Franco Corelli: Sensitive singing

Francisco Araiza, another wonderful singer, was one of Corelli's many admirers. In an interview with Stefan Zucker he took note of the classification Corelli once gave himself, tenore di forza. To use Mr. Araiza's exact words, "The natural way of emission of such a voice is full emission. This kind of voice has a more restricted amount of piano tones than a lyrical tenor voice has. So I think that the approach of Corelli, the way that he did it was the optimum for his voice."
I don't think Corelli's delicate moments can be mentioned enough. Of all the appeals of his artistry the fact that such chillingly beautiful moments co-exist within such a large and exciting voice is what compels me most. Here you will hear Corelli singing arias from his lyric roles, as well as lyric passages within the spinto repertoire. Singing pianissimo, as well as finishing his trademark forte high notes with diminuendi, overall careful attention to the musical dynamics, chiaroscuro and simply good old-fashioned soulful singing. In my opinion he was the ideal romantic temperament in opera.
Not all of the music is from my personal collection, there are some wonderful selections in here that other users have uploaded, Ditogam, Racheleleeba, MushashiTzu and Msgardenrose.

[@ernieschwarcz9077]

Franco was the greatest tenor who ever lived.

[@carmen-marianamitrea6175]

J'oserais dire que Franco a été un PHÉNOMÈNE UNIQUE. On ne peut pas trouver assez de superlatifs pour décrire l'extraordinaire richesse de ses qualités artistiques. Plus on l'écoute plus on en découvre des nouvelles.

[@riccardoviola9103]

Franco Corelli è stato insieme a DelMonaco e Di Stefano il più grande grande tenore della seconda metà dell'ultimo Novecento.I tre erano insuperabili

[@anafranciscaaldunate8866]

El arte de Franco Corelli me llevó a estudiar italiano... Y ha sido una fuente de felicidad inconmensurable. Nadie me ha conmovido como él. De lo más emocionante de mi vida, admirable, inolvidable.... Gracias, mil gracias

[@graziamanu]

Delicati diminuendo, 'potenti' quanto gli acuti.

[@lauradelpeso8250]

No habrá otra voz como la de Franco

[@giorgiosalmaso5903]

Corelli, grande italiano. RIP.

[@shayanmardanbeigi2697]

There never was and there never will be a male voice as good as Franco Corelli’s

[@etelkanaccari]

Selezione sublime! Complimenti!!!si evince dalla cura con cui sono postati i brani l’amore e il rispetto che TUTTI NOI condividiamo per questo ARTISTA IMMENSO E INEGUAGLIABILE. GRAZIEGRAZIEGRAZIE

[@jerrysumner4923]

Always the best!

[@lauradelpeso8250]

¡¡FABULOSO!! De voz y fiato incomparables. Fue y será hasta ahora Insuperable como Calaf; Manrico ; Radames ;Álvaro; Turiddu: Canio ; Raoui; Cavaradossi y tantos otros roles que son de referencia. Gracias por esta Joyita Lirica

[@irinahutanu78]

I am spechless. . He is a titan of humanity. No other tenor can compare with him.

[@russpenney5775]

God in Heaven...what a Man!! To think a human being could sing like That!! We must be inspired and strive for Everything that we can Become!! Think what we Humans could be if we were all Corellis in our chosen fields???

[@MindyLeahWilkinson]

As one born out of time to hear him sing live.

[@kathryngraves4108]

The spirit and soul soars 💗

[@folliefollymops7676]

The Voice of Corelli, a GIFT FROM GOD.......

[@davidsolomon8203]

Follie Follymops AMEN! AMEN!

[@juno-m6061]

That doesn't explain everything, his voice and talent together with HARD AND CONSTANT WORK does

[@davidsolomon8203]

Juno-M I totally agree with you: God gives the potential, but we must, as you say, do the work!!!

[@davidsolomon8203]

That voice is monumental: irresistible timbre, power, beauty: That diminuendo from Romeo and Juliet is beyond my ability to describe it!!!!!

[@mariagraziagottardelli551]

Potete dire quello che volete, Franco Corelli è stato il più grande Tenore Italiano, anche il più bello il che non guasta

[@olgaeloyan6205]

Grande !!!!!

[@absdyna]

The Romeo diminuendo at the end is a masterclass all by itself

[@SpecialtyHorseTraining]

Saw him in Fanciulla, Chenier, and Tosca with that "Vittoria" that went around the world. It melted me............couldn't move. E lucevan le Stelle was like an orgasmic tight rope. Of course I got his autograph. Looks as fantastic as his voice.

[@camenbel]

Unforgettable adorable Franco! You will never die!

[@paolabrianti721]

Meraviglioso. Dopo di lui, nessun tenore ha potuto definirsi tale

[@themulticraftsinnovator7523]

Awesome!!!

[@natalino501]

un titano immenso...

[@rockon416]

Simply the greatest tenor in history. Voice of steel, power & control, and full of raw emotion. No one can equal Franco.

[@tenoremodernotecnicavecchi2151]

5:03 so beautiful

[@MisterSoprano]

sublime

[@thom6746]

The male voice has never sounded so beautiful, so virile, so powerful. Franco, you are still moving listeners like me years after your death. I have no idea what the words mean, I'm just listening to you as I would listen to a beautiful nightingale.

[@leonoradelagardie]

A celebration of the human voice.

[@littlewolf18]

This extraordinary video shows the range of Corelli's voice. He is in a class by himself.

[@lucabernard489]

Absolutely unbelievable ...

[@tonneinsbillardclub1308]

un monstre...de grandeur...

[@michaelthomas-cq9xv]

WHAT BEAUTY !!

[@janosvas8597]

na das ist wirklich unglaublich, dass wir noch so viele Franco Corelli fans sind weltweit. Danke allen Corelli fans!

[@faucignyhenri9467]

,,,,la plus belle voix du 20 eme siecle .....

[@luismanuel-tena]

It seems like he did not need to take a breath at all!!! What an amazing natural vocal skill!

[@juno-m6061]

What do you mean by "natural vocal skill"? He worked out like a beast, spent weeks by Lauri-Volpi at the latter's home in Spain improving his technique and getting rid of an unpleasant excessive vibrato he admitted he had. Excellence in singing is only achieved by hard work. Regards

[@johnblasiak607]

Breathing was his greatest gift you can’t hear it because he had mastered it completely. He breathed extremely deep and controlled it perfectly.

[@sabbath7081]

I don't know I keep trying to have an open mind but I don't think there ever was or will be anyone better than him.

[@shodanart]

This post of the sensitive moments of Corelli is so important as it shows the range of the great tenor of power needs the ability to perform the tender passages, the pianissimo, the mezza voce and heartbreaking diminuendos to rank with the very best tenors in history. Thank you for posting this. ❤️💔

[@folliefollymops7676]

Thank you! Corelli was the Grand Finale of all tenors for ever and ever!

[@irinahutanu78]

Follie Follymops perfectly true.

[@marujaaparicio1009]

Cante como cante su voz es maravillosa. Mi tenor favorito

[@absdyna]

This is wonderful. A hidden gem of youtube.....

[@bodiloto]

divino .

[@lidiacastellani8078]

Grazie Leopold, ho provato una grande emozione ascoltando Franco Corelli in questi stupendi brani.Un tenore stupendo, divino

[@johnblasiak607]

Incredible such beautiful sounds

[@davidsolomon8203]

The tenor of the century!

[@johnblasiak2499]

Superb Superhuman Exquisite Extraordinary Sublime

[@agneshak6353]

INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL

[@fofinha445]

Corelli o maior tenor e interprete de sempre.....

[@marokt]

You also could add the end of Celeste Aida with his great diminuendo.

[@photo161]

...that high note Corelli floats so effortlessly at 6:02 is a true high B flat!

[@tiziana2776]

Un gigante unico nella storia della lirica per sempre ,divino ,angelico , appassionato,e non ci sono aggettivi per definire la sua grandezza!!!!!!

[@ingriddoppler]

A GIGANT !! Those who, after listening to this so wonderful done compilation, still " lists" him as an unsensitive Singer, must have a serious " hearing problem " Thank you , it is definitely going to my list of favourites .

[@leopoldleopold6251]

So happy that you have visited! Thank you so much for watching and commenting, touché! Franco may still be able to help even then, he has the power to make even the deaf hear :)

[@aetion]

Leopold Leopold I 'd rather say he has the power to make the hearing deaf :) [not here of course]. Very interesting video perfectly demonstrating the "other side of the moon". Thank you.

[@Brianna08051919]

Well, at least his colleague on stage, the leading lady he is charming and adoring a whole opera long, holding her as close as she might want the dashing hero. Her ears might be burnt away after that - another type of professional risk. ;-) But, first of all, Maestro Corelli has become my ideal of a tenor since I discovered his Manrico here on YT. Thanks a lot for these samples!

[@annewhitelaw8442]

Leopold Leopold 7

[@marioschacappasse7155]

las imágenes y vídeos que he visto en el tiempo que escucho al príncipe de los tenores me emociona mucho que se le. homenaje en todos los teatros del mundo como siento que te hallas hido Dios te bendiga querido Franco corrillo lo

[@patriciapaape9238]

Wonderful.Thank you for posting♫♪ ॐ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

[@FranciscoFerrerGaliana1930]

Esplendida selección de Arias..¡¡ Simplemente maravilloso..¡¡

[@autumnleaves2766]

Excellent selection. I know nothing about singing technique, but this is just amazing. I have been eagerly seeking out Corelli videos on KZbin. You have also put on an interesting group of biographical videos about him, thanks for those as well.. His parents were strict with him and wouldn't let him learn music, even though his older siblings were allowed to do so. He seems to have had such great dedication to his singing, keeping himself fit and healthy. There are videos of him in his 60s where he still looks more like 45 years old. I hope he is honoured still in his home city of Ancona.

[@magdadragalan4397]

CORELLI UN FENOMEN AL NATURII ! MARE CANTARET DE OPERA SI UN BARBAT SUPERB ! 👏👏👏

[@remyhocage9854]

Thank you for this compilation. I think (and feel) Corelli is the ultimate tenor. Don't understand why he is not well known in the U.S.

[@labienus9968]

what do you mean -not well known?

[@artistsf1]

not knowing how big/recent an opera fan you are or of what age group, it is hard to offer an honest reply to your comment. i do think if you were chatting in music circles or around people with a history of attending opera, esp in new york, in their past you would realize he is far from unknown, far from forgotten. There have been many great singers, great artists, over the time i have listened to opera, all with special individual gifts. i have been privileged to hear many of them live. for me, and many others i have met, Franco Corelli was and still is the greatest operatic tenor of their lifetimes. FAR from forgotten. (thanks for giving me chance to say this - again.)

[@chengducat]

Huh ??

[@DiomedesDioscuro]

Yo no sé cómo hacían las cantantes para no orinarse encima cuando Corelli les cantaba casi al oído esos pianos.

[@racheleleeba]

Bravo, Franco! And brava to you, my dear, for a truly magnificent video. Looking forward to many more!

[@photo161]

Your extraordinary collection of "sensitive" moments from Corelli performances proves your point beyond a doubt. In all the decades that i have been listening to Corelli's singing I have never heard such intensely expressive, emotionally sensitive singing as is to be heard in so many ways in the excerpts you provide. It leaves one convinced that Corelli surely was , Caruso perhaps excepting, the greatest tenor in recorded history.

[@vincebossi46]

In. Ogni parola non c’è canto Ma è L anima che canta!!!!!!!

[@Pikatrix90]

This is a great compilation which is going against many ridiculous stereotypes regarding Corelli. Great work!

[@leopoldleopold6251]

Awww shucks, thanks. The great thing about this singer is that he gives you so many of these moments that 15 minutes isn't enough time. I may make a part 2 or 3 for him. Till we meet again ;)

[@Pikatrix90]

Leopold Leopold Looking forward....

[@potusumanbibingka]

And to say that Domingo is better than him, show me a Domingo's performance like this. I bet no one could.

[@56Yeya]

Oh my God, I'm out of breath! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@carltornell]

Thanks. I never heard Corelli before, which says something about the ambiguity of the musical world. I think he has an immensly beautiful voice, a combination of Bjorling and Pavarotti, if you wish. I'll let my verdict rest, but it feels as if this is how I always wanted to sound.

[@johnoregan3494]

to say you never heard the greatest tenor ever Franco Corelli and then mention Bjorling and Pav. the mind boggles.

[@Luifernal6]

la linea de canto que mantiene en ''Sulla tua bocca lo diro'' 6:35 maravilloso!

[@agneshak6353]

very nice

[@tenoremodernotecnicavecchi2151]

Where’s the lhanima from, and also where’s the o terra from? So beautiful! Thank you for this video, it brings me such peace.

[@Wolts1983]

Corelli è sulla linea di Bastianini. Due voci meravigliose e irripetibili, perfette per ruoli con personaggi velati di malinconia. Entrambe le voci però hanno il rovescio della medaglia: sono inadatte a comunicare gioia e spensieratezza (e la vita è anche queste due cose per fortuna).

[@AngelRodriguez-en1rd]

Corelli el mejor ...

[@annamarialovati8744]

Che bella voce,che presenza scenica, che dizione chiara e che bell'uomo Lo vidi da giovane donna nell'Ernani e l'opera mi piacque molto anche perché era aderente al personaggio Non sempre il fisico degli interpreti corrisponde alla bellezza della voce e allora i personaggi sono un po' anacronistici Ricordo un aneddoto la soprano corpulenta cantava "Ernani involami' " è un perfido loggionista grido' "Sì ma in due volte altrimenti ti chiamerai Erniani"

[@johnblasiak607]

I’ve never seen such a huge powerful larynx on any other tenor. As Pavarotti said and I quote He had vocal chords of steel.

[@tonneinsbillardclub1308]

mon dieu....

[@romearomeo]

FRANCO CORELLI THE BEST

[@toscadonna]

Another really beautiful moment of Corelli singing sensitively is when he sings, “Il mio nome non sai. Dimmi il mio nome. Dimmi il mio nome, prima dell’alba, et al alba, miriro.”

[@lucianadelpiero7923]

Irraggiungibile

[@salgenna]

THE BEST EVER!

[@joanlovett1854]

Luciana del piero Nn

[@Nangis123]

FC classified himself as verismo tenor .He wasn't Romantic ,he was sentimental ,which is something different

[@ZENOBlAmusic]

When did he say that? Singers are worst at classifying their own voices, he has himself as a dramatic tenor, spinto tenor and a lyric tenor.

[@MuratOranci]

3:25 perfect pianissimo

[@elsaasta5491]

Ma questi due incontentabili che hanno messo il pollice verso....come si possono accontentare ?? Vogliamo invocare Dio. che canti per loro?? Forse è più. facile pensare che siano extraterrestri ...e quindi non capendo ..hanno serie problematiche a capire il magnificat talento di questo stupendo. Artista....un vanto italiano nel mondo che ha nome FRANCO CORELLI......Elsa Asta.

[@luciaballarini4464]

Verissimo, ogni volta che lo ascolto mi commuovo, unico ed insostituibile

[@lauravolpi8]

Miért nem lehet lefordítani a hozzászólásokat?? CORELLI A LEGNAGYOBB....

[@gemmadestate3216]

where are "voci tenorili"today?

[@massimocassano2545]

Si, in effetti in Corelli, forse suo malgrado c'e' in senso metaforico tutta la parabola dell' esistenza umana. La gioia traspare piu in Pippo. Ma il carattere saturnino, lunare di Franco me lo fa sentire piu vicino

[@yaelpalombo4093]

💖🌷

[@jeanroussin4672]

la sensivite de corelli n,a d,egale que le don extreme qu,il possede jean roussin

[@giselamarch1994]

When does this man breath?

[@veryoriginalchannel]

From which arias did these examples come from? I'd like to hear the full recording of some of these…

[@leopoldleopold6251]

But of course friend, I should have included this information a long time ago. Thank you for listening. #1 L'anima ho stanca (From full performance of Adriana Lecouvreur 1958 Naples live) #2 Che Gelida Manina (1965 in concert New York, Philharmonic Hall live) #3 Benvenuuto (Francesca da Rimini) from the studio album Tebaldi and Corelli great opera duets (I believe 1969) #4 The Flower Song (Carmen) -in Italian from 1956 Rai fullCarmen telecast #5 Ah non mi ridestar (Werther) the year is 1954, I can't recall what label the studio recording was originally, but it can be found a lot of places now. Mine came from the Power and Beauty collection. #6 Donna Malvaggio! (from full performance of Poliuto 1960 live) #7 Addio Terra (from Aida live the Met 1966 with Leontyne Price) #8 Nessun Dorma from Turandot full performance (La Scala 1964 live) #9 O nuit d’amour (from ull Faust recording 1966with Dame Joan Sutherland) #10 Ah le-ve-toie solei, from a live performance of Romeo and Juliette, this was one already on youtube that I used, but the uploader unfortunately didn’t know when it was performed when they found it… but here it is, I hope this helps at least a little bit Franco Corelli - Romeo Et Juliet L'amour Late 60s O Dolci mani (Tosca Parma 1967 from live full performance) #12 E lucevan le stelle (from the same performance) #12 From the mystery Romeo again. If you are interested in links to where I purchased many of these operas or youtube channels that have most of these titles do let me know. -Leopold

[@johnoregan3494]

+Leopold Leopold Mystery ROMEO from MET. OCT.16 1967. Thanks Leopold for great upload.

[@shodanart]

@@leopoldleopold6251 Thank you!!!!!’n❤️🎶

[@НатальяЗезюля-к1б]

@@leopoldleopold6251 СПАСИБО

[@vittoriopreti7412]

basta cercarle e sono tutte registrazioni live in commercio, le posseggo tutte e anche molte altre, ossequi

[@estherluciamorelli6105]

Rodario

[@vittorinabarbosio6373]

Compilazione di una favola dopo l'altra..immenso e i pianissimo che ci proponevi tu caro Maestro erano solo una cosa.Perle di prima qualità.Che rimpianto non parlarti più ...

[@ursmue1937]

Corelli hätte auch The Great Caruso darstellen können, das kann ich mir vorstellen. Super Stimme, super Aussehen. Aber M.Lanza war die richtige Besetzung.

[@mariogoetze3218]

ursmue1937 Mario lanza war eineNummer zu klein!Stimmlich gesehen.

[@jefolson6989]

First of all I LOVE CORELLI! One of the great instruments in history. But sensitive, I am not so sure. He wasn't sensitive to the wishes if the composer, and this is a collection of soft singing, and dimenuendi just to show it off, and the man's bad habits. Slipin und slidin , and legugrious portatmenti. IT GREAT TO BE SURE, but sensitive or artistic would not be the words. Lots of FUN though

[@ralphoperaphile]

Your comment makes little sense to me. What you call Corelli's "showing off" is his using interpretative skills to bring the text and music alive, investing them with true emotion. Your argument mught be helped by writing literate English: you mean "diminuendi" and - presumably - "lugubrious portamenti" - by which I can only assume that you consider the art of portamento to be inartistic, yet Callas, too, was a mistress of it. In any case, audiences evidently adored both his voice and his use of it. These are not "bad habits", which are involuntary, but carefully practised and applied expressive techniques.

[@jefolson6989]

@@ralphoperaphile I don't know for sure, but I doubt you ever saw/ heard Corelli in person. He was past his glorious prime when I first heard him, but he didn't serve the composer, the music, his colleagues or the audience, so uninvolved in the action. He even wandered off stage during a duet when he wasn't singing. He through in diminuendi that were neither written or appropriate musically or dramatically. Just applause seeking tricks. The sound was thrilling, but he was sloppy and sang as though he didn't care the few times I saw him. That was my experience, which is at odds with the title of this video.

[@jefolson6989]

@@ralphoperaphile I called them "bad habits" because for a singer to begin doing many un musical things late in his career makes one think that the changes of the years left him no other choices. Like Del Monaco and his relentless forte singing. It was because he COULDN'T sing softly . Not a carefully rehearsed artistic choice.

[@ralphoperaphile]

@@jefolson6989 It is patently untrue that Del Monaco resorted to relenteless forte singing; I have frequently documented specific evidences of his singing with refinement and sensitivity, albeit that his voice was very large, designed to fill an auditorium and not to blast a microphone. However, i am unable to dispute your account of Corelli's behaviour on stage; you are right; I never heard him live. Nonetheless, I would sooner hear his recordings than many a supposedly more scrupulous tenor with half his voice.

[@jefolson6989]

@@ralphoperaphile Agree about Corelli. The sound is irresistible. Del Monaco , as he got older, lost the ability to sing softly. It happens with the Melocchi low larynx method. Tenors also tend to lose low notes.. Late in his career, various levels of forte were all he had. Still a great artist. Didn't mean to suggest he was insensitive. There is more to "artistic singing" than singing piano once in a while, which is what bother me about late Corelli. He seemed to throw in his famous diminuendo to sound artistic rather than because it was called for in the score, or appropriate for the dramatic situation. My favorite period for him is early. Poliuto with Callas- unbelievable!