The Original Tenors
The period from 1906-1939 is known as the Golden Age of Opera. To sing the new opera works for the rising young composers such as Puccini and Mascagni singers had to adapt their vocal technique as well as learning about acting, a not inconsiderable task for the older generation; yet the new comers found they had to master the older 'bel canto' techniques before being able to tackle the new 'Verismo' repertoire. From within this younger generation appeared a tenor who not only found the perfect way to blend the virutes of both styles but in so doing, and with the help of a glorious voice, set the agenda for twentieth century operatic singing. That man was, of course, Enrico Caruso. He provides eight of the 24 recordings on this CD. The tracks are: 1. O Sole Mio - Di Capua (CARUSO) 2. Non Ti Scordar Di Me - De Curtis (GIGLI) 3. Di Quella Pira: Il Trovatore - Verdi (BJORLING) 4. La Donna E Mobile: Rigoletto - Verdi (CARUSO) 5. Ave Maria - Bach/Gounod (GIGLI) 6. Ideale - Tosti (BJORLING) 7. E Lucevan Le Stelle: La Tosca - Puccini (CARUSO) 8. La Paloma - Yradier (GIGLI) 9. Salut, Demeure Chaste Et Pure: Faust - Gounod (BJORLING) 10. Parce Que (Because) - D'Hardelot (CARUSO) 11. Je Crois Entendre Encore: Les Pecheurs De Perles - Bizet (GIGLI) 12. Tornera - Sjoberg (BJORLING) 13. Recondita Armonia: La Tosca - Puccini (CARUSO) 14. Mamma - Bixio (GIGLI) 15. Ich Hab' Kein Geld: Der Bettelstudent - Millocker (BJORLING) 16. Vesti La Giubba: Pagliacci - Leoncavello (CARUSO) 17. Che Gelida Manina: La Boheme - Puccini (GIGLI) 18. Au Mont Ida: La Belle Helene - Offenbach (BJORLING) 19. Santa Lucia - Cottrau (CARUSO) 20. La Spagnola - Di Chiari (GIGLI) 21. O Paradis!: L'Africaine - Meyerbeer (BJORLING) 22. La Fleur Que Tu M'Avais Jetee: Carmen - Bizet (CARUSO) 23. Mattinata - Leoncavallo (GIGLI) 24. Ch'Ella Mi Creda Libero: La Fanciulla Del West - Puccini (BJORLING) Total running time 75 minutes £8- incl p+p worldwide