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Solo Arrangements of
Enrico Caruso

Enrico Caruso was born on February 25, 1873, in Naples, Italy. He was the third of seven children to a poor alcoholic father. He received little primary education and briefly studied music with conductor Vicenzo Lombardini. His early income was from singing serenades.

Caruso made his operatic debut on March 15, 1895 at a back street theatre in Naples. After a two-year stint on the South Italian circuit he auditioned for Giacomo Puccini in the summer of 1897. Puccini was looking for a leading tenor for a performance of 'La Boheme' in Livorno. Puccini was so impressed with the range and tone of the young Caruso's voice, that he reportedly mumbled in awe, "Who sent you to me? God himself?" After an unfriendly reception of his performance in Naples, Caruso vowed to never sing in Naples again, and he never did.

His first major role creations were in operas 'Il Voto', composed by Umberto Giordano, on November 10, 1897, and 'L'Arlesiana' by Francesco Cilea on November 27, 1897, at the Teatro Lirico di Milano. Next season Caruso started with a role creation in 'Fedora', composed by Umberto Giordano, performed on the same stage on November 17, 1898. His first recording contract was signed in 1902, in London, with the Gramophone and Typewriter Company for ten arias at the rate of 10 pounds per take. In May, 1902, Caruso debuted at the Covent Garden Opera in 'Rigoletto' by Giuseppe Verdi. With the help of the banker Pasquale Simonelli, he went to New York. There Caruso made his Metropolitan Opera debut in November 1903. He performed for the Met the next eighteen seasons, making 607 appearances in 37 different operatic productions.

Caruso was the first recording star in history, who sold more than a million records with his 1902 recording of 'Vesti le gubba' from 'Pagliacci' (Clowns) by 'Leoncavallo'. His voice had a combination of the full baritone-like character with the smooth and brilliant tenor qualities. His range was broadened into baritone at the expense of the higher tenor notes, Caruso never sang the high C, and often transposed in order to avoid it. He was a master of interpretation, having a rare gift of portamento and legato, and a superior command of phrasing. His legendary 1904 Victor recording of 'Una furtiva lagrima', by Gaetano Donizetti is used in many film soundtracks.

He contracted pneumonia and developed a complication in the form of pleural inflammation (plerisy), followed by abscesses in his lungs. After a series of unsuccessful surgeries Enrico Caruso died on August 2, 1921, in Naples, Italy. He was laid to rest in Naples, Italy.


Enrico Caruso : Voices of the Opera Series : Solo : Songbook : 073999544763 : 0634069578 : 50485250

Enrico Caruso : Voices of the Opera Series    onsale

Enrico Caruso rose from a childhood of poverty in Naples to become the first great tenor and superstar of the recorded era. His fearlessly pure, lyric vocalism and heartfelt acting still come through, even on the scratchy old recordings. This collection of arias and songs associated with the tenor includes an interesting biography, an article about his artistry, and notes on the signature Caruso interpretation of each aria, followed by standard vocal/piano editions of all the arias. This collection affords a careful musical consideration of a legendary artist.

Songlist: 'A vucchella (Tosti), Addio, fiorito asil from MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Puccini), Amor ti vieta from FEDORA (Giordano), Celeste Aida from AIDA (Verdi), Che gelida manina from LA BOH?ME (Puccini), Cielo e mar! from LA GIONCONDA (Ponchielli), Core 'ngrato (Cardillo), Dai campi, dai prati from MEFISTOFELE (Boito), E lucevan le stelle from TOSCA (Puccini), Ideale (Tosti), L'alba sep?ra dalla luce l'ombra (Tosti), La donna e mobile from RIGOLETTO (Verdi), Santa Lucia (Cottrau), Una furtiva lagrima from L'ELISIR D'AMORE (Donizetti), Vesti la giubba from I PAGLIACCI (Leoncavallo)

More details
Voicing: Solo | Performed by Enrico Caruso | 5306b | Songbook | $19.95 | Voice and Piano


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