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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Classical Christmas Music: Cantique de Noël (O Holy Night) (Recordings of 1916 - 1926)
Enrico Caruso, Mischa Elman, Victor Orchestra, Josef Pasternack, John Mccormack
Weihnachtsmusik - Erschienen bei Christmas Album am 31.12.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Enrico Caruso: Legendary Recordings
Enrico Caruso, Alma Gluck, Unknown Artist, Studio chorus
Vokalmusik (weltlich und geistlich) - Erschienen bei Profil am 04.05.2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Voix illustres: Enrico Caruso, vol. 2 (Arr. for Voice and Piano, Mono Version)
Verschiedenes - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1963
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Love songs
Pop - Erschienen bei Fondazione Erio Tripodi am 19.06.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Enrico Caruso: 21 Greatest Opera Recordings (1902-1920) (Giuseppe Giacosa - Giacomo Puccini - Luigi Illica)
Klassik - Erschienen bei Symposium am 04.01.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
CARUSO, Enrico: Complete Recordings, Vol. 5 (1908-1910)
Klassik - Erschienen bei Naxos am 18.05.2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Caruso: The Early Recordings
Enrico Caruso, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Salvatore Cottone
Oper - Erschienen bei Prima Voce am 01.01.1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La Danza - Tarantella Napoletana (New York, Recordings 1906 - 1920 (100th death anniversary))
Pop - Erschienen bei In Memoriam am 31.08.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Italian Memories-Enrico Caruso-Vol. 3
Klassik - Erschienen bei RP-DSP am 01.03.2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
L'âge d'or du Metropolitan Opera (Mono Version)
John Mccormack, Enrico Caruso, Luisa Tetrazzini
Verschiedenes - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1953
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Enrico Caruso chante Puccini (Mono Version)
Klassik - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Great Singers at the Opera Houses of Europe
Enrico Caruso, Nellie Melba, Luisa Tetrazzini
Oper - Erschienen bei Nimbus Records am 01.01.1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tito Ruffo (Recorded 1907 - 1926)
Tita Ruffo, Beniamino Gigli, Enrico Caruso
Vokalmusik (weltlich und geistlich) - Erschienen bei Prima Voce am 01.01.1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Absolute Tenor
Pop - Erschienen bei Good Time Records am 03.03.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The True Voice Of Enrico Caruso, Vol. 1
Oper - Erschienen bei Timezone am 03.04.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Les Arias D’opéra Les Plus Célèbres du Monde: Enrico Caruso Vol. 9, The World's Most Famous Opera Arias
Oper - Erschienen bei J.d.L. RECORDS am 09.09.2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Canta Puccini, Leoncavallo Y Mascagni
Klassik - Erschienen bei YOYO USA, Inc. am 01.01.2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
CARUSO, Enrico: Complete Recordings, Vol. 6 (1911-1912)
Klassik - Erschienen bei Naxos am 18.09.2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Enrico Caruso
World Music - Erschienen bei Phonotype am 01.01.2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Santa Lucia
World Music - Erschienen bei Ling Music Group am 30.06.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo