How the Italian belcanto should be sung: Beniamino Gigli in La Sonnambula (Video and Score) HD

[@LouisTiemann-Tenor]

That Ab in the first few bars of this piece: instant tears. So stunningly beautiful.

[@monumentofwonders]

It's such a beautiful, clear sound ... so absolutely pure and flexible.

[@Xochimique]

-Is it possible to learn this power? -Not from a modern opera teacher.

[@AlexanderCappellazzo]

"You are on this Conservatory Teaching Roster,, but we do not grant you the rank of Diva."

[@geminikid1617]

Only teachers today I’d say is my Professor Steven Dalhke, & Jose Simirella along w/Giancarlo Monsalve.

[@dawnadriennetaylor970]

I grew up with the old school opera singers. I wish I could have shown my parents these videos.

[@maxcornise-qh2jk]

To me that opera is the exclusive property of Maria Callas, Nicola Monti and Antonino Votto-and-Luchino Visconti. The most beautiful singing of Belli’s masterpiece I’ve ever heard!!

[@alessandroantonini8781]

Il massimo che si può ascoltare Immenso Beniamino Gigli ❤

[@ransomcoates546]

Interviews of the divas Gigli sang with reveal that they had different opinions about whether ‘that’ sound was falsetto or true mezza voce. What they all agree on is that it completely filled the theater.

[@afritimm]

I dont see how it could be falsetto, because it is seamless as he goes between registers.

[@casp1nho]

@@afritimmswitching registers is like changing gears in a car. Whether it’s a smooth transition or not depends on the skill and intent of the driver.

[@alessandrott7568]

It's powerful yet subtle, gentle.

[@andrzejzborowski4920]

That's very interesring, the way he sings. Gigli called it "sul fiato", it means "on a breath". Lauri-Volpi did it the same way but they could easly change it to the full voice. They were the last generation that could do it.

[@felstead84]

I've been working on this as part of my preparation for singing Count Almaviva next year. It's improving pretty much every aspect of my voice (timbre, range, agility) so I'm excited to see where it ends up.

[@Opera_Madman]

He said when he sings half-voice, the voice on the breath, full voice instead with the diaphragm.Anyway, the breath always deep,I think so.

[@flaze3]

I think it's more the case that they were the last generation who chose to do it

[@vegeta1885]

@@flaze3 well yes, but a lot of tenors couldn't do it do it even if they chose it

[@gnarbeljo8980]

EXACTLY. It's so magical. So emotional, none of the latter day ugly (and often inappropriate) muscular singing using the notes only to showcase their voice, ignoring the role, poetry and humanity of the part/libretto in interpretation. And it's exactly that which I think puts people off from listening to opera I think.

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

Gigli è un dio! Bravo Maestro!

[@tubagabrii]

Ma è Ezio Pinza nel profilo?

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

@@tubagabrii Sì! Il mio basso preferito!

[@tubagabrii]

@@xxsaruman82xx87 grandissimo lui e Siepi veramente il 🔝

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

@@tubagabrii Certo!

[@bodiloto]

Divino. ❤️

[@esterbruno8604]

GRANDISSIMO GIGLI! ❤

[@Monnarchmonnarchy]

A big voice still, but its a studio record. He isnt untouchable

[@GiovanniGGori]

Immagina, una Sonnambula registrata completa tra la fine degli anni venti e i primi anni trenta con Gigli su Elvino, la Muzio su Amina e Pinza sul Conte Rodolfo: sarebbe stato meraviglioso 😍🤩

[@eleanorclub]

A limpid beauty. Thank you.

[@amadyktiv]

THE GREAT BENIAMINO GIGLI❤❤❤❤❤

[@laprimmadonna2341]

Bien dicho

[@laprimmadonna2341]

Pues, sinceramente, nada que ver con lo que se escucha hoy. Es bellísimo, sin contricciones, ni nasalizaciones, voz centrada suave, clara y elegante.

[@patriciapaape9238]

I love him.Thank you for posting♫♪ ॐ¸¸.•*¨*•♫

[@raynardi7243]

Che sogno.....

[@josemiguelpalaoibanez7201]

El más grande

[@petrapublications]

Thank you for sharing this! Where did you find the sheet music for this?

[@flaze3]

It's a sort of very light mix. I don't think modern opera singers could get away with singing like that.

[@joecampbell1739]

I hope the opera singers today will understand how Gigli broke our hearts.

[@KajiVocals]

Not mix. Light chest. Still the M1 laryngeal vibratory mechanism.

[@laprimmadonna2341]

De acuerdo

[@BodilessVoice]

Which is the reason they won't get away with subjecting me to their singing!

[@MrSkylark1]

A LOST ART of SINGING. There are NO SINGERS today because TEACHERS IMPRESSARIOS AND COACHES have NO IDEA how CHIAROSCURO is taught.

[@laprimmadonna2341]

Cierto

[@ferbritos]

ME MUEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO JAJAJAJA

[@Monnarchmonnarchy]

This is a falsetto for studio records only, this cant be repeated on a live session in the theatres with orchestra, with piano maybe. And yes, its studio version

[@Darksaga28]

False, it's not falsetto, it is mezza voce, Gigli's voice covered all the opera house.

[@sidneikovacs5499]

Maximus . Estude sobre Beniamino Gigli e sua carreira. Você carece de informação.

[@alanhowe7659]

This isn't true bel canto singing, though because the vocal line is spoilt by aspirates. Tito Schipa would be a much better example.

[@lucabernard489]

This can be very missleading. He is very close to the microfone here and goes too far off voice for operatic singing. He kept some amount of the core even when singing piano. Here he goes off voice completely and it only works because the mic is within 1m distance.

[@alanhowe1455]

Beautiful, but spoilt by all those horrible aspirates.

[@alvarthomas2784]

Rubbish! Just listen to the god given voice.

[@alanhowe1455]

@@alvarthomas2784 A singer needs more than a voice; he has to learn how to use it properly - without aspirates.

[@mawo7487]

@@alanhowe1455 Do you really say that Beniamino Gigli didn't use his voice properly? Okay, could you then please give some examples of tenors who use their voices properly? I mean tenors better or even far better in proper voice use than Gigli. I am very curious.

[@alanhowe1455]

@@mawo7487 Tito Schipa, Alfredo Kraus