These voices are special because they sound so natural. They sound unique whereas many great modern singers do not sound as natural. These guys had no second takes...it had to be right from beginning to end. Nobody was there to doctor the results. Singing on such a sliver of tone but with such effect. Just marvelous.
For pure artistry this recording is probably the best in a long line of outstanding recordings by the world's great singers of the 20th century. The voices blend together seamlessly and are produced without effort.
Astonishing mastery! Gigli is always pure perfection and joy to listen to. De Luca is a perfect partner in style and technique. My personal favourites in this duet are Corelli and Bastianini. Corelli just tears my heart apart here (as anywhere else...) and no baritone has more class than Bastianini.
Surely, one of the best vocal recordings ever made. Even had this been their only recording, Gigli and De Luca would, on its evidence, still be counted among the very greatest of singers. What marvellous singers they were and how very fortunate are we to have and enjoy such treasures as this.
It's amazing how Gigli manages to sing this role which actually calls for a dramatic tenor voice. I usually hear this duet with Mario del Monaco and Ettore Bastanini. Thanks for the post.
Aetion....this is true....although Gigli was considered a strong lyric tenor technically....there are existing recordings from the early 20s of him singing " Esutalte" from Verdi's Otello , no less!....as well as tackling Radames in a 1946 recording( at age 55) of Aida, with the stellar Maria Caniglia in the title role.
@stefakamelpash The problem is that its easier to sing in full voice than it is to sing like Gigli. It requires much more training and dedication which few singers today are willing to do.Enjoy
This is a very good recording.However the one that casts the longest shadow for me is the 1970 performances of Carlo Bergonzi and Piero Cappuccili.Bergonzi is masteful and Cappuccili has never sounded better.Infact the whole of this third act on this disc contains in my opinion the finest Verdi singing ever to have been recorded.
