Customer Reviews

O Sole Mio: The Very Best of Neapolitan Songs

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Beniamino Gigli (1890 - 1957) was one of the greatest all times tenors. He can be compared with Enrico Caruso, Tito Schipa or more recent Luciano Pavarotti. He was a major opera singer, but what Italian tenor could resist singing Neapolitan popular songs? No one, least of all Mr. Gigli. His open heart is here, in each "canzzoneta", we can feel his soul flowing from his extraordinary voice. My grandmother told me of the commotion this tenor produced in Buenos Aires in 1919, for her, he was the greatest of all tenors that sang at the Colon Opera Theater.

Looking for some other CD I came across this collection and recalled my grandma's advice. I asked to hear it and was overwhelmed by his charisma, even if some songs are recorded with old technology, they do not lose quality.
Special mention in this collection for "a' Canzone E Napule", "Core `ngrato" and "Sto Penzanno a Maria", they are not the most popular as "O Sole Mio" or "Marechiare", but Gigli's voice and sentiment reach deep quality.
Enjoy this CD. Ecco qui e Napule!!!!

Reviewed by Max Yofre.

This recording is an example of how this was done before and will never be done again, unfortunately. One of the best tenors that ever lived, and one that has captured the art of singing Neapolitan songs perfectly.