O soave fanciulla (O gentle maiden) (Puccini) : Nine great recordings : New restorations

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

0:00 Enrico Caruso and Nellie Melba : Rec1907. 3:14 John McCormack and Lucrezia Bori : Rec 1914. 6:13 Joseph Schmidt and Grace Moore : Rec 1937. 9:42 Beniamino Gigli and Licia Albenese : Rec 1938. 12:47 Mario Lanza and Frances Yeend : Rec1947 (Hollywood Bowl). 16:30 Giuseppe Di Stefano and Maria Callas : Rec 1956. 20:35 Jussi Björling and Renata Tebaldi : Rec 1956. 24:18 Fritz Wunderlich and Anneliese Rothenberger : Rec 1961, 28:05 Luciana Pavarotti and Mirella Freni : Rec 1965

[@olofalriksson2464]

Without a doubt, Jussi and Renata are the best of all! Incredible!!☺

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment Olof.

[@RamonaVanDerMerwe-ws4yb]

I just love Renata Tebaldi and Jussi Bjorling together, my two favourites!❤

[@patriciagordon160]

I can never get enough of this delightful compilation, Michael. I love all your presentations and I watch them. You are a great producer and director. 😊 Thank you so much.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Patricia, thank you for listening again and for your kind words.

[@isaiahjohnston823]

Brilliant! What can I say. You remind me of my late dad, who knew all these extraordinary tenors and sopranos, now I know them as well. This is gone into my playlist,and I will play it until my ears bleed! Thanks a million Michael McGrail 🇮🇪👍..

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Isaiah, thank you for listening, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed the video, but, watch those ears, you'll need them for the next one!!!

[@chaitanyaranjan2184]

Thanks for this brilliant compilation. Some of them were the greatest stars of their era and you can see how the singing styles and the quality of recordings changed over the years. Renata and Jussi have been old favourites of mine and they work well together without overpowering each other.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Chaitanya, than you for listening and for your comment, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video..

[@mariantaylor7109]

What a wonderful mixture - the same aria but totally different interpretations. -Sadly l have no musical ability at all -but don’t l wish. At least listening to these “greats “ l can dream .

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Marian, I'm glad that you like the video. I also have no musical ability, I've tried to play various instruments and failed to get very far with any of them but I still keep trying and one of these days, well you never know, but there again it might be too late!!!

[@saltburner2]

Michael, another excellent selection, as ever - much improve sound. Thanks, Dan

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Dan, thanks for listening, I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

[@patriciagordon160]

And not only the voices but the wonderful photos and videos! Bjoerling and Tebaldi were enchanting - I love that video. And Pavarotti and Freni are so adorable together and so young in that video. Callas and DiStefano were destined to sing together! I am starting all over again right now. Michael, I can’t thank you enough for this gift.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for watching again Patricia. When I was making the video I had to watch it over and over again to try to make sure that it was just right but I didn't get tired of it at all.

[@patriciagordon160]

I think you did a perfect job! And I think I could never get tired of this duet. 😊

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@patriciagordon160 Thank you Patricia.☘

[@piergiorgiomei1361]

Uno più bello e interessante dell altro,vari stili,varie scuole di canto,interpretazioni leggendarie, bisognerebbe farli sentire ai giovani che studiano e ai fenomen microfonati da baraccone,❤ grazie di averli messi insieme

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Piergiorgio, thank you for listening and for your comment, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed the video.

[@elenajha4357]

Thank you very much for this beautiful garland, dear Michael! They are all masters, all so different, yet all sublime.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Elena, thank you for listening, I'm really pleased that you enjoyed the video.

[@mickey1849]

Lots of fun. New recordings to study! Thank you

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Mickey, thank you for listening, I'm glad that you like the video.

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

This is a great video you‘ve crafted here, Michael! Again! ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘m very happy I finally found the time to listen to all the recordings in one session - and I did it twice! For a reason… I suppose that, when you put the selection together, you first decided on what tenors to choose, and then picked the joint performance you liked best… so that the main focus was on the tenor and the second on the soprano… And I also presume that most of your listeners will concentrate a bit more on the tenors than the sopranos… Almost automatically I did the same, and I knew beforehand I‘d be doing it, and so I decided to give the video a second run. Several of my favourite tenors are included and several amazing sopranos as well! I‘m happy you chose the Lanza/Yeend recording over the Lanza/Fenn recording because at the time of the recording Lanza was still aiming at a career in opera, so we can actually look at him as a promising young tenor with a gorgeous voice on his way to the opera stage and not the film studios that sadly spoiled him (and his voice) a bit… Good! As for the other tenors… I‘m not a huge fan of Pavarotti (although of course he has his merits!) but that doesn‘t matter because he, too, has a lot of fans and continues to attract listeners! And, of course, there will always be people preferring X and despising Y, which means that you‘ll never succeed in giving everybody just and exactly what they want and nothing else. Again: excellent job! Great singers, both male and female; wonderful music, the kind you want to listen to over and over again; top-notch musicians; excellent audio quality; beautiful photo and film material… And now I‘ll zip it, because this was enough babbling already…

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Harriet, I'm glad that you like the video and you are right, of course, I picked the tenors first and as I don't have many photos of sopranos I decided to just have one photo of tenor and soprano together, except for Jussi and Pavarotti. I love the performance by Jussi Bjorling and Renata Tebaldi, it seems so heartfelt and full of genuine emotion, As you say they all have their good points but you can never satisfy everybody. I wish I hadn't started really but I'm in the middle of doing another compilation of Je crois entendre. I did one a year or so ago with my own favourites and, although it's been quite popular a lot of listeners said that I had missed their own favourites so I decided to do another. It keeps me out of mischief. Best Regards..

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

@SuperMagren Danke für die Empfehlung; ich werde ihr wie stets gerne folgen!!! Die aktuelle Situation ist eine fürchterliche, und im Netz kursieren viele Kommentare, in denen Menschen sich wünschen, Putin solle endlich in Deutschland einmarschieren, um den „Sauhaufen“ aufzuräumen. Diese Kommentare erscheinen auf Deutsch. Wir können also davon ausgehen, dass wir den Feind bereits im eigenen Land haben und er nur noch auf Unterstützung wartet bzw. zum Unterstützen der Russen bereitsteht. Solche Vorstellungen können einem schlaflose Nächte bereiten! Und sie tun es auch…

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Thank you, Michael, for your detailed answer! You are right, the performance by Björling and Tebaldi is one if the gems of the compilation! Nevertheless I‘m glad I don‘t have to pick a favourite, because I wouldn‘t be able to pick just one - and picking, say, six out of nine doesn‘t really make sense, does it?! I look forward to your next compilation - your next post - whatever it will be! And I assure you that I won’t be among those who aren‘t satisfied and demand certain singers to be included. Whatever your choices, they are appreciated, because they are always interesting and rewarding. Should my personal favourite (singer, rendition, aria, song) not be included - where‘s the problem? Chances are that I‘ll find the recording I love best elsewhere… either on KZbin or on my own disc shelf… 😊 Now, I promise to do my best to keep out of mischief as you suggested - but what I can‘t promise is that I‘ll be successful! 🙃 All the best and heaps of luck! Here are some good-luck charms for you: 🍀 ☘️ 🍄

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@hrbooksmusic7878 Thanks for your message Harriet (and the good luck charms)

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

@@michaelmcgrailengland I hope they‘ll work their magic!!!

[@patriciagordon160]

Oh this is absolutely heavenly - all these wonderful recordings of one of my favorite duets. Thank you, Michael. You are a genius at this!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

It's my pleasure Patricia, thank you for listening and for your kind words, I'm really pleased that you like the video.

[@sheilamillar]

More wonders! Love the videos, bravo Michael 👏

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Sheila, I'm glad that you like the video. My favourite bit is at 21:12, Renata and Jussi put so much into it you'd swear that they really were madly in love.

[@bruceseaman6592]

BJORLING AND TEBALDI ......UNMATCHED

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment Bruce.

[@Rosangela161]

Warm regards!! So wonderful post. Thank you and congratulations. Love it. 😊🌹

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Warm regards to you too Rosa, thank you for listening, I thought you might like this one.

[@irishmike3514]

Mike, what a fabulous collection of singers for my favorite duet from my favorite opera!! Presentation well done!!!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Hi Mike, thanks for listening, I'm glad that you like the video. It's time you did a new one yourself.

[@MountainwalkwithMusic]

The lips of two videos were slightly slower than the sound too. Thanks for introducing precious videos. My favorite is Wunderlich Duets. I think that this interpretation is proper this situation.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Chang. Yes the Wunderlich recording is excellent and it's interesting that he follows the original score as do Caruso and McCormack, in that the final note is a high C from the soprano but a lower E from the tenor. The other tenors sing the last note also as a high C. I like them all, of course, for one reason or another but in this case my own favourite is Jussi and Renata, they seem to express such heartfelt love and emotion, particularly at 21:12.. (I hope I didn't interrupt you in the middle of a hike)

[@MountainwalkwithMusic]

@@michaelmcgrailengland No problem Michael. I will get hike next time. Of course Jussi Duets is great I love it too. You are a man of love. It's raining in Busan. I think northern part of Korea has snow. The snow seems to call me. Good night Michael!!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@MountainwalkwithMusic Thanks for your reply, Good Night Chang.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@MountainwalkwithMusic I love your latest video Chang, is a hike you've just done, or an earlier one. The music's great, it fit's you perfectly "The Korean Snowman" Still no snow here, unfortunately. Good night Chang, Happy Hiking.

[@MountainwalkwithMusic]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Thanks Michael! Tomorrow is Korean Luna New Year. Nowadays Korea is very cold. Good night Michael!

[@Olgaalwina]

Fritz... Fritz... Fritz, immer nur Fritz!!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment.

[@RamonaVanDerMerwe-ws4yb]

I have always been a great fan of Jussi Bjorling, but must say Wunderlich has a lovely voice too. What a pity they both died so young, what a waste of such huge talents!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Ramona. Yes it's such a pity and many others also died young, Joseph Schmidt 38, Mario Lanza 38, Enrico Caruso 48, Leonard Warren 49, Richard Tauber 57, John McCormack 61, Kathleen Ferrier 41 to name a few.

[@RamonaVanDerMerwe-ws4yb]

@@michaelmcgrailengland I think their jobs were very stressful!

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@RamonaVanDerMerwe-ws4ybYes I'm sure that must have had a lot to do with it.

[@jameshom6171]

Jussi & Renata, Gigli & Albanese, then Fritz & Anneliese, but where is the version from Bergonzi & Tebaldi??

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thank you for listening and for your comment James. I'm sorry that your favourite is not included but, of course, it's not possible to include them all and every singer seems to be somebody's favourite.

[@lilianikolova7685]

Бенджамин Джилйи for me B.Jillli is the greatest surprise. He had concert tour in ex-socialist countries.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment Lilia.

[@erikaskolovin-erven8136]

Joseph Schmidt, Beniamino Gigli, Anneliese Rothenberger und Fritz Wunderlich💜 und Mario Lanza mit den mir unbekannten Sängerinnen gefallen mir besonders.💘💌

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

Schön, dass Ihnen das Video gefallen hat! Ich dachte mir, dass Sie es schon wegen Fritz Wunderlich nicht gerne verpassen würden! ⭐️ ☀️🌹 💖

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening to this one Erika, I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

[@erikaskolovin-erven8136]

@@michaelmcgrailengland Schönen Dank.

[@paolodachille9395]

Confronto interessante. Penso anch'io che la migliore esecuzione sia quella della coppia Tebaldi-Bjorling, anche per l'acuto finale fuori scena. Ma è molto più suggestivo che sia solo il soprano a salire al do, come avviene nelle esecuzioni Caruso-Melba, McCormack-Bori e Wunderlich-Rothenberger

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening and for your comment Paolo.

[@slamar8712]

Hey boss. Are you a singer, vocal coach or a musician?

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Sla Mar. I'm just a very amateur musician but a lover of all music with a large collection of recordings.

[@slamar8712]

@hellwath I see. Excellent work with these videos. Jussi Björling is an amazing singer. I'd argue perhaps the best ever on record. If you have time you should check out some former Yugoslavian singers like Cune Gojkovic, Vice Vukov, Safet Isovic and let me know what you think. They aren't opera singers but still great.

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

@@slamar8712 Thanks for your message and kind words. I found the Yugoslavian singers that you mention and I certainly agree with you, they are great singers. I love all sorts of music from Jazz to Opera but the recordings I listened to are in a style that I'm not familiar and, at 80, I'm unfortunately too old to consider broadening my musical world!!! Thanks again and all the best from Yorkshire, England.

[@richardmcmahon7466]

Michael, great selection, lose the Lanza he was not an opera singer. Regards Richard

[@michaelmcgrailengland]

Thanks for listening Richard, I'm glad that you liked the overall selection. You're right, of course, about Mario Lanza but I like to include him for various reasons and although he wasn't an opera singer I do like his voice and I have a very broad taste in music. His film The Great Caruso led a a lot of people to classical singing and opera and the main aim of my KZbin channel, as well as simply uploading music that I hope other people will enjoy, is to try to introduce listeners to the great artists of the past like Caruso John McCormack and Joseph Schmidt. Mario Lanza is still very popular and his name attracts people to watch videos that they would not watch if they they just featured the name of John McCormack for example. I'm not a big fan of Pavarotti but I include him occasionally for the same reason. Please keep watching/listening and I value your opinion so don't hesitate to let me know what you think whether it be good or bad. Best regards from Yorkshire.

[@shicoff1398]

Lanza was a unique case, not an opera singer by profession but had an operatic voice, he also had his demons, that as for opera prevented him from reaching his goal of singing at the Met. the blame isn't just Hollywood, he ate and drank too excess and being into films radio and concerts was fine for him, but not one single complete opera studio recording sadly, the voice was excellent and he could have sung anywhere in any house --had he spent time and worked in that direction-- but he was a bit lazy that way, and made it fast and easy to the top, so making more money then any opera singer, yes he was happy that way, Richard Tucker told me that Lanza had this terrific voice when he first heard a record of his and later he met Mario, Tucker was not at all the type of man who didn't appreciate a great voice, and used too rave about Del Monaco and Gigli, his two fav's. Blanche Thebom and Dorothy Kirsten and sop. Amara sang with Lanza in films, and in fact Kirsten sang a concert with him before the Caruso film, she told me (when I worked in classical radio in Calif.) that Lanza had a big ego but a wonderful voice, Amara said it was made larger by RCA in the studio recordings, for the films but had good power, bass Norman Treigle saw Mario Lanza sing Pinkerton in New Orleans in 1948 in the opera house, and told me in 1969 that it had adequate power then at age 27 enough to sing in any opera house, of course at age 27 in only the right roles, Lanza lived a fast life and died in 1959 at age 38, but turned me on to opera (and many others) sure he had some mental problems going on with food and booze, but the voice was great even when he sang over the top and was at times in songs hammy. His early bowl concerts and late films in Italy where recorded in studio conditions . and very well sung, he suffered from nerves and depression also. Now Both MDM and Tucker sounded better in house and larger then on their records-- where as smaller voices, more Lyric voices like Bjoerling, Barry Morell and even Lyric Spinto Bergonzi recorded and sounded bigger then they really where, I saw them all in the 1950'sand 1960's , including both Bjoerling, Peerce, Di Stefano,Tagliavini and even Schipa, my late friend sop. Stella Roman sang often with Martinelli and raved about him to me, she also was the soprano at Tucker's Met debut in 1945 as Enzo, he lasted 30 years with a big Spinto voice most of the time, but he and Martinelli are not heard sadly on this channel, nor was the great dramatic tenor Del Monaco heard here , ---at age 19 in 1959 I saw him sin Otello in Milan with my parents, his Otello was great, but as with Tucker he sounded better live then on records, as far as Bjoerling he sang live warmer then in studio and the voice when I saw him as the Duke in 1958 was not large but adequate, lyrically very beautiful, it sounded bigger on records, but it did carry fine in Chicago, a big 3,583 seat house, he was really perfection, Lanza wasn't, but his voice was a great one and it turned me on to opera, later I met many who did sing with him, like George London and others mentioned here, I knew his family and kids, he was my idol as a 10 year old kid in 1950 after seeing a film "the toast of New Orleans" I worked in classical radio in Calif. in the 1960's, so I met many singers and in fact used to drive Peerce to some of his concerts there, I was the guest of his (and his brother in law Tucker) when in NYC for concerts and the Met. and was also to Tucker's home. He was our greatest American spinto Tenor opera singer, he sang 30 roles in 30 years at the Met. in about 780 performances and hundreds in other places, he had the Italian Commendatore in Italy as they liked him there and in South America, as Rosa Ponselle said after hearing Tucker at her home in the Baltimore area "people who bought his records should get their money back as he did not sound like his records in person, she said in the early 1970's he was the greatest Spinto tenor in the world at the time, Lauri Volpi who had Tucker as a guest at his home said "You are a Caruso" In Tucker's house there (or was) is a picture of Lauri Volpi that says in his own writing and signed "to my friend tenor Ricard Tucker" Volpi had a huge ego but that said he liked Tucker, an American Jew and as with the more lyric Bjoerling Tucker was one of the greatest non Italians in Italian opera. RIP. Tucker 1913-1975.

[@shicoff1398]

sorry about the "not intentional line" through a sentence above in my comment.

[@richardmcmahon7466]

@@shicoff1398 Many thanks for your reply to my comments re-Lanza. It was most informative and appreciated.Alas my typing is of the one finger variety ,and,as result my thoughts usually are far ahead of my fingers.However, as soon as I can formulate my thoughts I shall try and reply in a more suitable manner. REgards McM

[@mickey1849]

@@michaelmcgrailenglandLanza is the 800 lb gorilla in the room when it comes to talking about great opera singers. No, he wasn't an opera singer per se. People will argue this. But he was a great singer of opera, and he had a fantastic voice. It is proper to include him in a summary of great voices from last century.