Giuseppe Di Stefano: The Early Years [Import]

Cesare Andrea Bixio (Composer), Georges Bizet (Composer), Francesco Cilea (Composer), Teodoro Cottrau (Composer), Ernesto de Curtis (Composer), Luigi Denza (Composer), Gaetano Donizetti (Composer), Stanislao Gastaldon (Composer), E.A. Mario (Composer), Pietro Mascagni (Composer), Jules Massenet (Composer), Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Giuseppe di Stefano (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Giuseppe di Stefano
• Composer: Cesare Andrea Bixio, Georges Bizet, Francesco Cilea, Teodoro Cottrau, Ernesto de Curtis, et al.
• Audio CD (August 1, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Bongiovanni
• ASIN: B00000448G
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #502,455 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. L'Arlesiana, opera: E'la solita storia del pastore

2. L'amico Fritz, opera (commedia lyrica) in 3 acts: Ed anche Beppe amò

3. Tosca, opera: E lucevan le stelle

4. La bohème, opera: Che gelida minina

5. L'elisir d'amore, opera: Una furtiva lacrima

6. Manon, opera in 5 acts: Sogno

7. Les Pêcheurs de perles, opera in 3 acts: Mi par d'udir ancora

8. Werther, lyric drama in 4 acts: Pourquoi me réveiller

9. Élégie: O doux printemps d'autrefois, for voice & piano (from 'Mélodies, Vol.1')

10. Si vous l'aviez compris (L'avessi tu compresso), for voice & piano (or ensemble)

11. Ninna nanna della vita

12. Santa Lucia, for voice & orchestra

13. Musica proibita, for voice & orchestra, Op. 5

14. Santa Lucia luntana, for voice & orchestra

15. Torna a Surriento, for voice & piano (or orchestra)

16. L'elisir d'amore, opera: Voglio dire... lo stupendo elisir

17. L'elisir d'amore, opera: La rà, la rà, la lera

18. L'elisir d'amore, opera: Adina, credimi

19. L'elisir d'amore, opera: Venti scudi

20. Il tabarro (The Cloak), opera: Hai ben ragione

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A priceless musical document, January 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Giuseppe Di Stefano: The Early Years (Audio CD)

This is not simply a collector's item. These imperfect recordings, made by an unknown POW in a war camp, reveal di Stefano's stunning natural talent perhaps even more completely than his more polished later singing. His boyish voice here is glowing, his interpretations fresh and fearless. You simply have to hear his "Mi par d'udir ancora" (better known as "Je crois entendre encore") on this recording, the most compelling account of this aria I've ever heard. He sings it in a full voice, with measured sprinklings of mezza voce, while most tenors just croon this aria in a pitiful falsetto. For me di Stefano, even at his most inexperienced, is the ultimate tenor benchmark.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest tenor after Caruso at his best, April 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Giuseppe Di Stefano: The Early Years (Audio CD)

This record shows Di Stefano was in his prime at the age of 23 in 1944. Incomparable beauty of timbre, clarity of diction, sureness of interpretation, and amazing technical feats reminiscent of 19th century bel canto tenors. This recording should finally assure Di Stefano of his long deserved place as one of the top 5 tenors of the century.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest lyric tenor ever, at the start of his career., December 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Giuseppe Di Stefano: The Early Years (Audio CD)

This is what the tenor voice is all about, there has never been a voice like this. Hear this great tenor at his the very beginning of his career. Listen to the beauty that the human voice can produce. Di Stefano puts everthing into every song/aria on this recording. The quality of sound on this disc may not be great( 2 Stars), but the performance is outstanding. If you are an opera fan, and particularly fond of tenors, this recording is a must.