Beniamino Gigli

[Drasko]

Beniamino Gigli was absolute favorite tenor of my grandfather, and on the other hand I don't have a single Gigli disc. Can't ask grandfather for recommendations since he died when I was one year old and his record collection ended who knows where.

I see there is 15 disc Naxos Gigli Edition but I'd like to avoid that for start (unless there is some volume that shouldn't be missed). Generally I'd like to start with maybe few recital or aria collection discs and few of his best opera performances (again there is a few on Naxos - Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Aida, Un Ballo in Maschera, Andrea Chenier, Cavalleria, Pagliacci). For aria collections and recitals there is a lot offered on various labels: EMI, Nimbus, Pearl ...

So what are the favorite Gigli performances of opera fans here? And of course since there isn't any other Gigli thread feel completely free to post here whatever you like, not just opinions on recordings.

[zamyrabyrd]

Oh gosh, your grandfather had excellent taste.

Back then, were few tenors who didn't bleat out high notes and practically none today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn5XnM5Fg9E

[Xenophanes]

We used to have some old Gigli recordings at home.  One afternoon, we were playing one with a couple of arias from Traviata.  As we played "Un di felice," my older brother remarked that it was as if instead of talking, Gigli sang. He certainly had one of the great voices of the 20th century. There is a Nimbus CD with Caruso, Gigli, and Bjoerling.

He has been criticized as a crowd pleaser--well, he had the voice to do it!--and I think the quality of his interpretations is variable, but I still always enjoy listening to him.  However, some of his renditions are absolutely classic, such as his recording of the big aria from Massenet's Werther in Italian, Ah non mi ridestar (it's Pourquoi me reveiller in French). I think his interpretation of it is the best I have heard.  Technically, he demonstrated his matchless legato, his ability to rise to a stunning climax, and his flawless pianissimos.

My mother told us she heard him give a recital and the audience loved it.  He not only sang his whole program but a lot of encores as well. The enthusiastic audience really didn't want him to go, and finally, he turned hand springs on the stage! My mother didn't consider that very dignified.

I have several LPs of Gigli.  I always enjoyed his recordings of the old Italian songs, the Arie Antiche.  I have his dramatic recording of Puccini's Tosca, with Maria Caniglia as Tosca and Armando Borgioli as an extremely effective and nasty Scarpia. I highly recommend it. It's listed on the Naxos site.

A few years ago, I noticed our public library had no Gigli CDs so I bought them Nimbus NI 7817, Beniamino Gigli Volume 2 (1925-1950), which has one of the Traviata arias on it.  It's a good selection. 

http://www.wyastone.co.uk/nrl/pvoce/7817a.html

On Amazon, I searched and found The Very Best of Beniamino Gigli. a 2 CD set which will give an idea of what Gigli could do. The Werther aria is on CD 2.

http://www.amazon.com/Very-Best-Beniamino-Gigli/dp/B0000A5BXR/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1253756556&sr=1-1

The recording of his 1955 Carnegie Hall recital is high fidelity, and you can get a better idea of what he actually sounded like.  And he still sang very well indeed.

[MishaK]

Great question! Sadly, all the Gigli stuff I ever had is on LPs and back in Europe at my parents' place (they are also big fans of BG).

[Drasko]

Great question!

Well, I thought so as well, but just checked the old forum and the only people ever mentioning Gigli were zamyra and Xenophanes, so don't think we can expect an avalanche of replies.
I've already ordered EMI Best of disc Xenophanes linked, does look as nice enough overview and it was just 5-6 euros from europadisc. I've also checked some opera forums and there seems to be two different ideas when his singing was at the finest, some think his very first recordings around 1918 are best since some of his expressive mannerisms were less pronounced (sobs, sighs et all) while others feel that there was noticeable qualitative leap in his singing around 1927-1928 and that this is the period when he became a great tenor from being excellent. So I'll probably pick volumes 1 & 5 from Naxos Gigli Edition, which cover those two periodes.
As for complete operas he recorded Aida, Un Ballo in Maschera, Boheme, Butterfly, Tosca, Cavalleria, Pagliacci and Andrea Chenier (all available on Naxos) and all seem to have its fans, so one should probably go along ones preferences for particular operas. There should be also broadcast recordings of Carmen and Traviata and abridged Forza del Destino.   

[Xenophanes]

Well, I thought so as well, but just checked the old forum and the only people ever mentioning Gigli were zamyra and Xenophanes, so don't think we can expect an avalanche of replies.
I've already ordered EMI Best of disc Xenophanes linked, does look as nice enough overview and it was just 5-6 euros from europadisc. I've also checked some opera forums and there seems to be two different ideas when his singing was at the finest, some think his very first recordings around 1918 are best since some of his expressive mannerisms were less pronounced (sobs, sighs et all) while others feel that there was noticeable qualitative leap in his singing around 1927-1928 and that this is the period when he became a great tenor from being excellent. So I'll probably pick volumes 1 & 5 from Naxos Gigli Edition, which cover those two periodes.
As for complete operas he recorded Aida, Un Ballo in Maschera, Boheme, Butterfly, Tosca, Cavalleria, Pagliacci and Andrea Chenier (all available on Naxos) and all seem to have its fans, so one should probably go along ones preferences for particular operas. There should be also broadcast recordings of Carmen and Traviata and abridged Forza del Destino.   

I have Boheme and Pagliacci, too, but it was Tosca that made an impression on me.

For Boheme, I prefer the Beecham recording with De los Angeles, Barbieri, Bjoerling, Merrill, Tozzi, and Reardon.  I have Pagliacci with Milanov and Bjoerling, too. Those are the recordings of those works I think of first.

We used to have Aida at home, but I never acquired it.  I remember it as suitably dramatic with Caniglia, Stignani, Gigli, Gino Bechi, and Tajo.

I also have the Serafin Verdi Requiem with Caniglia, Stignani, Gigli, and Pinza. I haven't listened to it for a long time, but Pinza's contribution is especially noteworthy.

I wish I could take time to listen to them again but I don't have time right now.