Notes and Editorial Reviews
By many accounts, Enrico Caruso is the greatest tenor of all time. This collection of popular arias performed by the master himself goes a long way toward proving his right to the title.
Fortunate enough to have his career peak at the same time as recording became a feasible method of preserving his performance, Caruso made more than 250 recordings in his lifetime. The 42 selections in this collection illustrate the tenor's great versatility and personality. Presented in chronological order (with the exception of his very first recording, which appears near the end of the second disc), CARUSO--THE GREATEST TENOR IN THE WORLD tracks his legacy from the peak of his popularity to the end of his career.
Despite the early dates of these
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recordings, digital remastering has made them quite palatable by contemporary standards. Caruso's voice rings through with surprising clarity. His voice is one of the greatest instruments of the 20th century. This anthology of his career is a vital archive of music history and is an important addition to any music library, particularly for lovers of opera and vocal performance. Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetée "Flower song" by Georges Bizet
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Walter Rogers
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1873-1874; France
Date of Recording: 11/07/1909
Length: 3 Minutes 45 Secs.
Language: French
Notes: Composition written: France (1873 - 1874).
2.
Les pêcheurs de perles: Je crois entendre encore by Georges Bizet
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Josef Pasternack
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1863; France
Date of Recording: 12/07/1916
Length: 4 Minutes 34 Secs.
Language: French
Notes: This selection begins with "A cette voix quel trouble..."
3.
L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima by Gaetano Donizetti
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1832; Italy
Date of Recording: 11/26/1911
Length: 4 Minutes 22 Secs.
Language: Italian
4.
La Favorita: Spirto gentil by Gaetano Donizetti
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Written: 1843
Date of Recording: 02/11/2006
Length: 3 Minutes 51 Secs.
Language: Italian
5.
Lucia di Lammermoor: Chi mi frena in tal momento? (Sextet) by Gaetano Donizetti
Performer:
Pasquale Amato (Baritone),
Enrico Caruso (Tenor),
Angelo Bada (Tenor),
Josephine Jacoby (Mezzo Soprano),
Luisa Tetrazzini (Soprano),
Marcel Journet (Bass)
Conductor:
Walter Rogers
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1835; Italy
Date of Recording: 01/19/1912
Length: 4 Minutes 4 Secs.
Language: Italian
6.
Germania: Studenti! Udite! by Alberto Franchetti
Performer:
Salvatore Cottone (Piano),
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1902; Italy
Date of Recording: 04/11/2002
Length: 1 Minutes 58 Secs.
Language: Italian
7.
Fedora: Amor ti vieta by Umberto Giordano
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor),
Umberto Giordano (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1898; Italy
Date of Recording: 11/30/2002
Length: 1 Minutes 54 Secs.
Language: Italian
8.
Andrea Chénier: Un dì all' azzuro spazio "Improvviso" by Umberto Giordano
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1896; Italy
Date of Recording: 03/17/2007
Length: 3 Minutes 48 Secs.
Language: Italian
9.
Die Königin von Saba, Op. 27: Magische Töne by Karl Goldmark
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Walter Rogers
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: by 1875; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 11/07/1909
Length: 3 Minutes 9 Secs.
Language: Italian
10.
Faust: Salut! demeure chaste et pure by Charles Gounod
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1859; France
Date of Recording: 02/11/2006
Length: 4 Minutes 14 Secs.
Language: French
11.
La reine de Saba: Inspirez-moi, race divine by Charles Gounod
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Walter Rogers
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1862; France
Date of Recording: 02/05/1916
Length: 4 Minutes 29 Secs.
Language: French
Notes: This selection begins with "Faiblesse de la race humaine..."
12.
Serse, HWV 40: Ombra mai fu "Largo" by George Frideric Handel
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor),
Francis Lapitino (Harp)
Conductor:
Josef Pasternack
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: 1738; London, England
Date of Recording: 01/29/1920
Length: 4 Minutes 15 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "Frondi tenere e belle..."
13.
Le Cid: O Souverain, ô juge, ô père by Jules Massenet
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Walter Rogers
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1885; France
Date of Recording: 02/05/1916
Length: 4 Minutes 8 Secs.
Language: French
Notes: This selection begins with "Ah! tout est bien fini..."
14.
Manon: Ah! fuyez, douce image by Jules Massenet
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Walter Rogers
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1883-1884; France
Date of Recording: 12/27/1911
Length: 4 Minutes 32 Secs.
Language: French
Notes: This selection begins with "Je suis seul..."
15.
L'Africaine: O paradis sorti de l'onde by Giacomo Meyerbeer
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1865; Germany
Date of Recording: 02/20/2007
Length: 3 Minutes 39 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "Mi batte il cor..."
16.
Les Huguenots: Plus blanche que la blanche hermine by Giacomo Meyerbeer
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Walter Rogers
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1836; Germany
Date of Recording: 11/07/1909
Length: 4 Minutes 7 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "Ah, qual soave vision..."
17.
La Gioconda: Cielo e mar by Amilcare Ponchielli
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Written: 1876
Date of Recording: 03/14/1910
Length: 2 Minutes 55 Secs.
Language: Italian
18.
La Bohème: O soave fanciulla by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Geraldine Farrar (Soprano),
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Walter Rogers
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1896; Italy
Date of Recording: 12/30/1912
Length: 3 Minutes 45 Secs.
Language: Italian
19.
La Bohème: Che gelida manina by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1896; Italy
Date of Recording: 02/11/2006
Length: 4 Minutes 8 Secs.
Language: Italian
20.
Tosca: Recondita armonia by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Walter Rogers
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1900; Italy
Date of Recording: 11/06/1909
Length: 2 Minutes 23 Secs.
Language: Italian
21.
Tosca: E lucevan le stelle by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Walter Rogers
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1900; Italy
Date of Recording: 11/06/1909
Length: 3 Minutes 2 Secs.
Language: Italian
22.
Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor),
A. Regis-Rossini (Harp)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1893; Italy
Date of Recording: 02/24/1913
Length: 2 Minutes 50 Secs.
Language: Italian
23.
Eugene Onegin, Op. 24: Lensky's aria by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Josef Pasternack
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Written: 1879
Date of Recording: 11/03/1916
Length: 4 Minutes 8 Secs.
Language: French
24.
Aida: Celeste Aida by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1871; Italy
Date of Recording: 03/29/2008
Length: 3 Minutes 29 Secs.
Language: Italian
25.
Il trovatore: Di quella pira by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1853; Italy
Date of Recording: 02/11/2006
Length: 1 Minutes 40 Secs.
Language: Italian
26.
Il trovatore: Ah si, ben mio by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1853; Italy
Date of Recording: 03/16/2008
Length: 3 Minutes 25 Secs.
Language: Italian
27.
La forza del destino: Solenne in quest' ora by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Antonio Scotti (Baritone),
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1862/1869; Italy
Date of Recording: 03/13/2006
Length: 4 Minutes 18 Secs.
Language: Italian
28.
La forza del destino: O, tu che in seno agli angeli by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Walter Rogers
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1862/1869; Italy
Date of Recording: 11/06/1909
Length: 4 Minutes 0 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "Della natal sua terra il padre..."
29.
La traviata: Libiamo ne' lieti calici "Brindisi" by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Alma Gluck (Soprano),
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Metropolitan Opera Chorus,
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1853; Italy
Date of Recording: 04/20/1914
Length: 3 Minutes 7 Secs.
Language: Italian
30.
Macbeth: Ah, la paterna mano by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1847/1865; Italy
Date of Recording: 02/23/1916
Length: 3 Minutes 25 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "O figli, o figli miei..."
31.
Requiem Mass: Ingemisco by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Walter Rogers
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1874; Italy
Date of Recording: 01/07/1915
Length: 4 Minutes 19 Secs.
Language: Latin
32.
Otello: Ora e per sempre addio by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1887; Italy
Date of Recording: 12/28/1910
Length: 2 Minutes 23 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "Nell'ore arcane della suà lussuria..."
33.
Otello: Si, pel ciel marmoreo giuro! by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor),
Titta Ruffo (Baritone)
Conductor:
Walter Rogers
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1887; Italy
Date of Recording: 01/08/1914
Length: 4 Minutes 46 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "Oh! mostruosa colpa..."
34.
Rigoletto: Questa o quella by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1851; Italy
Date of Recording: 03/16/2008
Length: 2 Minutes 5 Secs.
Language: Italian
35.
Rigoletto: La donna è mobile by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1851; Italy
Date of Recording: 03/16/2008
Length: 2 Minutes 17 Secs.
Language: Italian
36.
Rigoletto: Parmi veder le lagrime...Possente amor mi chiama by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Written: 1851
Date of Recording: 02/24/1913
Length: 4 Minutes 40 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "Ella mi fu rapita!..."
37.
Rigoletto: Bella figlia dell' amore [Quartet] by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Giuseppe de Luca (Baritone),
Enrico Caruso (Tenor),
Flora Perini (Mezzo Soprano),
Amelita Galli-Curci (Soprano)
Conductor:
Josef Pasternack
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1851; Italy
Date of Recording: 01/25/1917
Length: 4 Minutes 1 Secs.
Language: Italian
38.
Un ballo in maschera: Di' tu se fedele by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Giulio Setti
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Metropolitan Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1859; Italy
Date of Recording: 11/19/1911
Length: 2 Minutes 58 Secs.
Language: Italian
39.
I Pagliacci: Recitar!...Vesti la giubba by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1892; Italy
Date of Recording: 03/17/2007
Length: 3 Minutes 14 Secs.
Language: Italian
40.
Stabat mater: Cujus animam by Gioachino Rossini
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1832/1842; Italy
Date of Recording: 12/15/1913
Length: 4 Minutes 39 Secs.
Language: Latin
41.
Petite Messe solennelle: Crucifixus by Gioachino Rossini
Performer:
Enrico Caruso (Tenor)
Conductor:
Josef Pasternack
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1863; Italy
Date of Recording: 09/16/1920
Length: 3 Minutes 16 Secs.
Language: Latin
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