Born July 13, 1924, Carlo Bergonzi was one of the 20th century’s most distinguished operatic tenors, renowned for the refined interpretive taste and keen musical intelligence he brought to his art. Host Oliver Camacho is joined by musicologist Brad Sisk, a former student of the maestro, to share favorite recordings from Bergonzi’s vast discography.
Bergonzi in a signature role by the composer with whom he is most associated.
All selections feature tenor Carlo Bergonzi.
Giuseppe Verdi: Ernani
Cabaletta, “O tu che l’alma adora”
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Thomas Schippers, conductor
Live performance recorded December 1, 1962
Ruggero Leoncavallo: Pagliacci
Aria, “No! Pagliaccio non son!”
Carla Gavazzi, soprano
Marcello Rossi, baritone
Orchestra Sinfonica e Coro di Milano della RAI
Alfredo Simonetto, conductor
Giacomo Puccini: La bohème
Aria, “Che gelida manina”
Orchestra dell’Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Roma
Tulio Serafin, conductor
Puccini: Manon Lescaut
Aria, “No! no! Pazzo son!”
Louis Sgarro, bass-baritone
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Fausto Cleva, conductor
Live performance recorded December 10, 1960
Verdi: Aida
Aria, “Celeste Aida”
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Sir Georg Solti, conductor
Live performance recorded December 7, 1963
Verdi: La traviata
Duet, “Parigi, o cara”
Joan Sutherland, soprano
Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Sir John Pritchard, conductor
Verdi: Rigoletto
Stretta, “Ah sempre tu spingi lo scherzo”
Piero di Palma, tenor
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone
Virgilio Carbonari, baritone
Coro e Orchestra del Teatro all Scala
Rafael Kubelik, conductor
Gaetano Donizetti: L’elisir d’amore
Aria, “Una furtiva lagrima”
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Thomas Schippers, conductor
Live performance recorded March 5, 1966
Puccini: Tosca
Duet, “Ah, quegli occhi! … Quale occhi al mondo può di paro”
Maria Callas, soprano
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
Georges Prêtre, conductor
Verdi: Un ballo in maschera
Finale, “No, no… Lasciatelo”
Reri Grist, soprano
Leontyne Price, soprano
Robert Merrill, baritone
Ezio Flagello, bass
Ferruccio Mazzoli, bass
RCA Italian Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Erich Leinsdorf, conductor
