Your Favorite Tenor

[JJack]

I've been on a bit of a splurge recently, buying up all the operas I find at the used record stores.

Bought two EMI sets, 22 LPs in all (The History of Singing). Some great voices on there: Melchior, Caruso, Gigli, et al.

But the one that I keep coming back to is Franco Corelli, the archetype Italian tenore, rich and robust through the middle register, and taking some weight into the higher register, with a glorious ringing C on top.

He could do a neat vocal trick - and he called it that - where he could back off a full-voiced A to B-flat and hold it for as long as he liked (see EMI recording of E lucevan le stelle from Tosca for a stunning example).

I have many of his recordings, alas too many on the horrendous blue EMI Angel LPs that sound like there were made from cardboard, but the voice comes through in all of them.

There's some great stuff on youtube if you want a flavor, just google his name.

[jostber]

Thanks for the hint on Corelli will check out his music.

Listen to this fella sing ""Je Crois Entendre Encore" from the Pearl Fishers by Georges Bizet. Spine tingling stuff.

Rolando Villazon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsK2EXdCTOw

The greatest tenor might be Jussi Bjørling though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QFgPtmM7Ps

[JJack]

I am a big Boerling fan, with his legendary La Boheme recording still untouched IMO

[MartinT]

I love Dalmacio Gonzalez in this recording of Rossini's Stabat Mater. He is simply magnificent in 2. Aria (Tenore).

Rossini - Stabat Mater, Giulini, Philharmonia, DG 410 034-2



http://open.spotify.com/album/5jZSB4pKeDXbcDX1QxE6jO

[BTH K10A]

I have always admired the tone of Giuseppe di Stefano's voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAURQ...cSJbDH00GobsMa

[Marco]

Enrico Caruso, for me - although I'm also a big fan of Mario Lanza:








That's the sort of music I was brought up with, as my parents played it all the time when I was a kid. Even now, it gives me goosebumps - what a phenomenal voice...!

Marco.

[JJack]

Okay, I'll share another one: Fritz Wunderlich, singing Schubert.

[Gromit]

Selmer Mk 6 in silver plate.

(sorry couldn't resist).

[keiths]

I've always preferred the one with Florence Nightingale on it rather than Charles Darwin.