Thanks for posting this Rene. I’ll be playing this tomorrow when I can turn up the volumne.
My grandfather would play opera every Saturday morning, I wish I had some of those old vinyl clasics of Caruso Pavarotti and all the greats.
Another aria I love is from Madame Butterfly called Un bel di. Whenever I hear it no matter where I am I start to cry. It is so beautiful and so powerful.
I have a buzz and goosebumps just reading your article. This has always been one of my favourite pieces as it evokes such amazing response within. A connection to a higher vibration. Thanks for sharing
Great post, Rene! I love an incredible tenor voice, and since Puccini's Nessun dorma is a favorite, I took the post as a challenge to compare various performers of the piece. I pulled up You tube and listened to every performer I could find, from Aretha Franklin and Eddie Mercury to Paul Potts of America's Got Talent. I listened to all ages from 9 years old and up. I listened to the great opera singers both living and dead. I was floored by the variety of voices and interpretations. Normally, I just turn to Pavarotti; then I heard three versions (one rehearsal, two performances) by Jonas Kaufmann. I had never heard him before. His voice is stunning, and his emotions float out on every note. I think he may surpass Pavarotti as my favorite tenor. I don't say that lightly. I hear in perfect pitch, so I pick up on every glitch, every crack, and every off note. It is not my intention to judge any singer, and none of us are perfect, so it is difficult for anyone to sing perfectly, but he comes as close to perfection as I have ever heard. Wow! Just Wow!
No wonder after spending time listening to such a combination of lyrics, voice and music one could consider, as you say, studying opera singing. This is not just bel canto, it is bel canto with, how can I say… the touch that we MISS. Actually I’m more a fan of Verdi than Puccini, but when it comes to “E lucevan le stelle” (Tosca) … don’t you feel that the last two notes at the very end of the aria are Puccini’s signature? 🤩
Nicely said, Rene. I would add that this piece of music is a test of your humanity. If you have no normal response to it, you must be an alien. Or an AI automaton. :)
Thanks for posting this Rene. I’ll be playing this tomorrow when I can turn up the volumne.
My grandfather would play opera every Saturday morning, I wish I had some of those old vinyl clasics of Caruso Pavarotti and all the greats.
Another aria I love is from Madame Butterfly called Un bel di. Whenever I hear it no matter where I am I start to cry. It is so beautiful and so powerful.
It’s wonderful how music can transport you.
Yes!! How about "Una furtiva lagrima", per Pavarotti? Gems! Ok, I'd love to read your comment tomorrow once you heard it! Thank you. 🌱
And ‘che lucevan l’estelle’ !
I have a buzz and goosebumps just reading your article. This has always been one of my favourite pieces as it evokes such amazing response within. A connection to a higher vibration. Thanks for sharing
Very eloquently said. Thank you for a lovely comment, Jacky. 🌱
Magnificent!
Indeed! I posted a note yesterday, but in here, I added more pertinent info and the lyrics with a different video. ✌️
Scroll 5:20 into the clip for another version of this beautiful piece. The entire clip is amazing as well. Such musicianship preserved. Thank you www.
https://youtu.be/jL17nxvBtBY?si=NCzZEyIeIJNjPfsz
Thank yooooou!!! That was really good, wow! ❤️💯
A stunning piece.
Just reading the words Nessun Dorma and I hear Pavarotti!
Crisp article. I learned something new
Rene, as soon as I played it my eyes filled with tears. I love that aria forgot the name. I also played
Madame Butterfly, Un Bel Di, I can't listen to it without crying. It grips my heart. Being Itallian isn't easy : ) Thanks for sending the link.
Here's the link to Madame Butterfly, Un Bel Di Herbert Von Karajan and Maria Callas
https://open.spotify.com/track/5E7gz5CbmUBNerBQg19ULz?si=8f14dee2bd324c4d
Enjoy
Great post, Rene! I love an incredible tenor voice, and since Puccini's Nessun dorma is a favorite, I took the post as a challenge to compare various performers of the piece. I pulled up You tube and listened to every performer I could find, from Aretha Franklin and Eddie Mercury to Paul Potts of America's Got Talent. I listened to all ages from 9 years old and up. I listened to the great opera singers both living and dead. I was floored by the variety of voices and interpretations. Normally, I just turn to Pavarotti; then I heard three versions (one rehearsal, two performances) by Jonas Kaufmann. I had never heard him before. His voice is stunning, and his emotions float out on every note. I think he may surpass Pavarotti as my favorite tenor. I don't say that lightly. I hear in perfect pitch, so I pick up on every glitch, every crack, and every off note. It is not my intention to judge any singer, and none of us are perfect, so it is difficult for anyone to sing perfectly, but he comes as close to perfection as I have ever heard. Wow! Just Wow!
No wonder after spending time listening to such a combination of lyrics, voice and music one could consider, as you say, studying opera singing. This is not just bel canto, it is bel canto with, how can I say… the touch that we MISS. Actually I’m more a fan of Verdi than Puccini, but when it comes to “E lucevan le stelle” (Tosca) … don’t you feel that the last two notes at the very end of the aria are Puccini’s signature? 🤩
Thanks for this 😊
Love that aria
At 1:52 am here I also cannot sleep
I'm sorry to hear that. Insomnia is tough, I hear. Maybe magnesium will help. (Byglicinate) Good luck, Vero. ✌️
Thank you dear one
Vinceró; vinceró; vinceró! Ah, the last line resonates in me. BELISSIMA! 👏 👏 👏
Nicely said, Rene. I would add that this piece of music is a test of your humanity. If you have no normal response to it, you must be an alien. Or an AI automaton. :)
This could be the start of another chat 🙂
Absolutely spot on. I don’t need the history or even a translation of the libretto to have my heart wrenched