Enrico Caruso - Pour un baiser (Victor, November 6, 1909) скачать в хорошем качестве

Enrico Caruso - Pour un baiser (Victor, November 6, 1909)

February 25, 2023 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of the most important tenor in operatic history, Enrico Caruso (1873-1921). It seems that La Scala, Staatsoper Berlin, Wiener Staatsoper, the Metropolitan Opera…NONE of the major opera companies or classical media outlets could be bothered to pay tribute to this legendary artist. The only exception I know of is Michael Vaccaro’s Opera Classica Europa, which gave a celebratory concert in Bad Schwalbach, Hesse, Germany. Thankfully, this company has further events planned for the rest of this year. To say that I am disappointed with the opera world’s apparent dismissal of Caruso as a relic of the past is an understatement. My spirit is buoyed, however, by the many words of praise and admiration for Caruso during Dead Tenors’ Society’s tribute during the month of February. I suppose that the least I can do is extend the tribute one more week. After all, if this were a leap year, today would be February 29… This week, I’ll wrap up the 150th birthday tribute to Caruso by posting videos of recordings I failed to include on my previous tributes. In this recording from November 6, 1909, Caruso sings Tosti’s “Pour un baiser”. A lovely song such as this deserves a lovely rendition, and despite the slightly Italianate French diction, Caruso obliges. He sings smoothly, taking an understated approach to this popular salon ballad. Caruso does get the most out of Doncieux’s text, however, and the intensity and resonance of the high A flats on the phrases “Reçois mon âme toute, ô bien-aimée!” and “Souffrir le mal d'amour, et de ses fiévres brûler” are thrilling. With that being said, perhaps some of you will be able to clear up something I’ve wondered about for the past 50 years. What is that strange little squeak (between A and Bb) in the opening bars? Is it someone in the orchestra? A car horn (I doubt it)? A squeaky chair?