Franco Corelli Met Debut, Jan. 27, 1961 - "Ah, si ben mio...Di quella pira"

(Verdi: Il Trovatore) Metropolitan Opera, January 27, 1961
"Ah, si ben mio...Di quella pira"
Manrico............................... Franco Corelli
Leonora.............................. Leontyne Price
Il conte di Luna.................. Robert Merrill
Azucena.............................. Irene Dalis
Ferrando.............................. William Wildermann
Ines....................................... Helen Vanni
Ruiz....................................... Charles Anthony
Un vecchio zingaro............. Carlo Tomanelli
Un messaggero................... Robert Nagy
maestro direttore................. Fausto Cleva
maestro del coro.................. Kurt Adler
Please remember to be polite when posting. Any rude comments and bad language will be removed and the poster blocked. Degrading comments about things such as race, religion, and culture, etc., will not be tolerated.

[@yaelpalombo4093]

My Lord, come Franco Corelli nessuno!!!!

[@mariagraziagottardelli551]

Grandissimo Corelli, l’America ti ha tanto amato più della tua Patria.Meritavi davvero il meglio , hai avuto successo e onori ancor oggi sei rimasto nei nostri cuori, il più amato in assoluto

[@SymphonyBrahms]

It was the debut of both Franco Corelli and Leontyne Price. What a night to be at the Met!

[@aetion]

Was it? I didn't know it. Thank you. As to the night at the Met, it couldn't be but a dream one. I am back to confirm that you are right. I saw it (kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYCndKWpltmBhrs) only today.

[@joannilson2900]

For me, the 1960s at the Met were truly a "Golden Age"!! Debuts of Corelli, Price, Sutherland, Nilsson (ok - debut in Dec. 1959), Pavarotti, Aragall, Freni, Ghiaurov, Bumbry., Verrett., Schwarzkopf, Crespin... just to name a few!! Sorry - but there's nothing like that now - in any operatic theater in the world!! Erano i tempi belli!!!

[@ladyrotha5420]

No tenor had a more virile, ardent voice. What joy to hear these performances...

[@joannilson2900]

Yes - I have always thought that if testosterone had a sound, it would be the voice of Franco Corelli!!

[@quiquerossetti867]

Unico Franco Corelli, uno de los mas grandes tenores spinto de la historia de la opera

[@cimbassovr]

Franco Corelli è stato per me che ho potuto ammirarlo dal vivo all Arena di Verona come Calaf,Ernani e Don Josè il più grande tenore del mondo.UN MITO! LA PIRA e cantata in tono pieno,per cui tecnicamente e scenicamente, perché anche l occhio vuole la sua parte,FRANCO CORELLI resta ancora insuperato Artista. Grazie del filmato

[@giovannimedini2091]

Fantastico meraviglioso....unico!!!

[@tamaveirene]

I am bouleversee....sans mots....bravissimo divo!!!

[@Bobrogers99]

With Corelli, Price and Merrill, that must have been a memorable performance. The power and agility of Corelli's voice is extraordinary!

[@angelacassaro4647]

I was there. It was my first time to see an opera.

[@barrylayton2441]

@@angelacassaro4647 A double edged sword! How could anything you saw after live up to that performance. Question: Did anything come close? I was spoiled forever - at James Levine's debut at the Met - totally lucked out and we got 5th row center orchestra seats at the box office 1/2 before the curtain. Corelli's power literally pushed me back into my seat. Harmonics almost transformed into colors. And with all of that, totally in character.

[@Lesieur11]

What it must have been like to sit in the audience and hear that voice for the first time!

[@voro5527]

What a divine cast! 🎉🎉🎉

[@joannilson2900]

Once you saw Corelli in a role, there will never be any other tenor who can fill the role. I saw him at the Met as Manrico, Alvaro, Cavaradossi, Enzo ( in La Gioconda), Calaf (!!), Radames, and Romeo....and Franco will ALWAYS be the only one for me. Other tenors were very good - even excellent - in these roles. But Franco will always remain the gold standard for me - never to be surpassed!

[@cristianr.f6465]

Grazie per amare Franco

[@bodiloto]

Corelli +Price+Merrill = fortunatissimo il pubblico di quest'epoca .

[@oo4125]

Most athletic tenor voice ever

[@marlenehartley7742]

I attended this performance at the Met and also for his Turandot with Birgette Nielsen which was one for the ages. No one has surpassed his Calaf.

[@trifonovfan9819]

You must be very old...

[@duanejohnson8786]

Now that’s opera! Purely rendered and gloriously sung… …it doesn’t get any better than this.

[@machovoce6826]

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, for those of you who don't know, THIS is opera.

[@erichale8047]

Was

[@SymphonyBrahms]

@Bravo Luca What wonderful singers? Today's singers? I haven't heard any of them that can compare. The best singers are from the past.There are no singers today who can match them. Callas, Nilsson, Sutherland, Price, Sills, Bjorling, Corelli, Melchior, Pavarotti. The giants of opera. They are all gone. All we have today are pygmies. And don't say Netrebko. What a joke. Or Kaufmann. Another joke.

[@tenoremodernotecnicavecchi2151]

SymphonyBrahms I concur! The problem with not having singers of that caliber is that until now, there have always been great singers. But without great singers, you cannot truly have opera. I’m not asking for the next Corelli, but at least a de stefano or Lanza! We simply cannot settle for less, lest opera should die.

[@perhegg]

@@tenoremodernotecnicavecchi2151 Opera is already dead. It has become pop musical. There are plenty of voices just like Corelli etc but the schools and teachers aren't there. It's all about looks and nasal (mask) singing nowadays. I believe singers are just as eager to do the job but they aren't given the chance. Just look at all terrible masterclasses by DiDonato, Fleming etc. The decline of young singers voices are not strange to understand.

[@perhegg]

@@tenoremodernotecnicavecchi2151 Btw Di Stefano was just as good or even better than Corelli..

[@joseescamillagurrola8130]

El maravilloso tenor

[@fredojoaquim4764]

Corelli. What a powerful tenor!.

[@akinkunmicook2977]

I have no words. Absolutely incredible!

[@tonycucchiara8619]

I wish I had heard Corelli sing live. Extraordinary.

[@thom6746]

If I had heard him sing live, I might have broken down in tears at being in the presence of such an extraordinarily awesomely beautiful voice/talent.

[@ploplisphilin]

The energy of this performance is still potent!

[@giacomofoti264]

Maestro, sei immenso per l'eternità! in vita ti è stato tributato non quanto avresti meritato, ma il sugello dell'immortalità arride a Te come a pochissimi. Sei nel mio cuore, la mia più grande ispirazione ogni giorno. Grazie di essere esistito, e per tutto quello che hai dato all'arte. Grazie di illuminare con la tua umiltà immensa questo buio mondo di vuota vanità e stupidità.

[@vincenzomesseri3433]

Cosa si può dire di più? Era IMMENSO! E ho avuto la fortuna di conoscerlo di persona! ADORABILE!

[@ermannodimeo3960]

Io non ho avuto tanta fortuna; credo non abbia avuto quanto meritato un po’ perché nato troppo presto un po’ perché alla fine era il pubblico nel teatro ad interessarlo, non curava “ il personaggio”, non faceva “ promozione” , come si dice oggi ; tuttavia i più famosi tenori emersi dopo di lui hanno ammesso che è irraggiungibile.

[@cimbassovr]

FRANCO CORELLI IL PIÙ GRANDE TENORE DEL MONDO. Ho avuto la fortuna di poterlo ammmirare dal vivo all Arena di Verona come CALAF,ERNANI E DON JOSÈ. IL PIÙ BRAVO E IL PIÙ BELLO. GRAZIE del filmato

[@Michael-mh4vr]

Wow... just wow....on his debut..with all the anxiety too..wow

[@mateusjr70]

His Legato was incredible! What a colorful and nuanced voice! Dark and clear!

[@LuisGarcia-rh3qo]

Un portento de voz maravillosa la de Franco Corelli.

[@krystianblake5162]

What a night this must have been! Two of the greatest, most unforgettable singers making their debuts simultaneously!

[@angelacassaro4647]

I was there. I was 13 years old. It was my first time seeing an opera. From then on we went 3 to 4 times a week. We lived in Manhattan. So for less than $2 we saw the best singers. $1.25 the family circle ticket and .30 cents round trip on the subway.

[@anafranciscaaldunate8866]

Crecí escuchando a Corelli, ídolo de mi madre. Pero no lo supe apreciar tanto como hoy, que ya soy adulta, adulta.No tengo palabras, lo escucho todos los días, me hace feliz. Ojalá hubiera más películas o grabaciones en DVD. Me pasaría el día viéndolas. Es INCONMESURABLE.

[@richardjonesm]

This guy started singing professionally at 33. The voice is a multi-colured powerhouse, a sound spectrum the like of which will never be heard again. He could act as well. He was Cavarodossi: he was Manrico: he was everybody he ever played and sang. He was an utterly modest man. He literally blows Verdi and Puccini away.

[@RemyHocAge]

+Richard Jones Well said. I feel he was the best Calaf (Turandot). Cheers.

[@barbaralcharles]

I have never read a better description of Corelli.

[@richardjonesm]

BARBARA How kind! He was also a friend. I heard him in Bergamo (Kalaf), he was 34 or 35 and being on the Foundation committee of the Geneva opera house got him his first international contract for Tosca. He got so many bis the fire brigade had to come and get people out and close the house.

[@matejknezevic6989]

Richard Jones I agree whit you!!!!!

[@matejknezevic6989]

Richard Jones What I read is something beautifull about this Giant in operatic world.Fantastic man whit strong strong voice. Power in his voice is collosal. Beauty of his voice is uniqe. ❤️❤️ Wonderfull description about Franco

[@niconico7281]

Impresionante!!!

[@romearomeo]

Divino Franco Corelli

[@jesusmunoz2400]

El mejor tenor para papeles heroicos de todos los tiempos.

[@ottorinoperuzzi7051]

Vorrei ricordare a tutti che Franco Corelli è stato il più grande manrico della storia

[@secretofsinging]

I totally agree with all the beautiful comments about the GREAT(EST) CORELLI...AND...I add that Leontyne Price is very young here (34)...her lovely voice is pure and angelic.

[@ransomcoates546]

Corelli is not so young - 40.

[@secretofsinging]

@@ransomcoates546 Why did you tell me that Corelli was 40 ??? I wrote that L.Price's age ?

[@ransomcoates546]

secretofsinging The point was obvious. Corelli was older than Price and made his Met debut late. Bjoerling was 27 when he first sang in NY.

[@giovannispada4970]

Grandissimo Corelli, il suo primo debutto al Metropolitan e l'inizio di una carriera all'estero, lunga e profiqua... Grande Corelli

[@paolorossi9189]

...facciamo "proficua", è meglio...

[@mirceamoisa3766]

Corelli dupa parerea mea este cel mai mare tenor al tuturor timpurilor pana acuma nu a fost egalat si eu cred ca nici nu va fi curand Voce tehnica frazare fizic sensibilitate inteligenta si inca yoate calitatile necesare unui artist desavarsit

[@eugeniogentili1048]

Corelli ha inaugurato ben 13 prime stagioni del Metropolitan, un record.

[@karlheinzkirchmann6469]

He sings with am extremely overtones rich voice. The higher the lighter.And always with never ending passion.

[@leonoradelagardie]

Both artists are spellbinding and superhuman. Their voices will live forever. Sound never ends.Lucky angels...

[@liedersanger1]

The angels are still waiting for Leontyne.

[@folliefollymops7676]

There will never be another Manrico after Corelli, he owns "ah si ben mio" for all eternity!

[@ClergetMusic]

Best “di quella pira “ ever. The ear splitting C at the end is just amazing!

[@francescoelia5523]

Penso che, come"Nicolò Paganini"oggigiorno non ha concorrenza alcuna. Anche il Principe dei tenori "Franco Corelli" rimarrà tale,e unica voce al mondo , nessun'altro al di sopra di lui.

[@gabrielgabriel8096]

Ecco... Il Paganini dei Tenori. Mi piace il raffronto

[@cesarezappa7574]

Giuseppe di Stefano

[@patrickwilenchik1718]

Never heard him sing this before and am I complete awe at Franco Corelli's rare talent thanks for this 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍🇬🇧

[@Kievest]

From infinite tenderness and intimacy to a firestorm of thunder, lightning, and nuclear energy that could light our way into the next millenium...the electricity and emotional combustibility of Franco Corelli's colossal vocal art has no peer!!! You have shared with us an artistic and theatrical experience enjoyed by only a few...I feel honored and privileged to have this rare and precious opportunity! Bravo!

[@thom6746]

Very well put. I am stunned by the beauty of this man's voice.

[@potusumanbibingka]

And to say that Domingo who can hardly even reach B4 is better than Corelli is a great insult.

[@PragueImport]

@@potusumanbibingka Only his obsessed fanatics claim that. There are a few on YT. To his credit, he has never compared himself to Corelli. Domingo is a talented opera singer; some renditions are pretty beautiful. But anyone who knows a thing or two about opera, would not put him in the same vocal category as Corelli.

[@barrylayton2441]

I heard both singers twice at the Metropolitan Opera. I need to say this: At both Domingo performances I needed to restrain myself from yelling "louder." I just don't get how Domingo can be considered anywhere near to Corelli (or, in the same generation, Vickers). @@potusumanbibingka

[@miguelangelosornio5800]

The best Manrico of all times......sorry for all the other tenors of the past and present....but his voice was born to sing Trovatore......

[@guidogreco341]

Lauri Volpi..è stato un maestro incredibile.Il manrico di Franco a tutt oggi è inarrivabile per qualsiasi tenore dei giorni nostri.

[@Monnarchmonnarchy]

He said that he will continue his working

[@cesarezappa7574]

ma per favore.....!

[@ritaditrani6898]

FrancoCorelli eri il piu' alto tenore ora sei anche il piu' GRANDE. Rita....

[@hada9568]

Grandissimo

[@user-fx8so8yh9p]

Бесподобно : столько страсти, чувственности, экспрессии ....

[@fedecastaldi]

in assoluto la voce che più mi parla al cuore fra quante ne ho ascoltate!!!!

[@giudiciadanna4550]

Federico Castaldi, ho ascoltato Corelli e Di Stefano in teatro. Erano grandi uguali ma Di Stefano pareva che cantasse soltanto per te.

[@Monnarchmonnarchy]

@@eugeniogentili1048 in clip Corellis C much stronger because of studio, on live you can repeat this

[@eugeniogentili1048]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/poCbhaeZfNarjbc

[@eugeniogentili1048]

Monnarchy Prevedi e' stato uno dei migliori tenori lirici degli ' anni 60 anni 70.

[@Monnarchmonnarchy]

@@eugeniogentili1048 what a mezzo voce. Very unusual, but not a big high C, but very good

[@estherluciamorelli6105]

Inolvidable interpretación divino CORELLI te amaré hasta mis ultimos días

[@TheOnlyVistosi]

Impressionante: in tono, con l'orchestra che stacca un tempo mica da scherzo e con il finale "all'armi!" perfettamente pronunciato e comprensibile, non tagliato sulla "i" finale! Ecco, questo è un fraseggio elettrizzante.

[@giudiciadanna4550]

Giovanni Vistoso, "la pira" e' abbassata come in tutte le sue recite. Lo diceva pure lui. Aveva paura. Ma alla fine del terzetto del primo atto pero' emetteva il Re bemolle.

[@bernatriera5437]

Pero el agudo final es un Si. Está bajada de tono?

[@brunoghe]

Corelli è IL TENORE!

[@Miguelardos]

The best tenor EVER

[@nirvanasbrillanci9392]

Con la sua v oce ha scaldata i cuori di ama veramente l,opera e sopratutto come la si canta e la interpreta . Non ci sarà nessuno come Lui . Nirvana

[@leonoradelagardie]

Nirvana, Sono d'accordo.

[@jesusmunoz2400]

Impresionante Corelli. El mejor tenor di forza de todos los tiempos.

[@bernatriera5437]

Pero el agudo final es un Si no un Do. Está bajada de tono? A éste no lo machacan cómo a Domingo?

[@santiagocasamassima1647]

Domingo? No tiene vergüenza de mencionarlo en un video de Corelli?

[@bernatriera5437]

@@santiagocasamassima1647 no he escrito nada malo de Corelli. Sólo he dicho que el aria está bajada medio tono. Muchos aficionados a la Ópera critican a Domingo por bajar de tono las arias.

[@jesusmunoz2400]

@@bernatriera5437 Domingo es un golfo y un tramposo durante toda su carrera. Ha destrozado cientos de partituras por querer cantarlo todo por su egocéntrismo. Además de trucar agudos en estudio. Corelli sabía matizar y cantaba con su voz sin engolar como hace el bajobaritenor. No compares por dios. Domingo aún bajando de tonalidad en la cabaletta rozaba notas. Placi mingo un estafador para ignorantes como tú.

[@bernatriera5437]

@@jesusmunoz2400 la vocalización, la dicción de Corelli es su punto débil. No es buena. Es así. Su técnica vocal le provocaba eso. Además en mi opinión es uno de los casos en dónde se pone en más evidencia la diferencia de su voz hablada y su voz cantada. Cuando uno escucha hablar en una entrevista a Corelli es inevitable pensar "cómo puede tener ese torrente de voz cantando?". Es de las voces más feas que he escuchado hablando. Por ejemplo cuando una escucha hablar y cantar al Maestro Kraus o a Pavarotti no se nota ese cambio de color tan drástico. Claro estoy comparando a tenores líricos con uno spinto. Pero Corelli es un spinto con buenísimos pianos y pianisimos. Y unos diminuendos de forte a pianisimo en un mismo fiato inhumanos. Lo cual hace pensar que tenía un excelente control vocal. En el caso de Corelli parecen dos personas distintas cuando habla y cuando canta. Toda esa potencia le hacía perder la buena dicción? No lo sé. Pero es así. Todo este rollo que he escrito no es para defender a Domingo de nada. Domingo se equivocó para mi gusto en querer cantarlo todo evidentemente. Como ejemplo esa "pira" de Il trovarore es un insulto para cualquier oyente. Y más cosas por supuesto. Soy un ignorante? Sí. Y creo que siempre lo seré. No me veo capaz de aprenderlo absolutamente todo. Siempre me faltarán cosas por saber. Así que acepto que siempre seré un ignorante. Saludos.

[@suzannestearns6279]

If only we could have nights like this again!

[@dolliciousish]

Suzanne Stearns so well put!!

[@petelovesbevsills]

We didn't realize we were living in the 'Diamond Encrusted Platinum' age of singing.

[@MrQbenDanny]

Great historical post. God kissed those vocal chords.

[@eglelory45]

Sono commossa , inimitabile ed unico . Oggi dove stanno tenori simili ?

[@Johnnysaintrizz]

The great tenor and vocal maestro ***** was there this even the great Corelli debuted. He said that Corelli was wonderful.

[@javieroybin4541]

Cuando fue mas grande su voz cambió para mejor , desapareció el vibrato algo excesivo que tenía, y se convirtió en uno de los mas grandes tenores de la historia

[@zriter59escritor33]

What a cast. Would that we had such splendid Verdi singers today.

[@enriquerossetti6569]

Sin lugar a dudas, FRANCO CORELLI, el mejor Manrico de la historia

[@ClergetMusic]

What a breathtaking “di quella pira!”

[@soniaharden8549]

A rare gift, voice, looks and height and slim! Wow a quadruple threat. I wish I could have seen him live.

[@lucianopoltronieri3039]

non ci sono parole per esprimere la professionalità di questo impareggiabile artista una voce che incanta morbida e potente uno dei migliori tenori al mondo e non per niente era soprannominato il principe della lirica o il bello dell'opera direi proprio un artista perfetto

[@cesarezappa7574]

il migliore al mondo e' stato Bonisolli e Di Stefano

[@lostesorosdeaida]

que grande......el tenor del milenio

[@dr.alfonsorosado6117]

Great and potent voice indeed! Maestro Corelli was an emblematic singer in certain roles that fitted his voice well, like Manrico, and Turidu for example. I like his singing very much . Thanks for sharing. I have the live recording of this magic night, and as have been mentioned in these comments, we can also appreciate Miss Pryce great singing.

[@camenbel]

Franco Corelli is magnificent! Soprano was Leontyne Price.Remembered Corelli:''He( Bing) embraced me and said:The doors of the Metropoliten have opened themselves for you. We are going to take some wonderful walks together"

[@petricapopica1974]

Extraordinar!

[@ridvansadirxanov1503]

GENIO!!!!!!!

[@docfelix69]

Immenso Franco!!

[@antoniomaurogiovanni1276]

Lui non c'è più e questo aumenta il rammarico.Ma la morte viene per tutti.Pero' come diceva Foscolo, alcuni forti sono sepolti in urne speciali.A noi è rimasta la sua titanica e bellissima voce che continuerà a farci inumidire gli occhi, specialmente a quelli che lo hanno amato anche da vivo....

[@numetutelare]

Ogni volta che cantava veniva giù il teatro .... Invidio gli spettatori che hanno udito Corelli ed i suoi contemporanei ... Callas, Del Monaco, Di Stefano, Simionato ,Bastianini, Scotto, Cerquetti .... etc. Che periodo aureo

[@fabriziogarzi9892]

GB, io l'ho visto e ascoltato dal "vero"...era proprio così, straordinario. Stranamente Pippo pero' aveva piu'volume in teatro di Corelli e Del Monaco. Un appunto che qua' non c'entra nulla...ma desideravo dirlo e comunque tutti con delle qualita' artistiche al di fuori dell'immaginario. Sono loro i 3 tenori che hanno dominato 30 anni del teatro d'opera mondiale. Non ci sono santi!

[@numetutelare]

@@fabriziogarzi9892 Pippo aveva quella che si intende "voce che corre"... e arriva in tutto il teatro...

[@fabriziogarzi9892]

@@numetutelare , no, no, non correva solo, aveva un volume enorme, quasi wagneriano. Era quello che jmoressionava, come la Callas, voci agili, chiare o abbastanza chiare con un grande volume. Del Monaco non era così. Aveva lo squillo ma Pippo lo superava...ma non lo dice mai nessuno.

[@numetutelare]

@@fabriziogarzi9892 Era inteso che avesse tutte le qualità elencate ma se una voce non corre sono guai e quelle dei grandi da lei elencate correvano tutte...

[@eugeniogentili1048]

A quei tempi c'erano anche Dimiter Uzunov Sandor Konya Giuseppe Campora Jon Vickers Richard Tucker Nikola Nikolov non proprio gli ultimi arrivati.

[@mariomarjan]

FRANCO CORELLI ... he is not tenor...he is from other GALAXY ...Unique voice..interpretation deeply from his heart and soul... The Best ever and forever

[@gerriledesma-harper7926]

Heavenly

[@guthorbj2472]

Superficious, Latino sobs in Ah si ben mio - has nothing to do with "heart and soul" - in contrast to Bjorling and Pavarotti. They are both far above him, even Corelli has a bigger voice.

[@mariomarjan]

This is my comment about your - has nothing to do with '' heart and soul'' - HAHAHAHA !

[@guthorbj2472]

Marjan, I can only state that in all expert polls I've seen about the greatest opera singers of the 20. Century, especially Bjorling, but also Pavarotti, rank above Corelli. And for me, it's easy to understand. Bjorling and Pavarotti also enjoyed a popularity among ordinary listeners which Corelli was unable to match. And for me, that too, is easy to understand! :-)

[@racheleleeba]

+guthorbj Pavarotti came along when there was wide commercial exposure, unlike Corelli. There is a reason Franco Corelli was dubbed Mr. Sold Out at the Met and also was the highest paid tenor in Italy for years, as well as being the only tenor to open both seasons at the Met and La Scala simultaneously for years. Also, there is an interview on YT with Pavarotti discussing Corelli. If you've seen it, you would know the highest respect Pav had for Franco, saying that if he had had the exposure through televised concerts, etc., that he himself had, he would have been number one. I will say in certain repertoire I agree with you about Bjorling, but not in verismo opera.

[@craigmichaelmann4614]

The beginning of a great era at the Met. Thank you, Racheleleeba

[@shonisax6797]

corelli impresionante!!!!!!!!

[@iTube22100]

Un prodigio della natura ! Quando ne avremo un altro ?

[@giovanniarioli3021]

iTube22100 un giorno dio voleva farsi voce da tenore , ecco il franco

[@bodiloto]

iTube22100 quando avremo un altro Corelli ? purtroppo mai più .

[@leonoradelagardie]

The applause says it all!!!

[@zoltanneszeri345]

Ha meghallgatom vagy nézem ezt az áriát utána mindig visszatérek Corellihez.Számomra Ő az igazi!

[@ethan_udovich]

Thank you for listing the full cast! It was also a privilege to hear a bit of Ms. Price alongside the great prince of tenors.

[@lsmart]

Spectacular. This was the perfect aria and caballeta for Corelli, as he sang the aria with his abundance of romantic powers and Italianate passion, while singing DQP and its intro with the speed and heroic vigor that is appropriate for someone rushing into a death battle to save his mother's life, not like the early Bjorling versions, which are gorgeous in tone but sound more like a comfortable nobleman singing a nice song in a royal court. I'd appreciate if anyone could answer these two questions: 1) Why did Corelli wait until 1961 (age 40) to make his Met debut, later than his debut in all the other big houses by far? 2) What happens to the orchestra at the 7:40 mark? It sounds like two recordings spliced together, or when the tenor has to sing DQP at a lower note and the orchestra has to make the downward shift. But what is the reason here? Clearly, they are the same performance and he sings the high C.

[@anonymousdude1010]

1) He won his first singing competition in 1951 and made his professional debut then (30 yo). La Scala, Vienna, Covent Garden, San Carlo, then US debut in Chicago and San Francisco: it doesn't seem suprising nor "late" to step up to the challenge of the Met only 10 years after you start (you meant 1961, but wrote 1941). 2) It's a mistake, and you do ask a cunning question while making a mistake yourself: "He sings the high C", you say. He does not, Corelli here sings the cabaletta in B natural, with a big "BUT". If you have time read on. "Suo fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiglio": there is the exact musical moment where the cabaletta *SHOULD* get lowered (in this case it's lowered to B natural). It is also an "honest" moment, because you in the audience can easily tell if the tenor sings SOL - LA (then he will sing the cabaletta in the original C natural), as the passage is "scoperto" (with no orchestra playing at the same time, it kicks in at full force a moment later). If Manrico sings SOL - LAb, then he heads towards a B natural one. Check here how it is done (a live performace with Placido Domingo as Manrico kzbin.info/www/bejne/qH7WZIyopZmKZtk ). Nobody expects Placido to be shy about having to lower it, I reckon we all agree on that :) There are rare examples (old ones) of fine B flat performances (then the tenor sings SOL - SOL, same note), I cannot point out videos, but I would look into German heldentenors recordings, you might find some examples. Of course, you also have the notorious tenor Lattaro (anybody got stories on him? I'd love to hear them), he would sing it beautifully but in A natural. If Lattaro had to sing it in a theatre and not in one of the "Osterie" by La Scala and the Galleria, he would have had to sing an unadmissible descending SOL - FA# :) Now, here Corelli is at his debut, and I guess that the story behind this mistake is this: the orchestra doesn't know this new tenor yet. In the reheasal Corelli goes with B natural, in agreement with the conductor. These kind of "historical" transpositions are not written in the professors' music scores, they just "know" how to play "Di quella pira" or "Che gelida manina" half a step lower. Here Corelli goes SOL - LA, the orchestra follows their "orecchio musicale" and Pavlovianly starts "in tono", the conductor gets mad and probably swears, then the first violins come to the rescue and play in the agreed tonality, dragging the orchestra to the tonality the tenor is ready for. This whole mess happens in 4 seconds, and your "orecchio musicale" has perceived it almost as two recordings spliced together, I wouldn't be surpirsed if you are a musician yourself. Please note that I believe that this is a genuine mistake, and not Corelli playing futile and dangerous tricks to try and hide the fact he was going to sing "Di quella pira" in a lowered tonality. Viva Dario Corelli, detto "Franco"!!! P.S. I believe that Corelli himself would agree that THE Manrico is Giacomo Lauri Volpi, I take this chance to say it, so I don't have to reply to every comment saying otherwise. After studying with Lauri Volpi, Corelli was bound to start singing La pira "in tono"; although not a live performance, have a look here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnWrhHmui8eAjcU - "Quando l'allievo supera il maestro", quasi :)

[@lsmart]

@@anonymousdude1010 Wow, that was a long read, but I enjoyed it all. I am a pulpit rabbi, as well as a cantor. I have been a classical music fanatic for almost 40 years and an opera fanatic just a few years less than that, but I never received any musical training and still cannot read notes. However, I believe I was born with an innate musical sense, as I also believe is the case for most great singers. A famous teacher can perhaps help you in your vocal production and official musical guidelines, but true feeling for music is something you are either born with or not. You are right about the B natural. Because he sings it with such a powerful ring, and because I believe it is a tad sharp on my computer, I thought it was a C. I tend to believe you are right about your explanation, because it indeed sounds like a somewhat forced and uncoordinated transposition. As for his debut date (I indeed meant 1961 and just corrected it), I understood that it sometimes takes a while, and in those days the Met still had a bunch of super tenors they could put out for Manrico. Still, given the rare combination Corelli offered of a glorious voice, ringing spinto power, both heroic and romantic passion, and movie star looks, I would have expected the Met to offer him something more quickly.

[@cimbassovr]

Di FRANCO CORELLI ho già detto ciò che penso in sintesi il Più grande!!! LEONTYNE PRICE aveva una voce suadente e un fascino unico!!!ROBERT MERRIL forse una delle voci baritonali più belle in assoluto!!! Ergo concordo con Bodiloto fortunatissimi al MET!!!

[@petricapopica1974]

Extrordinar!

[@learntocrochet1]

Roberta, thank you for including dates of performances and performers. Also glad for translations.

[@racheleleeba]

Love Music Thank you. Much appreciated!

[@leoedwards6289]

That evening was the 60th anniversary of the death of Verdi and one of the most spectacular evenings in the history of the house. There is likely never to be a joint debut to come close to equaling what those lucky people in the audience experienced.

[@alpkunkar9471]

Indimenticabile!

[@giuseppeamodeo9293]

Grazie sempre, Roberta

[@marujaaparicio1009]

Nunca habrà otro como èl Gracias

[@jhonerikpalaciosrodriguez5596]

Son fenómenos que ocurren cada cierto tiempo. Mozart, Einstein, etc.

[@Monnarchmonnarchy]

@@jhonerikpalaciosrodriguez5596 einstein is a crook, he was an idiot, a fake, a robber. They promoted his idiotic visions, because of scary ethernium

[@vlp92]

THE BEST.

[@Huaimek861]

Thank you so much , Brilliant !!!

[@pieritlyon2545]

racheleleeba,, MUCHAS GRACIAS, ESTA GRABACIÓN ES MUY VALIOSA POR SER DEL DEBUT DEL GRAN FRANCO CORELLI EN EL MET. DESDE ESE DÍA DURANTE TODOS LOS AÑOS INTERPRETÓ OPERAS EN LA TEMPORADAS, APENAS SE PONÍA A LA VENTA LAS LOCALIDADES, CUANDO ACTUABA ÉL SE AGOTABAN, ESTO FUE DURANTE LOS 16 AÑOS EN EL MET,HASTA QUE EL DECIDIÓ RETIRARSE VOLUNTARIAMENTE, EN PLENA FAMA , ÉXITOS Y VOZ, MUCHOS INSISTIERON Y LE SOLICITARON QUE NO SE RETIRARA, A CONSECUENCIA DE ESO ÉL SOLO ACEPTO DAR ESPECIALES CONCIERTOS. TODO ÉSTO LO LEÍ, EN VARIOS BIOGRAFÍAS, LAS CREO; USTED, SEGURAMENTE SABE MAS QUE YO AL RESPECTO. REITERO MIS AGRADECIMIENTOS .

[@racheleleeba]

Thank you, my friend. I appreciate your comments always.

[@hazelssister]

Franco is the best tenor who ever graced the opera world

[@eddielew2292]

With do respect to Franco Corelli, who I heard do about 20 performance live, he and all the leading tenors of the day would have told you that Caruso was their ideal. Corelli was thrilling but look into Caruso's humanity to feel a dimension that made him so unique.

[@arnoldamaral7406]

If only this was AVAILABLE in its entirety on CD HELLO MET I MEAN YOU!!!☝🎼🌏🌎🌍 LIFE WOULD BE HAPPIER. 🗿 😉 TY FOR POSTING ROBERTA sincerely Arnold Bourbon Amaral

[@sfopera]

I will never, ever hear anything even resembling this.

[@bjorling4ever]

wow.... better than the best !!

[@pekkak.2724]

Stunning!

[@SR-jx8yu]

Just amazing ...

[@sabbath7081]

Oh my god!

[@christopherhosford7805]

In all the discussion about voices, let's not forget the great maestro, Fausto Cleva. I heard him so often, and he's completely dynamic and idiomatic. A wonderful conductor.

[@ermannodimeo3960]

Yes, THIS is opera

[@MsGreeceland]

Estremecedor. Sin palabras. Y sufría de pánico escénico. Incomparable.

[@filipszyga7394]

People say he had terrible stage fright. And he decided to sing "Il trovatore" for Met debiut. He indeeed was a great artist who not gives up.

[@Nangis123]

Singers do not decide what to sing and when , the opera house management decides for them

[@filipszyga7394]

@@Nangis123 not exactly. There are many cases when singer refuses specyfic role because of many reasons(like vocal maturity, production details, etc.)

[@Nangis123]

@@filipszyga7394 ??? I did not say the management *coerces* singers to perform what they do not want to perform .I was replying to your "he decided to sing Trovatore for [his] Met debiut[sic]" . He didn't DECIDE anything ,the house management had decided long before they were going to have Trovatore (a season is planed and budgeted well in advance) ,and had asked him if he agreed to sing on that specific date .He AGREED .Had he declined ,the Met would still have had Trovatore on that specific date but with a different singer .Understand the difference? The house DECIDES ,the singer AGREES or DECLINES

[@Nangis123]

​@@filipszyga7394 And there isn't anything extraordinary in singing a few Trovatore performances for your debut in a house if you already have the role in your rep .Extraordinary is to sing five or six DIFFERENT roles at your debut ,all in less than three weeks

[@racheleleeba]

I want to thank everyone who has left a comment on this video. I'm sorry I don't know how to reply individually since the recent changes to YT.

[@Gopher31]

Well they have finally put a proper reply button in now! Seriously we should all thank you, this release of yours as well as all the others on youtube will stop these great singers from ever being forgotten!

[@iTube22100]

Thanks to you for posting this "pearl" :-)

[@zriter59escritor33]

I envy you for knowing Tucker and his family. Based on all accounts, he seems to have been a real mensch as well as a great artist. Would you agree? Best, Steve

[@secretofsinging]

I love whenever I come across your comments !!! If you ARE the TENOR NEIL ....I loved your voice and artistry too !!!!! You were exciting and with a RICH voice.