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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Grosse Tenöre der Musikgeschichte
Enrico Caruso & Richard Tauber, Enrico Caruso
Classical - Released by ZYX Music on 1 Sep 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Famous Italian Tenors
Classical - Released by ZYX Music on 24 Oct 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Airs D’Operas Italiens
Opera - Released by Putlabel on 10 Mar 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
Opera - Released by J.d.L. RECORDS on 19 Sep 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chansons napolitaines (Mono version)
Enrico Caruso, Marcel Cariven et son orchestre
French Music - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Elegie Massenet
Jazz - Released by Black Sheep Music on 10 Apr 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Timeless (Great neapolitan songs)
Pop - Released by Fondazione Erio Tripodi on 28 Jun 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Caruso in Opera, Vol. 2
Enrico Caruso, Nellie Melba, Francis Alda
Opera - Released by Prima Voce on 1 Jan 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
His First Recordings (Digitally Remastered)
Classical - Released by Essential Media Group on 4 Jan 1971
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
NKB SP Selection No. 15, Great Singer 2 Caruso
Classical - Released by NKB Record on 25 Aug 2023
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Les duos célèbres (Mono Version)
Enrico Caruso, Rosa Ponselle, Antonio Scotti, Titta Ruffo
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1953
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Opera Arias and Melodies. Milano 1902-1904
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 1 Jan 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Antica canzone napoletana, Vol. 1
Pop - Released by Nuova Canaria on 1 Jan 2012
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
Classical - Released by NKB Record on 25 Aug 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
Opera - Released by J.d.L. RECORDS on 11 Aug 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
L'incredibile Enrico Caruso
Pop - Released by Universal Digital Enterprises on 3 Mar 1902
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Caruso in Song, Vol. 1
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Prima Voce on 1 Jan 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Made in Italy: Enrico Caruso Sings Neapolitan Songs
Classical - Released by Central Park Records [dist. Tratore] on 14 Oct 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Antología: La Colección Completa (Remastered)
Classical - Released by Master Tape Records on 2 Jul 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Enrico Caruso
Pop - Released by Foggy Milan Records on 8 Apr 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo