Ave Maria....By Caruso, Gigli, Lanza.....I'm leaning toward Lanza.

[justoffal]

One of the most celebrated Opera pieces of all time by Schubert. A real test of a professionals voice.
So difficult to get every nuance correct every note to blend with the next.

If somebody had told me I would have favored Lanza over Caruso and Gigli.... I would have told them they were crazy until I heard this rendition of Ave Maria.



Not an easy decision to make when you have such masterful renditions as these.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

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We've had this conversation before, JO.

I still think my late husband's rendition was best, but I unfortunately can't share it. Don't have a recording of it.

But he loved Lanza.

Tag Zebra

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[justoffal]

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We've had this conversation before, JO.

I still think my late husband's rendition was best, but I unfortunately can't share it. Don't have a recording of it.

But he loved Lanza.

Tag Zebra

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It's one of the most enchanting Opera pieces of all time. .... I listened almost microscopically to each recording a half a dozen times. All I can say is that all of them are spectacularly great..... My God I wish you had saved a recording of your hubbie's rendition.... I feel like I'm really missing something here!

I found each one to be true to his own style. Caruso definitely the most powerful voice of the age does a beautiful job but this piece needs more than power. You can hear Gigli's famous cry through the entire piece which is actually apropos for this piece but more is needed still. This piece requires a perfect Tempo of pitch and control....

I have to say Lanza delivers it magnificently. He is in complete charge of every note, every pause and every crescendo. Positively spectacular!

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

One of the most celebrated Opera pieces of all time by Schubert. A real test of a professionals voice.
So difficult to get every nuance correct every note to blend with the next.

If somebody had told me I would have favored Lanza over Caruso and Gigli.... I would have told them they were crazy until I heard this rendition of Ave Maria.



Not an easy decision to make when you have such masterful renditions as these.

Prettified Pictures

Serenade sure changed the story taken from the novel of James M. Cain ( who also wrote The Postman Always Rings Twice). It included many anti-Mexican comments that would not be allowed to be published today. The "society woman" the singer was ruined by was actually a rich Gayist. The Mexican girl was a prostitute, who murdered the Gayist and later got murdered by a Mexican bigshot.

 

[Harry Dresden]

It's one of the most enchanting Opera pieces of all time. .... I listened almost microscopically to each recording a half a dozen times. All I can say is that all of them are spectacularly great..... My God I wish you had saved a recording of your hubbie's rendition.... I feel like I'm really missing something here!

I found each one to be true to his own style. Caruso definitely the most powerful voice of the age does a beautiful job but this piece needs more than power. You can hear Gigli's famous cry through the entire piece which is actually apropos for this piece but more is needed still. This piece requires a perfect Tempo of pitch and control....

I have to say Lanza delivers it magnificently. He is in complete charge of every note, every pause and every crescendo. Positively spectacular!

its not an opera piece It was part of a cycle of seven songs based on Sir Walter Scott's poem The Lady of the Lake. .....

 

[justoffal]

its not an opera piece It was part of a cycle of seven songs based on Sir Walter Scott's poem The Lady of the Lake. .....

Ahh.thanks for that clarification..... However it began it seems to be a rite of passage now for classical opera singers.... Certainly all of the greats have given it a go.

Additionally it has become a very important part of religious history specifically of the Catholic construct.

Myself I find it positively mesmerizing when done by a voice that does it justice.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Ahh.thanks for that clarification..... However it began it seems to be a rite of passage now for classical opera singers.... Certainly all of the greats have given it a go.

Additionally it has become a very important part of religious history specifically of the Catholic construct.

Myself I find it positively mesmerizing when done by a voice that does it justice.

it is a great song....saw Pavarotti belt that out on a Christmas special one year....

 

[justoffal]

it is a great song....saw Pavarotti belt that out on a Christmas special one year....

There are times when I alternate between him and Gigli... As far as who does a better job with it. At that level of talent it's probably impossible to use the word better.... Just varying degrees of sublime.

I think it also has to do with the construct of the music and the fit with the style of the singer. Pavarotti has just so much raw power that sometimes I think he actually overpowers the notes. You can always tell Gigli....the Famous crying voice.... Somehow he magically infuses that cry into his singing. It's like a fingerprint.

In this instance though I'm going to hand it to Lanza for having achieved what I think is near perfection in the control aspect of the pitch and tempo which is vital to this piece. ( After all there is a certain reverence to be had here no? )

What can I say? All three of them are amazing...
( Though I'm desperately wishing now that OPJQ had saved the recording of her hubby's rendition)

The only thing I can think to compare it to are three different gourmet chocolate cakes on the table prepared by Master pastry chefs. Each one takes you on a journey of unimaginable Bliss in its own particular way making it almost impossible to call one better than the other!

 

[Harry Dresden]

There are times when I alternate between him and Gigli... As far as who does a better job with it. At that level of talent it's probably impossible to use the word better.... Just varying degrees of sublime.

I think it also has to do with the construct of the music and the fit with the style of the singer. Pavarotti has just so much raw power that sometimes I think he actually overpowers the notes. You can always tell Gigli....the Famous crying voice.... Somehow he magically infuses that cry into his singing. It's like a fingerprint.

In this instance though I'm going to hand it to Lanza for having achieved what I think is near perfection in the control aspect of the pitch and tempo which is vital to this piece. ( After all there is a certain reverence to be had here no? )

What can I say? All three of them are amazing...
( Though I'm desperately wishing now that OPJQ had saved the recording of her hubby's rendition)

The only thing I can think to compare it to are three different gourmet chocolate cakes on the table prepared by Master pastry chefs. Each one takes you on a journey of unimaginable Bliss in its own particular way making it almost impossible to call one better than the other!

chocolate cake is good too.....

 

[justoffal]

chocolate cake is good too.....

Yes! Yes it is!!

 

[Harry Dresden]

Yes! Yes it is!!

 

[justoffal]

View attachment 1166043

Ahhhh..... I'm gaining weight just looking at it!

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

There are times when I alternate between him and Gigli... As far as who does a better job with it. At that level of talent it's probably impossible to use the word better.... Just varying degrees of sublime.

I think it also has to do with the construct of the music and the fit with the style of the singer. Pavarotti has just so much raw power that sometimes I think he actually overpowers the notes. You can always tell Gigli....the Famous crying voice.... Somehow he magically infuses that cry into his singing. It's like a fingerprint.

In this instance though I'm going to hand it to Lanza for having achieved what I think is near perfection in the control aspect of the pitch and tempo which is vital to this piece. ( After all there is a certain reverence to be had here no? )

What can I say? All three of them are amazing...
( Though I'm desperately wishing now that OPJQ had saved the recording of her hubby's rendition)

The only thing I can think to compare it to are three different gourmet chocolate cakes on the table prepared by Master pastry chefs. Each one takes you on a journey of unimaginable Bliss in its own particular way making it almost impossible to call one better than the other!

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I love what you said about Pavarotti overpowering the notes. Very well said.

Didn't someone just a bit ago mention Pavarotti "belting", and I wanted to make the comparison of Domingo "caressing" the notes, even when he was giving his full power.

My hubby's voice was probably most like Lanza's, and occasionally he would "belt" a note like Pavarotti -- the one flaw I'd hear in his voice.

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[Ringo]

I think Robertino Loretti is the best

 

[justoffal]

I think Robertino Loretti is the best

I will give it a listen!

Damn this is better than a wine tasting contest!

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

I think Robertino Loretti is the best

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Made me weep, thinking of what my hubby must have sounded like as he sang this as a choir boy. (In Latin)

Looked him up and heard him singing many of the standard Italian songs that were my hubby's favorite. Made me sigh.

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[justoffal]

I will give it a listen!

Damn this is better than a wine tasting contest!

Just Beautiful! Just Beautiful!

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

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THAT'S MUSIC!

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[justoffal]

Just Beautiful! Just Beautiful!

And now:

 

[justoffal]

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THAT'S MUSIC!

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Yes.....yes