Sherrill Milnes - Si Puo

Early Sherrill Milnes! This video is of him singing Si Puo from a production of Pagliacci with Domingo and Stratas in the very good year of 1978.

[@dafydd82]

Nobody sings Si puo like Sherril Milnes in his prime. Truly incredible.

[@wanzenettl]

When I was a young voice student I had the pleasure of seeing Milnes in Mozart's "Don Giovanni", and was able to meet him backstage after the performance. He autographed a picture of himself, and asked me if I was a singer. I told him, that I was and that I had just sung the role of Zerlina. He smiled warmly and replied, "Ah! Yes...you're the PERFECT Zerlina." Can't tell you how that made my day! :)

[@sirpaconi7474]

He looked outstanding in d.giovanni's clothes, mythical

[@landscapetransformationwit6018]

What a great story about an encouraging artist.

[@landscapetransformationwit6018]

Just really to good to even be human. Those face melting high notes and big rolling middle notes are unbelievable, and the diction and phrasing impecable. There isn’t singing better than this.

[@rosemaryallen2128]

Better? For starters, Bastianini is more powerfully beautiful. Gobbi is more movingly convincing. And neither shows strain.

[@landscapetransformationwit6018]

@@rosemaryallen2128 I know it’s sacrilege, but I’ve never been a Gobbi fan, and his histrionic acting may have passed in his time, looks more a historical curiosity than convincing. Bastianini is one of the greatest singers who ever lived. But still, nothing he ever recorded beats this here, Milnes at his absolute prime doing the role he did better than just about anybody (except maybe Ruffo, or Big Mac.) At this level of artistry, it’s meaningless to talk about “better.” There are only differences of experience and expression. This is peak.

[@rosemaryallen2128]

@@landscapetransformationwit6018 Well, you were the one to use the word 'better'! It's a shame Milnes ruined his voice, though.

[@landscapetransformationwit6018]

@@rosemaryallen2128 Right, I said “no one sings better.” Milnes, like London, had an injury caused by a medical issue. In Milnes’ case, it was scarring from a burst blood vessel. Miles had amazing technique and was well-known as an extremely consistent singer who sang one of the busiest schedules in Opera for decades at the highest houses in the world, and almost never canceled. All while interpolating in high notes well above the scores and singing louder than anybody else on stage ini many cases. A few of my teachers were regular costars with Milnes, and marveled that he would go to parties after performances of big heavy roles, and continue to sing into the night until the neighbors called the cops! Then get up and sing big Verdi roles the next day. My teacher said “he had an iron larynx!” Right up until his medical issue. Misuse results quickly in nodes and injuries that cause frequent cancelations and time off, which never happened with Milnes. Even after his injury, he continued to sing very well at the great houses! Which was only possible because with a magnificent technique.

[@pureffm]

@@rosemaryallen2128 The top notes are scrappy for Gobbi and Bastianini, they can't sustain them with as much Squillo as what Milnes can muster here. Bastianini is not as expressive, has less dynamics, his voice more round. Gobbi has great characterization but his voice is not a Bel Canto kind of voice, which I personally prefer. He does sing with a verismo sound, which is stylistically more accurate but not as pleasing to when you are after total vocal mastery.

[@aedb15t]

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, THAT is how it's done.

[@fatherman73]

Holy Moley! His high notes are unreal in this recording. You will rarely hear as even a tone as his from top to bottom. Bravo Milnes! And so powerful!

[@cimbassovr]

Fantastica interpretazione!!!! Oggi è il compleanno di Sherril Milnes!!!

[@glenkdunbar6706]

I recall this. I was there. Great to see Jimmy on the podium. What memories

[@orobyn]

The greatest Milnes ever did -- and I was there for three performances. With Domingo in both tenor roles -- we will never see this like again.

[@dirtbag719]

I had seen this many times. I think I even commented on it. But it's still easily the most thrilling rendition I've ever heard. Gives me chills. No more Milnes, Luciano, Domingo, Freni, Ghiaurov, Caballe. No wonder I hardly ever go anymore. I wonder if Thomas Hampson ever saw this?

[@andreabaldacci699]

Che voce! Che timbro e che forza! Una sola parola, Spettacolare!

[@eugeniogentili1048]

Voce chiara brillante potente , bellissima presenza, davvero un grande Milnes kzbin.info/www/bejne/noHEYnusqLihfac

[@dozzi64]

@@eugeniogentili1048 Concordo Eugenio, nella mia pochezza ho ascoltato diversi interpreti su questa aria che amo particolarmente (Bastianini a mio avviso la più bella in assoluto ma purtroppo non ci sono immagini) e devo dire che questa viene subito dopo, bellissima voce ma come hai sottolineato tu una interpretazione e presenza fantastica, anche il modo in cui esce di scena è bellissimo, il pubblico va in delirio, penso che in questo periodo Milnes fosse particolarmente in forma, non l'ho più sentito a questo livello, che ribadisco, Altissimo.

[@BaroneVitellioScarpia1]

@@dozzi64 Infatti Milnes è un grande ammiratore di Bastianini.

[@Monnarchmonnarchy]

Barone, his acting is so magic. I would try to listen him more, he is an interesting persone

[@jlandi701]

He is still actively teaching and mentoring and running programs for young singers. Vigorous and charming and passing it on to the next generation. Extraordinary human being.

[@joepass87]

His declamatory style (ability to make the text flow like speech), his usage of a wide variety of vocal colors, his stage presence, and the force/passion with which his sings are all superb!

[@ajwolf]

This is hyper-awesome! Hearing him live at that time would have probably caused death by wonder overload and over exposure to greatness. I absolutely adore this performance! Great music, great singer and overall performer.

[@opera888able]

His diction and phrasing alone is amazing, before you heap praise on his legendary vocal ability.

[@theresearcher253]

My piano tutor at college was a noted accompanist. He recalled standing behind Milnes when he was singing an aria and that his shoulders and upper back looked like he was doing a workout in a gym:)

[@Mister_NO.]

It's so fascinating that a human is able to produce such sound...

[@SuzIrvin]

Stunning man. Such mastery of control. Best scarpia ever. Nothing short of enthralling. I dont think i breath watching him. Even as a senior hes still hot !!!back stage he takes up a whole door. Truly manly

[@crytekengine]

I think this performance became the benchmark of this aria!!no 1 has even came close to this...milnes is indeed one of the best baritones ever to walk the earth..

[@rossmcl177]

I never tire of this. Its one of the best videos on youtube.

[@scottreiburn]

A special, important, rare, and historic moment caught on video, thank goodness, for generations to come who will see how it is done. Thanks so much for posting, and thank you to Milnes for a magical and musical interpretation.

[@Nater389]

The "Wow!" At 4:44 says it all.

[@salvatoreleonardomattera1032]

That's a "Bravo!"

[@tenorschofield]

Bravo maestro!!!!!, had the chance to assist to one of his Master Classes in Mannes School of Music at NY; he is not only a wonderful baritone and gentleman, but a great maestro!!!. I learned more with 3 hours with him, that months with other teachers. Bravooo!!!!!!!!

[@canpete1]

Phenomenal..truly one of the greats. I heard him do this 2 or 3 years earlier at the City Opera at Lincoln Center. He was so resonant you could feel the seats shake. I was in awe.

[@dirtbag719]

Was he ever great, or what? The high A's gave me spinal chills. Great interpretation, too. Milnes was one of the all-time greats. Bravo, Sherrill!!

[@sananton2821]

The high A's? The hell are you talking about?

[@oskarshem]

REMARKABLE SHERRILL- INCREDIBLE, what a talent!!!! PLEASE FOLKS don't start comparing singers...JUST ENJOY THIS FREAKING GEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@coffeesloth5385]

+oskarshem He's a much better singer than..... oh....ME.... lol

[@Cavaradossi10]

A paragon of style and beauty. Many commercial recordings of this great artist failed, as in the case of Corelli, to capture the astonishing number of upper partials in his timbre, which could sometimes render them 'flat' (of all things!). Here we can appreciate the great virile spinning top. A unique voice and a unique artist.

[@Fitz65]

Very nice....he was really good throughout the 1970's. Great top notes.

[@woncho99]

He used to teach at NW full time and at Yale as guest artist presenting Master Classes for few weeks. Now he is retired in Florida working with Opera Tampa. A great person to work with and one of the most important opera singers of the post War era.

[@jurdo33]

i have seen this record 100 times,and always it´s breath taking...BRAVO!!!

[@MLewis6270]

Wonderful performance of a standard baritone aria. Milnes had great stage presence, handsome appearance, decent actor, and in his prime, an extremely good voice. Particularly at the top. Not many baritones could match the high notes he produced. Perhaps not the greatest American baritone, but during the 1970's was one of the dominant Verdi baritones of his generation.

[@sgnmath1234]

Even when there were vocal problems in the 80s and later in the 90s when some of those vocal issues were corrected, he still maintained his extreme top.

[@06scrappy]

I'm pretty sure this is the performance of Si Puo ever made by anyone. It's spectacular to listen to.

[@rutherfordfan1964]

Thank you so much for posting. I saw him perform this at the Met and while we hear just how fantastic he was, the video does not show how effectively he came out and filled the vast auditorium with his presence.

[@ttlsti]

Not so early Milnes. He debuted at the Met in 1965 and was 43 here 13 years later in 1978. Many people are prejudices against Milnes because of his physical problems later with his vocal cords. But Merrill was amazed at Milnes voice and declared him his successor. Milnes, Warren, Merrill, Cappuccilli--all wonderful. Milnes is my favorite for his smooth voice and ringing high notes--the Pavarotti of baritones!

[@jefolson6989]

He was in the American baritone tradition! Not as big a voice as MacNiel or as beautiful as Merrill, but great onstage!

[@Bulacio_Elias]

But Milnes is of the same year of Pavarotti

[@li491]

Техника совершенно другая чем у Паваротти. Силовая манера. В голову звук не проходит.

[@jimbuxton2187]

@@jefolson6989 i heard him live in the late 80's and his voice was huge! That's probably why he had vocal problems later on... using too much voice all the time. He sang Wagner on the program.

[@jefolson6989]

@jimbuxton2187 it was big but for sheer volume he didnt approach McNeil. I didnt hear Warren, but my friends who did said it was like a pipe organ. Love Milnes. He was almost overexposed in the late 70s early 80s. He was everywhere. I think he was the last baritone in that line of American baritones. There have been good ones, but lighter more lyric than our Traditional Verdi baritones.

[@donatello1]

I first heard Milnes back in 1983 in a production of Ernani along side Gilda Cruz-Romo, I was an extra at age 15. I later joined the chorus of the now Florida Grand. I've been a fan ever since.

[@miguelangelosornio5800]

Agree with most comments here.... One of the best Prologues of all times... Nothing to say... If perhaps.....perfection is the right word.... I keep with great pleasure the autograph of one of the great barítons of all times.... Thank you Mr Milnes for that wonderful moments....

[@Mariano-ge6de]

Uno de los grandes Barítono de la historia

[@voicemad]

Omg, what a fabulous baritone, say no more !

[@soniasosafontes4809]

Muy bueno!!!!!

[@Agorante]

Milnes succeeded Merrill at the Met. He was quite different in many ways. First of all he was much taller. Merrill however was more lighthearted. He used to appear on Jack Paar often. And of course he sang the National Anthem at the ballpark. Merrill's voice got darker and heavier each year he sang - and he sang a long, long time. He was on the Saturday Met broadcast every week but toward the end he was just heaving that rich dark voice up to the high notes. Then Milnes showed up. It was a true high baritone voice that got better the higher it went. And Mines was a very good musician which Merrill had never been. So when Milnes became the first baritone at the Met it was exciting and refreshing. This is an excellent showcase for his talents. He looks good and moves well. He sings the aria very sensitively and knocks the ball out of the park on the High A Flat.

[@nmbokn8593]

Could not agree more with your comment....I heard him in NY many times and to hear that top bloom in the house was an experience I'll never forget.

[@Leporello001]

Beautiful... I like these educational comments that RARELY comes! Thank you, Sir

[@dougr3142]

Actually, I feel that Milnes was more of Leonard Warren's successor at the Met, than he was Merrill's. Both Merrill and Cornell Macneil were never in Warren's league and it wasn't until Milnes arrived at the Met, 5 years after Warren's death that they had a baritone worthy to be called Warren's true successor.

[@dougr3142]

@Barone Vitellio Scarpia Yes, I know, I attended Milnes Masterclass several years ago. :)

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

@Barone Vitellio Scarpia Milnes also studied with Ponselle.

[@FranciscoFerrerGaliana1930]

Magnifica Aria

[@fernandoambrosio3723]

Meravigloso

[@elainebmack]

Pretty good for a farm kid from Downers Grove, Illinois!

[@glennthebest]

Sherrill Milnes uno dei miei preferiti....un grande!

[@pappawuzz]

Ich habs bis jetzt noch nicht besser gehört. Absolute Weltklasse.

[@sparafucille]

gran voz, musicalidad a toda prueba y un gran actor, que mas se podria pedir ? para mi uno de los mejores baritonos de cualquier epoca.

[@imthejmannn]

Was he freakin' great, or what? What an Ab!

[@faamanufuimaono7404]

G????

[@jakethewoz]

wow, what an incredible Ab! I did not expect to hear that sound

[@christelfriemuth5584]

Wunderbar! Ich setze ihn gleich mit Tito Gobbi. Und das ist schon ein fantastisches Kompliment. Aber es stimmt Thank you so much for posting!

[@danafripp4120]

Can you imagine being in the theater to experience Maestro Milnes at the height of his powers??? I'm welling up...😭 That was everything Opera is meant to be in one great performance.

[@brolobear]

And THAT, folks, is how you do it. Sherrill is a dear friend...would that all knew him as I do!

[@jacquelinemollet8071]

Qu'elle voix ! c'est magnifique !

[@brick_layer541]

this is the best, every time

[@operamann2]

Beautiful!

[@haydenwayne3710]

Bravo! Bravo!!!

[@maxwellworldwidehistorical3801]

Milnes is MAGNIFICENT!!!

[@Monnarchmonnarchy]

His play is on other lvl

[@mirakor1]

Marvelous! Thanks for uploading.

[@user-tk2sv3mh8s]

Monstruo!!

[@elainebmack]

Simply terrific!

[@malabuyohvac]

Heavenly A-flat. Had a vinyl of his "Milnes' Best", but when we moved, damaged it. Still kicking myself for that. Can't find it anywhere anymore.

[@borneo230]

wooow what a voice!!!!

[@b.cantabile1540]

Indeed, "the camera doesn't lie"(c). Great live performance of big artist.

[@tenorojuke]

Bravissimo

[@Geminazzo]

fantastico!

[@hightenor123]

Where are the Milnes bashers seen everywhere else? I think that this is some of the great baritone singing to be heard.... they must agree.

[@maestromuffin1]

gosh...I've loved Milnes for such a long time. i played his two disc album to death in the 80's and 90's....with the Attilla Bflat. also love Merrill and Warren. But for my money(Milnes high notes aside) give me Georgio Zancanero. To me, his tone and consistency are unreal.

[@nybuffymeister8328]

Heard Milnes many times. Had a unique metallic tone and incredible high notes. But the first time I heard Zancanaro, I realized what I was missing. He far more fully satisfied what I had been looking for in a baritone.

[@calzada3063]

From KZbin : ajwolf (1 month ago) +3 This is hyper-awesome! Hearing him live at that time would have probably caused death by wonder overload and over exposure to greatness. I absolutely adore this performance! Great music, great singer and overall performer. Reply: In 1978, I was privileged to hear Mr. Milnes at the Met and thanks God I survived blessed to keep the memory of the magnificent greatness of his voice and his superb interpretation under Maestro Levine. Pedro

[@totozizo]

The best i have ever heard from this aria

[@oclhie]

toda la razon. escuche il balen del suo sorriso del trovador con Milnes. es maravilloso...

[@orfeopecci]

Fabuloso Milnes!

[@NSkull2991]

Perfection: The only way I can describe this...

[@bar_namchanmin]

Bravo

[@genicavichiolisilvestre4472]

Singing and acting. Bravissimo Milnes.

[@maxwellworldwidehistorical3801]

Mastro Milnes was and is a Great Talent and Interpreter!!!!!

[@tenorisimo1975]

Vocalidad expectacular. Bravo Milnes.

[@wippocarter]

Concuerdo! Pons es espectacular. Ese video si estaba, incluso lo tenía en mis favoritos pero lo quitaron. Saludos.

[@johndaugherty7779]

Esto no tiene nada que ver con Pons. Pendejo impertinente.

[@Sshooter444]

Wow! Bravo!

[@allenchristopher3117]

WOW!

[@TrueConnoisseur]

Unbelievably good.

[@martonschiffer7941]

Truly incomperable

[@jefolson6989]

Not early, but in his prime! In fact, late. By '80 he was starting the decline ,but from 74-79 he was THE baritone superstar.

[@martincapurro9315]

Grande Maestro!!

[@gabriellocher]

esse cara é foda! um dia eu vo cantar como ele!

[@pepeelsordo]

Only frustrated singers can be so passionally about opera. As a frustrated opera singer, I wuold have NOT minded to deliver a prologue like this one.

[@ericschlesinger9186]

Extraordinary

[@zacharybrown9741]

GOAT

[@mkl62]

1-10-2012. Happy 77th birthday, Sherrill.

[@stefankosz9428]

Best Prolog ever!

[@larvael32]

A PERFORMANCE MORE THAN EXCELLENT

[@Nater389]

People over analyze this shit. Totally doesn't matter what any psuedo-music scientist/wannabe expert says. This is one of the best performances of Si Puo ever. Regardless of his technique.

[@detroitsinger02]

OMG!!! I love him!

[@zin5299]

bravo

[@brick_layer541]

omgomgogmogmogmoggmomoggmg, never gets old, even after 834714 times watching it

[@michaelwgillespie]

I heard him around 1965 in San Antonio before he was famous.

[@hwh1946]

that is how it is done!!!!! Leocavallo never heard this good.

[@maestromuffin1]

you're right!

[@renanmessina-voz6065]

Best version of the best's baritones in the world.

[@Sebastian740]

wonderful Early Milnes

[@beefnotfish]

by the way - I'm maestromuffin...it just comes up as beefnotfish!Beef doesn't do opera. I've always loved sherril Milnes...his top notes just make me so happy...and He's such the virile actor onstage. Here is my favorite baritone aria....and what a way to start an opera!!! Is it just me...or is that the greatest A flat ever sung by a baritone at the Met??? I wish i were old enough to have seen Merrill and Warren - sure saw Milnes in his prime...and I say Amen!

[@klokheten]

Beautiful performance. Safe,easy and with great focus. The moment he is taking off the wig is great and moving,maybe it was unnecessary to put it back again,but what the hell:Incominciate! This is the profound baritone sound that seems to vanish more and more. A pity!

[@yosephpark6926]

The best.

[@manolis.799]

Wow

[@jasminkavujovic6065]

The King of baritones!!!!!

[@moderatoworld3423]

4:43 "Wow!"