Enrico Caruso
The most famous operatic tenor of all time, Enrico Caruso (né Errico Caruso) was born on February 25, 1873 (not on February 27, as given in many reference books). He was the third child of his relatively poor parents -- not the 18th, as is often repeated in popular myth. He began serious vocal studies with Guglielmo Vergine in 1891 and later studied with Vincenzo Lombardi. In 1895, he made his debut in L'amico Francesco by Domenico Morelli. That fall in Cairo, he sang Cavalleria rusticana, La Traviata, Lucia di Lammermoor, La Gioconda, and Manon Lescaut, all in less than four weeks.
His international fame began when he sang Loris in the premiere of Giordano's Fedora in 1898. In the following seasons, he sang at St. Petersburg, Moscow, Buenos Aires, Milan, Monte Carlo, and London. Arturo Toscanini conducted his Teatro alla Scala debut when he sang Rodolfo in La bohème. Nellie Melba was his partner at his London debut in Rigoletto.
After making his very successful debut at the Metropolitan Opera as the Duke in Rigoletto, Caruso made the United States his primary operatic home. He spent the major part of each year singing there and usually had the honor of singing opening nights. He also took part in the annual Metropolitan Opera tour of the U.S., and in 1906 was caught in the great San Francisco earthquake right after his performance in Carmen. It was at the Metropolitan Opera that he sang the premiere of Puccini's La fanciulla del West.
As he aged, Caruso began to take on heavier roles including Samson, Eleazar in La Juive, and Vasco in L'africaine. After the tour each season, Caruso would travel to South America and/or Europe to sing and vacation. He never sang in his native city of Naples after 1902 because of a particularly nasty reception to his performances of Massenet's Manon. In 1920, he underwent several operations for pleurisy, but his health continued to decline afterwards. He returned to his native Naples, where he died in 1921.
Caruso's voice had a warmth, and an almost baritonal quality, which was different from the bright, ringing sound favored by most of the colleagues. The voice was extremely beautiful and he had an excellent feeling for the shape of a phrase. His sound recorded very well which helped to make his recordings among the most popular of his time; many of these selections have been available in one format or another since they were first issued. He was for many years the best selling classical performer in America.
Known as a generous colleague as well a great practical joker on stage, Caruso was welcome everywhere. He was a firm believer in good food, good wine, and a good cigar. However, whenever a friend was in a difficult situation, he was the first to offer help. One evening in Philadelphia when a colleague playing Colline became hoarse during a performance of La bohème, Caruso sang the bass aria for him to save the performance. During World War I, he sang in many benefit concerts to raise money for the war effort. To this day Caruso is imprinted in the imagination as the archetypal operatic tenor.
© TiVo
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Tres Tenores, Vol. 1
Enrico Caruso, Beniamino Gigli, Tito Shipa
Oper - Erschienen bei Classic Themes am 01.01.2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Grosse Tenöre der Musikgeschichte
Enrico Caruso & Richard Tauber, Enrico Caruso
Klassik - Erschienen bei ZYX Music am 01.09.2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Famous Italian Tenors
Klassik - Erschienen bei ZYX Music am 24.10.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Airs D’Operas Italiens
Oper - Erschienen bei Putlabel am 10.03.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Les Arias D’opéra Les Plus Célèbres du Monde: Enrico Caruso Vol. 3, The World's Most Famous Opera Arias
Oper - Erschienen bei J.d.L. RECORDS am 19.09.2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chansons napolitaines (Mono version)
Enrico Caruso, Marcel Cariven et son orchestre
Französischer Chanson - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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The Original Tenors (Golden age of opera)
Jussi Björling, Enrico Caruso, Beniamino Gigli
Verschiedenes - Erschienen bei Music 4me am 01.11.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elegie Massenet
Jazz - Erschienen bei Black Sheep Music am 10.04.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Timeless (Great neapolitan songs)
Pop - Erschienen bei Fondazione Erio Tripodi am 28.06.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Caruso in Opera, Vol. 2
Enrico Caruso, Nellie Melba, Francis Alda
Oper - Erschienen bei Prima Voce am 01.01.1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
His First Recordings (Digitally Remastered)
Klassik - Erschienen bei Essential Media Group am 04.01.1971
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
NKB SP Selection No. 15, Great Singer 2 Caruso
Klassik - Erschienen bei NKB Record am 25.08.2023
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Les duos célèbres (Mono Version)
Enrico Caruso, Rosa Ponselle, Antonio Scotti, Titta Ruffo
Verschiedenes - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1953
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Great Opera Arias
Klassik - Erschienen bei RCA Victor am 04.04.2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Opera Arias and Melodies. Milano 1902-1904
Klassik - Erschienen bei Warner Classics am 01.01.1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Antica canzone napoletana, Vol. 1
Pop - Erschienen bei Nuova Canaria am 01.01.2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Artists Of The Century: Enrico Caruso
Klassik - Erschienen bei RCA Classics am 01.07.1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
NKB SP Selection No. 16, Great Singer 3 Caruso with others Ponselle, Chorus
Enrico Caruso, Feodor Chaliapin, Rosa Ponselle, John Arthur Meale, Westminster Central Hall Choir
Klassik - Erschienen bei NKB Record am 25.08.2023
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
As Árias De Ópera Mais Famosas Do Mundo: Enrico Caruso Vol. 4, The World's Most Famous Opera Arias
Oper - Erschienen bei J.d.L. RECORDS am 11.08.2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
L'incredibile Enrico Caruso
Pop - Erschienen bei Universal Digital Enterprises am 03.03.1902
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo