Gino Bechi may not have had the longest career, but he was a baritone that "roared." His huge sound thrilled audiences, and made Bechi a national hero in his native Italy. He was so popular that he was featured in some movies.

Here he sings the following selections:

1.  Rigoletto- Cortigiani, vil razza danata- 1941

2.  Rigoletto- Si! Vendetta- w. Gina Bernelli- 1943

3.  Il Trovatore- Il balen del suo sorriso- 1941

4.  La Forza del Destino- Invano Alvaro- w. Lauri-Volpi- 1943

5.  Pagliacci- Prologo- 1946

6.  La Wally- T'amo ben io- 1941

This great performance of the last act of Puccini's Manon Lescaut was given in Caracas in June of 1972. It was the only performance that Olivero and Tucker ever sang together! They were both 60-plus, but you would never know it from listing to this sizzling performance.

Enjoy this wonderful act, and please leave your comments!

Also, please visit our website at www.premiereopera.com

Here, you can access all of our podcasts and view our catalog of thousands of opera performances on DVD and CD.

Thanks!

Ed

The great baritone surprises Molly Goldberg on her 1951 TV show.

Richard Tucker and Martina Arroyo gave two operatic concerts in three nights in the San Francisco area in June of 1970. A young James Levine conducted both concerts. The programs were long and challenging, and you will hear Tucker & Arroyo rise to every challange. We are presenting extended excerpts from the concerts, since the two concerts were more too long to fit on a single podcast. Of interest is the Boheme excerpts from Act 1, with both arias and the love duet, since, as far as I know, Arroyo never sang Mimi. She sounds wonderful in this music. Tucker is his usual self, which means the finest tenor singing to be heard for a period of over 30 years! Here is the program. Please enjoy and leave your comments. (The sound is clear but just a bit distant)

1.  Boheme- Che gelida manina- Tucker- 6/17/70

2.  Boheme- Mi chiamano Mimi- Arroyo- 6/17/70

3.  Boheme- O soave fanciulla- Arroyo & Tucker- 6/17/70

4.  Cavalleria- Addio alla madre- Tucker- 6/17/70

5.  Chenier- Vicino a te- Arroyo & Tucker- 6/17/70

6.  Tosca- Vissi d'arte- Arroyo- 6/19/70

7.  Manon Lescaut- Guardate! Pazzo son- Tucker- 6/19/70

8.  Ballo-Ecco l'orrido campo - Arroyo- 6/19/70                                  9.  Ballo- Love duet- Arroyo & Tucker- 6/19/70

10. Ballo- Ma se ma forza perderti- Tucker- 6/19/70

Please leave your comments on this podcast, and visit our website at www.premiereopera.com

Thanks

Ed

Watch Renata Tebaldi & Richard Tucker in a magnificent version of the great final duet from Andrea Chenier, telecast in 1957.

Renata Tebaldi & Jussi Bjoerling in a 1956 televised performance of "O soave fanciulla" from La Boheme.

GIGLI LIVE is the title of our latest podcast, and it contains the most remarkable singing, and some of the earliest and rarest live performanes known to exist. To me, the Gigli voice was the soul and the sunshine of Italy. The most gorgeous tenor sound I have ever heard on records. The man could do anything with his voice, as you will hear here. He earliest selections were done when he was 44 years old, and the latest when he was 60! And all are magnificent. I could go on and on about Gigli, but better you listen to him. Here is the program.

1.  ROMEO- Complete balcony scene w. Favero- Scala 1934

2.  FORZA- Solenne in quest ora- w. Caleffi- Scala 1942

3.  MANON- Il sogno- w. Favero- Scala 1937

4.  TOSCA- Rome 1938 E lucevan le stelle- (first line missing)

5.  CHENIER- Act 1 scene w. Improviso-listed as Scala 1937

6.  FORZA- Act 4 duet with unknown baritone- Buenos Aires 1948

7.  TROVATORE- Unknown venue- 1950 (spectacular!)

8.  ADRIANA- La dolcissimo- w. Olivero- Scala 1940

Please check out our website at www.premiereopera.com

Thanks very much,

Ed

This podcast features great tenors in varied selections. Here is the program:

1.  Bergonzi- M. Lescaut- Pazzo son!- 1961- (Bergonzi is wild here)

2.  Bjorling- Tosca- Recondita armonia- 1959- 10 months before he passed away!

3.  Carreras- Elisir- Una furtiva- 1975- Gorgeous young Jose!

4.  Corelli-Forza-O tu che in seno- 1965- absolutely thrilling!

5.   Del Monaco- Tabarro- Hai ben raggione-1974 Wonderful!

6.   Di Stefano- Faust-Salut demeure-1950- The one & only!!

7.  Domingo- Romeo-Ah! Leve toi- 1974- rare & beautiful!

8.  Gedda-Vespri-Giorno di pianto 1974-For high note freaks!!

9.  Pavarotti-Mefistofele-Giunto sul passo estremo- Magnificent!!

10 Tucker-La Juive-Rachel, quan du Seigneur-Dec. 1974- This incredible performance was sung less than two weeks before Tucker's death on Jan. 8, 1975. It is in a class by itelf, in my opinion, and garnered a 20 minute ovation!!

Please check out our website at www.premiereopera.com 

Thanks, and please leave your comments.

Ed

I am proud to present this magnificent joint concert from 1968, with Montserrat Caballe and Franco Corelli. I was there, and it was truly an evening to remember and cherish. I will list the program below.

1.  Com'e bello!- Lucrezia Borgia- Caballe

2.   Ah la paterno mano- Macbeth- Corelli

3.   Tanti affetti- La Donna del Lago- Caballe

4.   O souverain- Le Cid- Corelli

5.   O Paradiso- L'Africana- Corelli

6.   A Vucchella- Tosti song- Corelli

7.   Ah! degli scanni eterel- Aroldo- Caballe

8.   In quelle trine morbide- Manon Lescaut- Caballe

9.   Vicino a te- Final duet- Andrea Chenier- Caballe & Corelli

Please enjoy this magnificent singing, and kindly check out our website at www.premiereopera.com    This CD is listed as CD #635-1

Ed