On TV: Leonard Warren - Eri tu (Un ballo in maschera) - 1950

Leonard Warren performs "Eri tu che macchiavi" in a telecast from 1950.
We have very little footage of Warren, and this is the only bit extant of him performing Verdi, for which he was best known and at which he excelled. To be able to watch him in action is priceless.
.....................................
Yes, the singing is... extra.
Trrill™ is about florid passages, improvisatory underpinnings, staccato'd intuitions, and virtuosities even at their most ridiculous.
But it's also about the biggest, boldest form of vocal emission, with aural examples of basically correct singing, correct impostazione-chiaroscuro, vowel clarity, firm and centered pitch, correct vibrato action, absence of throatiness or thickness, sounds free from constriction and from the acoustic noise that accompanies it-with occasional video examples that demonstrate what the body, face, mouth, jaw, and tongue look like when used with correct impostazione-the vocal emission of the one and only Italian school.
Caveat: I'm biased in favor of #baritones and baritone literature, but if you want to learn about and listen to all the greatest singers in the old-school tradition, explore this spreadsheet (voice parts are separated by tabs):
bit.ly/2W4qmE3

[@Marcooljerk]

That guy got quite alot from that piano, huh?

[@kyleaustin7045]

The pianist deserved a round of applause. He was able to make that orchestral sound using just a piano 😂😂😂

[@tedrobinson372]

I always felt Warren sounded as if he was singing with cotton gauze in his mouth.

[@rosemaryallen2128]

The pianist should have entered the international Tchaikovsky piano competition cheap, because he could play concertos without needing the orchestra.

[@trueself1752]

Sings so easily

[@francoisbessing]

Incredible singing whose origin is not of this Earth. This aria is a BEAST. Unforgiving. For any vocalist to sing it so smooth shows an entire life committed to the spirit of Opera.

[@thevoicedr77]

The GREATEST Baritone to have EVER lived!! What a gift to the Opera World.

[@mirakor1]

My beloved Leonard! The best baritone of all times. What a splendid, 'insuperable' voice!

[@classicalduck]

One of the greatest of the 20th century! Not quite the "only" but, however; he sang "Cortigiani, vil razza dannata" from "Rigoletto" on The Ed Sullivan Show, and that clip is also on KZbin.

[@brendanmccann2455]

One of the best baritones ever 🎭

[@salvatorelocci9271]

Grandissimo e sfortunatissimo come il mio preferito Ettore Bastianini. Tutti e due morti giovanissimi, 49 e 44 anni. Due vere voci baritonali 👏👏👏

[@TrueConnoisseur]

As close to perfection as is humanly possible.

[@andrealupini6769]

Una voce e una tecnica incredibile sicuro negli acuti e faceva dei pianissimi stupendi! Fa indiscutibilmente parte dei grandissimi....

[@MrGer2295]

Remembering Baritone Leonard Warren who died on this day in 1960

[@photo161]

What a uniquely great voice...powerful, cavernously deep and yet with an almost silkenly smooth surface...and so beautiful!

[@Triosfrios]

Every note he sings is a Master Class!

[@user-py1jg6bb2r]

Stunning, total control, what a ride by him! This is not easy aria, so masterfully done, beautiful, bravo.

[@bodiloto]

che stile,che bellezza interpretativa unica !

[@thomaskgeydan2528]

For me, this simply is the most complete, and most beautiful baritone voice I have ever heard! Thank you!

[@joannilson2900]

Aside from a gorgeous voice and great musicality ...his legato was superb - and in my mind unequaled ...