Amelita Galli-Curci & Enrico Caruso - Rigoletto : Quartet - Bella Figlia Dell' Amore (Verdi)

Classic recording of the "Rigoletto Quartet" featuring Galli-Curci, Caruso, Flora Perini and Giuseppe De Luca. Photograph taken outside the main entrance to building no. 2 (the executive office building and recording studios) of the Victor Talking Machine Company in Camden, New Jersey on January 25, 1917 at the sessions for this recording and the Sextet from "Lucia di Lammermoor". Left to Right: De Luca, Galli-Curci, Caruso, Perini, Angelo Bada and Minnie Egener. Marcel Journet is absent from the photo.

[@trudischleifer7245]

Beautiful, beautiful, just...beautiful

[@HermanLabuschagne]

I must have been about 14 years old on a cold winter's night, when I placed this same recording on the turntable. The needle bit the groove and when the scratching started, it produced a star-filled galaxy of voices such as even the angels would pause to listen to. I knew that night that I would treasure this record above all others. 78 rpm records can scarcely be played these days, vinyl became history, cassettes came and went, and now we're going beyond the CD age. I made sure, however, to keep that record and the record player so that for the rest of my life, I could pick a moment when I could play this song and be forever 14 again. A treasure of great price was deposited in the cultural vault of the world the year that this recording was made, and I own part of it. It is great to feel 14 again, on a cold winter's night, just the way it was in 1987.

[@jhb134]

Herman - Yes, it's a STOUT-looking group, in the photograph of Caruso ... as we listen-to one of GREAT recordings of this most-memorable part of Verdi's Rigoletto. There are other, great versions with Bjorling, Gigli, de Luca and others, but THIS one has the essence of great voices, a remarkable MELDING of the soprano/tenor/baritone parts, and an endurability that will never lessen.

[@HermanLabuschagne]

Hello John. I agree. I've listened to other fine recordings one after the other, yet I always return to this one. It seems to contain an element of magic that none of the others have. Sometimes in music there are special times when magic just makes itself. I think this was one of them.

[@jhb134]

Thanks, Herman! .. and please excuse a late reply. Some of present-day listeners might think that Caruso is, a bit ... too "bullish" ... but we DO remember that Enrico and many others recorded-into those, old ACOUSTIC horns and engineerings, of the earliest, sonic days of great recordings. Naturally, Enrico and others felt, a bit-compelled, to maybe COMPENSATE for the recording deficiencies of a former time ... but we ARE very happy to have these, extraordinary examples of what passionate/precise singing, of a Golden Age, could LEAVE to us listeners, even now.

[@HermanLabuschagne]

That is frequently said about Caruso, yes. And yet, often when I listen to him, I find him still imminently enjoyable to listen to, and I ask myself why I don't listen to him more often. To me he still manages to capture the sweet nuances of songs. He just had a naturally powerful voice and I think he was blessed in that it remained rich and melodious in stead of harsh and overbearing. Perhaps the recording technology had something to do with it as well. I never thought about that. Whenever critics become very critical, though, I always remind myself of the ultimate measure: the response of the public. Caruso charmed the masses. They loved him. In the end that is what really matters.

[@jhb134]

*****- You mentioned that "recording technology had something to do with it", insofar as the POWER of Caruso's voice. And, yes, that's ONE of the points - in the days of acoustic recordings, singers, choruses, orchestras, et. al., were required to focus the ENTIRE ensemble, into the old, petal-shaped HORNS of the day, in order to transcribe the recordings onto the recording elements of the time ... and this was-BEFORE electrical recordings. We're fortunate to still have MANY of the 78 RPM recordings of this time, preserved in different ways and means.

[@giovannipagliarulo2053]

Ruffo, Caruso, Galli Curci, Homer: i migliori di sempre in questo quartetto

[@Huaimek861]

Magnificent singing !!! One of the most beautiful quartets in any opera !

[@MrPlattsmouth]

My mother gave me life and gave me opera to make life worth while. Caruso was her idol.

[@QED_]

Props.

[@drbob117]

I feel the same as you do. My mother's favorite tenor was Richard Tucker. Mine is Luciano Pavarotti.

[@JoseAntonio-dt6zt]

Fantastic ! I've no words to describe the deep emotion of listening to these celestial voices !

[@margaretjiantonio939]

I can tell Caruso's powerful voice anywhere. He was really one of a kind.

[@zsuzsamold]

Caruso's voice like flowing melted gold!❤

[@clivepapayanis3121]

As beautiful as an ensemble gets! Just sublime.

[@MrJimky]

Galli-Curci---what a voice.

[@zsuzsamold]

My favorite for ever since I was a child! ❤

[@fbbomber]

Una lezione di bel canto

[@cide670]

Magnifica interpretare,redescoperita spre binele unei generații noi,care contesta fara temei orice,oricui si oricand.

[@Baridan]

The summer of '49 a group of us 18'yr-olds worked in a lumber mill and lived in a house in the woods that had been unoccupied for several years. An old wind-up Victrola was there with a series of 78s that included this very recording. It was my intro to opera. What fond memories this brings to me. I'm very grateful for your posting.

[@traiannita1201]

Acest minunat quartet a implinit in aceasta interpretare100 de ani. Talentul si maiestria tuturor interpretilor rezista con brio timpului, concurentei si gustului publicului. O capodopera ce si-a dovedit valoarea pentru care a fost inregistrata pe disc , spre nemurire.

[@Huaimek861]

This is one of the best recordings of Enrico Caruso singing , he has always been considered the greatest tenor of the 20th century , listening to him here I would agree . What a wonderful recording with 4 great singers !!!

[@pointemeout]

I could never ever imagine hearing a more beautiful thing. Tears flow in the healthiest of ways during and after such splendor enters my ears. I can't even. At all.

[@absdyna]

I came to this video to listen to Caruso singing the duca in the quartet, but I had my socks knocked off by Galli-Curci's flawless high D!

[@johnduarte253]

Amelita Galli-Curci.

[@BrianJosephMorgan]

D-flat.

[@alimusazaidi3756]

U from pak??

[@renb6133]

Incredible, isn’t it? A true coloratura soprano & those high notes are effortless. I absolutely love this version of this quartet!

[@edwardmitro8516]

I have an original record of this amazing gathering of greats!

[@1psoas9]

They are ALL wonderful. Both ladies are beyond imagining beautiful! Both gentlemen -- I love the way Caruso starts out with an easy flow, no pushing, and only starts to pile it on as he gets worked up. Galli-Curci's ease in singing is one of the greatest of gifts -- it really seems god-given, no work to it at all....

[@marilynshively670]

you nailed it: easy flow, no pushing-- clean exquisite voices

[@mimosaschneider9016]

You got it!

[@monicageri5308]

Meravigliosi , anche il film ...o pianto

[@ronnieince4568]

And amazing sound quality for a century old recording -it might be equalled but never bettered .

[@abcnowcontrol]

Caruso was a miracle;Beautiful,great,terrific!Thank you!

[@joaoaurelio1534]

This is pure adrenaline, all of them, and then how Caruso mantains his virility in that role, oh god!! this quartet never bores me. And they have great balance, those shiny stars, light that never fades out

[@voynaimir3]

Here is where it all started for me many many years ago, listening to this quartet and the sextet from Lucia on the other side of a 78 record my mother had from her mother. I was 8 or so, and I played this record over and over and over, knowing there was something so great there, a world that beckoned me to discover it. And I did. And I am eternally grateful for its riches.

[@joaoaurelio1534]

Barbara Richards so glad to hear that, i didnt really have that kind of experience in the way that no one listens music at home. I thank the world for the internet and people that share this things. These Caruso records and with Tetrazzini changed my life and a new world just appeared before me. I might be thanking internet piracy, but where i live it was the only way to know such things. There's something very authentic in this records, it's so old but the first time you hear a vinyl like this it's fresher than anything in 2014 =)

[@voynaimir3]

Joao Aurelio Joao, thank you for your response. Though our experiences in coming to this great music were different,that doesn't matter a bit. I am so grateful to share a life-changing experience with another. And I agree with your statement about the authenticity of these old recordings, making them fresher than what we have so much of now. Contemporary singers often are in too much of a hurry to become famous and cover lots of ground to give the kind of loving attention to the nuances and details of vocal expression that the vanguard of old masters did. Not to mention that most listeners currently ignore their gorgeous voices. For that you have to listen through the old recording sound, but it is there for sure when one pays attention.

[@Neldidellavittoria]

My first approach to opera was also as a child, through Gigli recordings.

[@hectorbravo6862]

En mi opinión el mejor cuarteto para Rigoletto.

[@voynaimir3]

This recording on one side of a 78 rpm RCA Victor record with the sextet from Lucia on the reverse side had a world to do with the fact that I have loved opera from the time I was a child. My mother had the record from her mother, a musician who loved opera, but who had died before I was born. I played it over and over, haunted by it and knowing somehow in my unlearned state that this was truly something very great.

[@antoniociucciarelli7107]

Fantastico quartetto ! Eh altra epoca, quando la lirica era presa sul serio !!!

[@rgraz1022]

I love the weight in his voice. The best rendition.

[@Fredoin]

Awesome timing, balance, and added flourishes - producing a Bach-like appreciation of all parts. Thanks for posting.

[@ciroalb3]

and nothing but acoustic technology!

[@paulolariu8437]

Splendide voci!

[@noshirm6285]

MAGNIFICO!!!!

[@МихаилЗаозернов]

Потрясающе! Я не могу наслушаться... Это вечное наслаждение. Какие нюансы прочтения партии выдает Карузо! Какая зачарованность мелодии, богатство интонации... Все соло слышны, сливаясь в гармонию целого.

[@roxieleigh9881]

In the summer of 1977, I bought my first Caruso album, a 2 record RCA Victor Red Seal set called "The Best Of Caruso". This peerless recording of the quartet is on side 1. I have played this record at least once weekly for 41 years. Thank you very much for sharing it here.

[@이종선-f9b]

황금의목소리 비할데없이 아름다운 4중창

[@gkopij]

Amazing voices, amazing recording. Thank you for posting.

[@vale86301]

Perfezione !!! Che voci,che gemme dell'opera !

[@hilarioecke515]

Es increíble la modernidad de la voz de Caruso. Fue realmente un creador. Todos los que vinieron después, tienen algo de él.

[@massimilianomoltedo6847]

Unico,bravo,the greatest Caruso.

[@smi7209]

Amelita's last high c# "perfect magnificent."

[@MinushHoxha]

gjeniu i Verdit dhe gjeniu i kengtarit-magjia per degjuesit. Magjike vertete anise e kam degjuar me qindra here. Sikur vena:gjithnje më e bukur po më behet.

[@salvatorespinelli1328]

Caruso immenso e insuperabile.

[@numetutelare]

Questo è l'Olimpo della lirica... immaginate se queste voci avessero inciso con le tecniche attuali. Oggi ci contentiamo delle zanzare...

[@peterschmitz8364]

grandios gesungen.

[@Musica_Vita]

Amazing!!!

[@niezapominajka444]

Prawdziwa perełka muzyczna.Co za duet! Dziekuję, także w imieniu mojego Taty.

[@johnfalstaff2270]

Nie zapominaj, ze to kwartet a nie duet.

[@marlajames34]

Wonderful film... and to be able to hear Caruso, marvelous!

[@llynfach]

Caruso: never equalled.

[@zsuzsamold]

Indeed!❤️

[@rojocomolagrana]

Exquisite! Maximum as I see it, despite all the excellent versions thereafter.

[@schlusnus3806]

Simply it's Caruso....beyond praise.

[@somersetuk525]

I think Louise Homer sang in the quartet. ?

[@itob.9231]

Sublime...Superlativo...Grandissimo

[@albertodiaz8070]

Caruso the best voice the best tenor the wold

[@zsuzsisnarey]

It was a wonderful film, could watch it again and again. It made me cry too!

[@manolis.799]

So beautiful! Legendary singers!

[@tradi2007]

Its good to listen opera in a saturday rainy night.

[@eblackadder3]

When I was a teenager, I spent many a rainy Saturday with a cozy fire in the fireplace and the radio on our large console stereo RCA Victrola tuned to the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts. This was in the 1970s, so I was listening to Domingo, Milnes, Price, Scotto, Macneil, Blegen, Verrett, etc., the great singers of that era. Sadly, we don't have singers like that today.

[@willemvanniekerk4312]

Thank you for publishing. I last heard this in 1966.

[@candelariaalsinamartinez7288]

perfección absoluta , Bellisimo.

[@kimsahl8555]

Great voices, great music

[@gabrielregaladomuniz508]

Perfect¡ Bravo¡

[@BrianJosephMorgan]

Mezzo-soprano Flora Perini created the role of the Zia Principessa in “Suor Angelica,” and this was her only recording: Brava!

[@elizavettab9741]

GRAN CARUSO!!!!!!! E tutti maravigliosi!!!

[@giacomofoti264]

da pelle d'oca

[@WolfgangAPalm-ju9er]

Phantastic 👍

[@jmj4879]

CET ENREGISTREMENT EST SPLENDIDE.Il respecte à peu près le tempo original , ce qui est très rare avec les 78 ou 80 tours. Merci pour la mise en ligne.

[@robertwatson4840]

Damn! I was told to give this listen yesterday by a coach while working on the piece and it did not disappoint!

[@giovannipagliarulo2053]

un'esecuzione eterna

[@ronaldgoff7499]

heard this at 12 one my fathers 78s great version with golden age cast

[@antonioschiavi6870]

E tutti i quartetti precisini e ben intonati vanno finalmente dove devono andare, perché i Re fanno l'Opera!

[@raulgarat5860]

realmente no hay palabras para expresar tanta maravilla !!!

[@MrGer2295]

Remembering Italian tenor ENRICO CARUSO was born on this day in 1873 in Naples, Italy 💟☺😊💜🎂🎂🎂

[@beawild]

Wonderful!! Thank you for posting it.

[@lucyluperu]

Grandi!!!!!!

[@MrGer2295]

wow! Amazing performance!!! Thank you for posting

[@pinotermini1868]

UNICO AL MONDO !

[@markoaurelyo]

Oro puro, gracias.

[@philipose66]

so i am reading a fav author of mine--James A Michener--"the world is my home"---his uncle brings a gift to his poor family by Philadelphia--JAM is a kid--the gift is a Victrola with a crank (and a governor so as to not play too fast or too slow changing the voices)--one of the 3 records is this piece--so i go to KZbin and find it here---ya gotta love it!

[@user-ht9cp1xu7w]

Beautiful !

[@mariarosaesergiomarycib2492]

bisogna solo ascoltare!!!!!

[@rudolphviquez7867]

THE TWO BEST, NONPAREI NEVER, JAMAIS, JAMAS, EVER

[@photo161]

Here Caruso's voice is darker and more powerful sounding(less lyrical) than in the 1912 recording The several high B flats, ie, 1:56, 3:12 are huge and imperious. A great voice no doubt and it must have sounded terrific in the house, but I still prefer the younger Caruso, up until about 1912.

[@ImAyadRahim]

my goodness -- words...cannot....

[@glaucodichio]

ma cosa sarà stata la voce di Caruso sentita dal vivo? anche in questa registrazione acustica di allora emergono la forza eruttiva e i colori. straordinario davvero

[@paulostroff99]

Awesome! TY for posting.

[@НатальяХахалина-п4щ]

Карузо несомненно лучший драматический тенор на все времена.

[@faucignymarcel9380]

il sont tous merveilleux

[@atr46]

Божественно.

[@paulostroff99]

Awesome! Meltzerboy is correct in saying that Galli-Curci was much better here than on the recording with Gigli-though she was still better than most there as well.

[@gabrielgabriel8096]

Most probably Verdi wanted one Duca sounding like that, with Passione and Blood. With testosterona.

[@fernandowohllkbody1871]

MÁXIMO

[@Robbi496]

I wish I had this kind of range and voice control (But I do not))

[@mirimag48]

A két óriás együtt. Csoda............

[@save312]

Ci manca il baritono 😮

[@ricoucou6606]

Document inestimable!!!...

[@edwardnorth4812]

Ricou cou hjnn

[@mr02Paulo]

mas que Pavarotti que nada!