two more incredible voices together, in such a powerful, competitive piece of music meant to showcase its singers?



Again, if you love fine voice, you MUST own this. Titta Ruffo is miraculous. His voice is truly, truly breathtaking."