Customer Reviews

Giuseppe Di Stefano: The Early Years

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Production values are awful, and sound quality is pretty bad. For all the world, it sounds like a silent film piano player with a guy singing...but I tell you, it's just about the greatest thing you've ever heard.

Around the third time I listened to this, I actually began to like the flaws; they became endearing. Reminds me of those 1/4 inch thick Carusso records I started out with, lo these many moons ago. Perfection...? Hell, it's for sure nothing here is flawless. It's just, well...flawless. Giuseppe at his youthful, incomparable best. Strong buy.