BENIAMINO GIGLI – LIVE PERFORMANCE & FILM DISCOGRAPHY
The name of Beniamino Gigli is virtually forgotten in 2024. Certainly by those who are outside the field of opera. In his heyday, the number of people who had heard of Gigli probably compared with those who had not heard of any of the other singers of the time. Gigli made his debut in October 1914 in Ponchielli’s La gioconda and simply did not look back. He was the Italian tenor for a very long time, certainly from after the great Enrico Caruso until the early 1950s. He was the Pavarotti of his day.
His commercial records have mostly been issued through the years from EMI (now Warner) and latterly Naxos. The excellent series from Naxos covered Gigli’s recording career from 1918 to 1951. Many formerly unpublished recordings from the 1950’s were later released on four CDs by Testament records. Not only were most of the tracks on these CDs originally recorded on tape, but they also included several tracks recorded in stereo. Gigli was one of the very few artists in the earlier part of the 20th century to record from the acoustic method to stereo. However, like many others singers, Gigli has virtually doubled the number of recordings available through the release of live recordings.
The first so-called “pirate” to release live operatic recordings was Edward J. Smith (EJS) who between 1956 and 1981, published thousands of live recordings, eagerly awaited by opera fans and lovers of historical singers. There were many broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera house. These included Simon Boccanegra with Lawrence Tibbett, Elizabeth Rethberg, Ezio Pinza and Giovanni Martinelli. Other singers that appeared on his lists were Jussi Björling, Lotte Lehmann, Kirsten Flagstad, Alexander Kipnis and Salvatore Baccaloni and a whole host of Met opera stars. The EJS material also originated from Europe with, for example, a magnificent recording of Don Giovanni from Salzburg also starring Pinza and Rethberg and quite a bit of the 1939 season from Covent Garden which includes two Gigli performances of La traviata and Aida.
This enables us to hear our great tenor in quite a few recordings that we did not have the opportunity to hear him in via his commercial recordings. These stretch back from 1932 to the end of his career. To add to those recordings there are also various film sound tracks. Gigli appeared in some 15 films all of which are pretty bad, but always produced some gem or another on the soundtrack. For example, the film Mamma not only produced the popular song of the same name, but also some of Gigli’s best singing ever, in a role that he would never attempt on stage, Verdi’s Otello.
This discography will be divided into different parts. The first will include performances from the stage or concert hall or anywhere else accompanied by piano or orchestra. The second part will include songs or operatic excerpts from Gigli’s films. This will include the soundtrack of the first sound films known as “Vitaphones.” They include excerpts from Rigoletto, La gioconda, Cavalleria rusticana and I pescatori di perle. All of which Gigli recorded commercially. However, the Vitaphones also include “Verrano a te” from Lucia di Lammermoor. This act I duet is a huge addition to Gigli’s commercial releases of the sextet and the final scene of the opera, also recorded in 1927. The 1930s were probably, both commercially and career-wise, Gigli’s best years. Luckily some of his performances were recorded, including a brace of Aidas from 1937, 1938 and 1939 while the tenor was still in his long-lasting prime.
World War Two restricted Gigli’s artistic achievements somewhat to the axis countries. However, after World War Two, despite his advancing years, Gigli still carried out a reasonably full schedule of operatic performances as well as concerts, many of which were broadcast. In 1948, Gigli made a very successful commercial recording of “Ed anche Beppe amo” from L’amico Fritz. However, just three years later, a performance was caught from the San Carlo opera house, Naples. Another opera never recorded commercially by Gigli was L’elisir d’amore. This live opera broadcast from early 1953 was the last Gigli took part in. During the last three years of his career, complete opera performances became rare and he sang mostly in concert, including a long round of farewell concerts. Finally, two songs were recorded for the BBC for broadcast over Christmas 1955 after he officially retired. Some or all of these later concerts were recorded and have been issued on disc.
The simple point of this discography is to illustrate what has been discovered in addition to his commercial output. Original LPs and selected later issues will be listed, but will most likely be out of date immediately. There are also other recordings which are known about, but have not yet seen the light of day.
There are three sections in this discography, part one shows his live recordings – Gigli singing in performance either from the stage, concert hall or broadcasting venue. Part two consists of film recordings and soundtracks dating back to 1927. Finally, part three will list any other recordings, speeches etc. My huge thanks go firstly to Mark Ricaldone without whose tireless efforts on behalf of the great tenor, much of this information would not be out there. I would also like to thank William Collins who compiled a first version of Gigli’s non-commercial output in 1990 for the Record Collector journal. Finally I would also like to thank William Shaman, William Collins again and Calvin M. Goodwin for the huge amount of work that went into their two invaluable volumes of EJS: Discography of the Edward J. Smith Recordings.
David Cutler/ June 2024
Gigli’s Non-Commercial Discography: Part 1—Live Recordings
32.01
5 March, New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus conducted by Louis Hasselmans
Manon (Massenet)
Cast: Grace Moore (Manon); Minnie Egener (Javotte); BG (Chevalier Des Grieux); Giuseppe de Luca (Lescaut); Léon Rothier (Count Des Grieux); Angela Bada (Guillot de Morfontaine); Aïda Doninelli (Poussette); George Cehanovsky (De Brétigny)
a) Act IV: Manon! Manon, sphinx étonnant …
b) Act III: Profitons bien de la jeunesse
c) Act III: Le coeur helas …
d) Act IV: Au jeu … Permettez-moi de jouer to the end of the act.
LP: EJS 111 (a-d); ANNA 1033 (a-d);
NOTE: This is one of the earliest surviving Metropolitan opera broadcasts and includes the voice of Deems Taylor commentating throughout. This practice was scrapped after a year.
33.01
20th May, Copenhagen, Forum Theatre with Umberto Berettoni at the piano.
a) Tosca (Puccini): E lucevan le stelle
CD: DACOCD 691-696 (a);
34.01
20 March, Private recording in Milan with piano.
a); La camiciola della vita
LP: EJS 469 (a);
NOTE: This private recording was made as a present for Rina Gigli, daughter of Beniamino. It is sung in the dialect of Le Marche.
34.02
31 March, La Scala, Milan Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Gabriele Santini.
La forza del destino (Verdi)
Cast: Iva Pacetti (Leonora); Carlo Morelli (Don Carlos); BG (Don Alvaro); Gianna Pederzini (Preziosilla); Tancredi Pasero (Padre Guardiano); Leone Paci (Fra Melitone).
a) Act II: O tu che in seno
b) Act II: Solenne in quest’ora
c) Act IV: Invano Alvaro
CD BONGIOVANNI GB 1189-91 (a-c), VAIA 1199 (b-c);
34.03
5 April, La Scala, Milan Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Gabriele Santini.
Romeo e Giulietta (Gounod)
Cast; Mafalda Favero (Giulietta); BG (Romeo); Aristide Baracchi (Gregorio).
Act II: Mostly complete
LP: EMI Italiana 153-54010-17 CD: IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES IPCD 1003-2;
34.04
10 July, Piazza del Commune, Cremona. Orchestra and chorus of the Teatro Reale dell’Opera di Roma conducted by Tullio Serafin
La gioconda (Ponchielli)
Cast: Gina Cigna (Gioconda); BG (Enzo); Gianna Pederzini (Laura); Elena Nicolai (La Cieca); Tancredi Pasero (Alvise); Mario Basiola (Barnaba).
a) Act I: Figlia che reggi
b) Act I: Voce di donna
c) Act I: Enzo Grimaldo…
d) Act I: O monumento
e) Act II: Ah pescator
f) Act IV: Sulle tue mani
g) Act IV: Ora posso morir to finale
LP: TIMA CLUB tima 67-68 (a-g); CD: IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES (c, e-g);
36.01
September. Unidentified home recordings.
a) La camiciola della vita
b) I pescatori di perle (Bizet) Mi par d’udir ancora
LP: MRF 43 (a-b) CD: GOP 804 (a-b);
NOTE: These recordings were possibly made in Recanati according to information from Mark Ricaldone.
37.01
23 February, La Scala, Milan Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Franco Ghione.
Andrea Chenier (Giordano)
Cast: Rosetta Pampanini (Maddalena); BG (Andrea Chenier).
a) Act IV: Come un bel di
b) Act IV: Tu sei la meta dell’esistenza mia
LP: EJS 329 (a-b), EMI Italiana 153-54010-17 (a-b): CD: GOP 804 (b), IDIS 6372 (a-b), BONGIOVANNI GB 1189-91 (a-b);
NOTE: On all representations both these tracks are respectively started or finished with the commercial recording of the complete opera made in 1941.
37.02
10 March, La Scala, Milan Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Gino Marinuzzi.
Manon (Massenet)
Cast: Mafalda Favero (Manon); BG (Chevalier Des Grieux); Giuseppe de Luca (Lescaut); Dulio Baronti (Count Des Grieux);
a) Act III: Ah! dispar vision
b) Act III: No fu sogno lusinghiero
LP: EJS 329 (a-b): CD: GOP 804 (a-b);
NOTE: In Ah! dispar vision, the last phrase of the broadcast is lost and it is filled in with the commercial recording from 1946.
37.03
23 May, Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus of the Wiener Staatsoper conducted by Karl Alwin.
Aïda (Verdi)
Cast: Maria Nemeth (Aïda); BG (Radames); Alexander Sved (Amonasro); Rosette Anday (Amneris); Alexander Kipnis (Ramfis); Nicola Zec (Il Re).
a) Act I: Se quel guerrier io fossi …Celeste Aïda
b) Act I: D’un sogno aventuroso
c) Act II: O Re, pei sacri numi
d) Act III: Pur ti riveggo
e) Act III: Sovra una terra estrania
f) Act III: Vieni meco
g) Act III: No, tu non sei colpevole
h) Act IV: Per esso anch’io la patria
i) Act IV: La fatal pietra
j) Act IV: O terra addio
LP: EJS 336 (a-j); CD: KOCH SCHWANN Wiener Staatsoper Live Vol 13, 3-1463-2, GOP 804 (a);
NOTE: These titles are not necessarily complete but are excerpted. It should be noted that in this bilingual performance, the whole cast are singing in German except Gigli who sings in Italian.
37.04
22 June, Deutsches Opernhaus, Berlin with orchestra and chorus of La Scala, Milan conducted by Victor de Sabata.
Aïda (Verdi)
Cast: Gina Cigna (Aïda); BG (Radames); Ettore Nava (Amonasro); Ebe Stignani (Amneris); Tancredi Pasero (Ramfis); Franco Zaccarini (Il Re).
CD: IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES IPCD 1034-3; EKLIPSE EKR 53;
NOTE: This performance is nearly complete, but lacks the prelude, Act I, scene II, the beginning of Act II, scene II and all of Act IV which may have been lost. On the IP disc, act IV is made up of a composite of Aïdas from the Metropolitan from 1937 and Covent Garden in 1939.
37.05
25 December, Ente Italiana Audizioni Radiofoniche (EIAR) Orchestra and Pontifical choir of the Sistine Chapel conducted by the composer, Don Lorenzo Perosi.
Il Natale del Rendatore excerpt; Natalitia complete; Il Giudizio Universale excerpts (Perosi)
Cast: BG, Licia Albanese, Gianna Pederzini.
a) Il Natale del Rendatore
b) Natalitia
c) Il Giudizio Universale – Le beatitudine
d) Il Giudizio Universale – Le benedizione
e) Il Giudizio Universale – Inno del Ringraziamento
f) Il Giudizio Universale – Inno della Pace
g) Il Giudizio Universale – Inno della Giustizia
LP EJS 329 (b-g); Library of Congress tape 15778-65B (a-g);
NOTE: This was a shortwave broadcast over NBC radio in the United States, directly from the Vatican on Christmas day 1937. Radio announcements are included on the tape.
38.01
8 April, Teatro Reale dell’opera Orchestra conducted by Vincenzo Bellezza and Oliviero de Fabritiis
a) Manon (Massenet): O dolce incanto (with Pia Tassinari)
b) La forza del destino (Verdi): La vita e inferno
LP: EMI Italiana 153-54010-17 (a-b); EJS 357 (a); CD: IDIS 66372 (a-b); VAIA 1199 (a); RARITIES II (b);
NOTE: This was part of a gala evening for Gigli which also included Act IV of La forza del destino and an excerpt from Boito’s Mefistofele.
38.02
14 May, Teatro Communale, Florence, Orchestra and chorus conducted by Victor de Sabata.
Aïda (Verdi)
Cast: Gina Cigna (Aïda); BG (Radames); Carlo Tagliabue (Amonasro); Ebe Stignani (Amneris); Tancredi Pasero (Ramfis); Duilio Baronti (Il Re).
a) Act III: Pur ti riveggo
b) Act III: Ma dimmi … Tu Amonasro!
CD: MUSIC & ARTS CD1104 (a-b); RARITIES II (a-b);
NOTE: This performance was originally recorded by the Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft (RRG) and surviving recordings by RRG are held by the German radio archive in Frankfurt.
38.03
2 June, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. With the ROH orchestra and chorus conducted by Vittorio Gui.
a) Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle (encore given)
b) Ah! Franchigia a Floria Tosca (with soprano Iva Pacetti)
LP: EJS 171 (a-b); CD: VAIA 1199 (a-b); GOP 804 (a); BONGIOVANNI GB 1189-91 (a);
38.04
6 June, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. With the ROH orchestra and chorus conducted by Vittorio Gui.
Rigoletto (Verdi)
Cast: Lina Pagliughi (Gilda); BG (Duca di Mantova); Carlo Tagliabue (Rigoletto); Olga de Franco (Maddalena); Corrado Zambelli (Sparafucile); Aristide Baracchi (Marullo).
a) Act I: Questa o quella
b) Act I: In testa che avete signor di Ceprano
c) Act IV: La donna e mobile … E non ti basta ancor
LP: EJS 111 (a-c); CD: GOP 804 (a); RARITIES II (c);
NOTE: There are over 20 minutes of this performance on YouTube which feature the excerpts above but also “Caro nome” and “Si vendetta.” Their authenticity has not been confirmed.
38.05
2 October, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and chorus conducted by Eugene Ormandy as part of the Ford Sunday Evening Hour
a) L’elisir d’amore (Donizetti): Una furtiva lagrima
b) Rigoletto (Verdi): Questa o quella
c) Martha (Flotow): M’appari
d) I pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba
LP: EJS 414 (a-d); CD: IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES IPCD 1034-3 (a-d); RARITIES I (c);
NOTE: Various other orchestral pieces were also performed but have not been published. Gigli sang in a second Ford concert on 20 November 1938 which has also not as yet been published.
38.06
7 October, Orchestra of the San Francisco Opera conducted by Gaetano Merola.
Andrea Chenier (Giordano)
Cast: BG (Andrea Chenier); Elisabeth Rethberg (Maddalena); John Howell (Flevillé); Lodovico Oliviero (Abbé); Doris Doe (Countess)
a) Act I: Commosso lusingato
b) Act I: Colpito qui m’avete … Un di all’azzurro spazio
LP: EJS 233 (a-b); CD: GUILD GHCD 2287-9 (a-b); VAIA 1199 (a-b);
38.07
25 December, Magic Key of RCA. A Christmas day Radio Concert. NBC Symphony orchestra conducted by Frank Black
a) L’africana (Meyerbeer): O paradiso
b) Torna a Surriento
c) L’elisir d’amore (Donizetti): Una furtive lagrima
d) Notte d’amore
e) O sole mio
Library of Congress tape 15778 (a-e); DC collection (a-e);
NOTE: This was recorded live from the WJZ network radio station. It includes the Gigli tracks listed above and Kitty Cheatham as well as the Vienna Boys Choir. This whole program has survived.
39.01
4 February, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra conducted by Ettore Panizza
Aïda (Verdi)
Cast: Zinka Milanov (Aïda); BG (Radames); Carlo Tagliabue (Amonasro); Bruna Castagna (Amneris); Ezio Pinza (Ramfis)
a) Act III: Pur ti riveggo
b) Act III: Ma dimmi … Tu Amonasro!
c) Act IV: Morir si pura bella
LP: EJS 485 (a-c) MRF 43 (a-c); CD: GOP 804 (a-c);
NOTE: In ‘Tu … Amonasro’ Ezio Pinza is not heard.
39.02
15 May, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Orchestra conducted by Vittorio Gui
Tosca (Puccini)
Cast: BG (Cavaradossi); Aristide Baracchi (Sagrestano)
a) Act I: Recondita armonia
LP: EJS 171 (a);
39.03
24 May, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. London Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham
Aïda (Verdi)
Cast: Maria Caniglia (Aïda); BG (Radames); Armando Borgioli (Amonasro); Ebe Stignani (Amneris); Corrado Zambelli (Ramfis); Norman Walker (Il Re).
LP: UORC 300 (acts I-III only, act IV is from the 1946 commercial recording); HRE 230 (acts I-IV); CD EKRCD3; (acts I-IV); BONGIOVANNI HOC 072/73 (acts I-IV);
39.04
May
La traviata (Verdi)
Cast: Maria Caniglia (Violetta); BG (Alfredo);
a) Act I: Libiamo, libiamo
LP: EJS 142; (a);
NOTE: This version is different from the complete set dated 31 May, but it seems unlikely that it was not from the same run, as the voices and tempi are similar. However, this version does remain unidentified.
39.05
31 May, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. London Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus conducted by Pietro Cimara.
La traviata (Verdi)
Cast: Maria Caniglia (Violetta); BG (Alfredo); Mario Basiola (Germont); Maria Huder (Flora); Aristide Baracchi (Baron Douphol); Norman Walker (Grenvil); Adelio Zagonara (Gastone);
LP: EJS 306 (Acts 1-III); CD: ARKADIA GA 2019 (Acts 1-III);
39.06
15 July, Terme di Caracalla, Orchestra of Teatro Reale dell’opera conducted by Tullio Serafin.
La forza del destino (Verdi)
Cast: Benvenuto Franci (Don Carlos); BG (Don Alvaro);
a) Act IV: Le minaccie
CD: VAI VAIA 1199
NOTE: This is not complete and ends at ‘Uscite.’ VAI date this as 4 July however according to Mark Ricaldone the 15 July performance was broadcast.
39.07
5 August, Terme di Caracalla, Orchestra of Teatro Reale dell’opera conducted by Oliviero de Fabritiis.
Aïda (Verdi)
Cast: Iva Pacetti (Aïda); BG (Radames); Ebe Stignani (Amneris); Andrea Mongelli (Ramfis); Ernesto Dominici (Il Re).
a) Act I: Celeste Aïda
b) Act I: Quale insolita gioia
c) Act I: Ritorna vincitor
d) Act I: Mortal, diletto ai Numi
LP: EJS 485 (a-d); CD: EKLIPSE EKR 53 (a-d);
NOTE: This is a shortwave broadcast from NBC acetates. There are only the last few lines of Celeste Aïda.
39.08
9 December Teatro Reale dell’opera Orchestra and chorus conducted by Oliviero de Fabritiis
Il trovatore (Verdi)
Cast: BG (Manrico);
a) Act III: Di quella pira
LP: EJS 357 (a); EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (a); CD: VAI VAIA 1199 (a);
39.09
24 December Teatro Reale dell’opera Orchestra and chorus conducted by Oliviero de Fabritiis
Il trovatore (Verdi)
Cast: BG (Manrico);
a) Act III: Di quella pira
CD: VAI VAIA 1199 (a);
40.01
20 March Teatro Reale dell’opera Orchestra and chorus conducted by Mario Rossi
Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea)
Cast: Magda Oliviero (Adriana); BG (Maurizio)
a) Act I: La dolcissima effigie
LP: EJS 357 (a); EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (a); CD VAIA 1199 (a); BONGIOVANNI GB 1189/90 (a);
40.02
14 December, from the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli. Chamber Orchestra of Rome and Orchestra and Chorus of EIAR conducted by Victor de Sabata
Messa da Requiem (Verdi)
Cast: BG; Maria Caniglia; Ebe Stignani; Tancredi Pasero
a) Dies Irae
b) Recordare
c) Liber scriptus
d) Quid sum miser
e) Rex tremendae
f) Ingemisco
g) Confutatis maledictis
h) Lacrymosa
i) Sanctus
j) Libera me, Domine
LP: EJS 359 (a-j); TIMA 69/70 (a-j); CD: ARKADIA CDMP 446.2 (a-j) IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES IPCD 1121-3 (a-h);
41.01
10 March, EIAR Orchestra conducted by Umberto Berrettoni
a) Mefistofele (Boito); Giunto sul passo estremo
LP: EJS 469 (a); CD: RARITIES II (a);
42.01
27 December, EIAR Orchestra conducted by Giuseppe Morelli
a) Announcements including from Gigli himself
b) Andrea Chenier (Giordano): Un di all’azzuro spazio
c) La traviata (Verdi): Sempre libera (with Rina Gigli)
d) Aïda (Verdi): La fatal pietra … O terra addio (with Rina Gigli)
e) Rondine al nido
f) Mamma
LP: ANNA 1027 (a-f): CD: GOP 804 (a-b & d); RARITIES I (e);
NOTE: This was a broadcast by Italian Radio (EIAR) for the armed forces. Tracks e & f were encores and were accompanied by Luigi Ricci on the piano
47.01
20 August, Teatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro. Orchestra and chorus conducted by Oliviero de Fabritiis
Aïda (Verdi)
Cast: Elisabetta Barbato (Aïda); BG (Radames); Ebe Stignani (Amneris); Raffaele di Falchi (Amonasro); Giulio Neri (Ramfis); Americo Basso (Il Re)
a) Act I: Quale insolito gioia
b) Act III: Pur ti riveggo
c) Act III: Tu…Amonasro
d) Act IV: Di mie discolpi I giudici
e) Act IV: La fatal pietra … O terra addio
LP: EJS 414 (a-e); CD: BONGIOVANNI GB 1189-91 (b-c & e); RARITIES II (b-c);
47.02
25 July, Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires Orchestra conducted by Ferruccio Calusio
La forza del destino (Verdi)
Cast: Carlos Guichandut (Don Carlos); BG (Don Alvaro)
a) Act III: Solenne in quest’ora
b) Act IV: Le minaccie ie fieri accenti
CD: IRCC CD 809 (a-b);
NOTE: Both tracks are incomplete on this CD and the date is unconfirmed. There were at least three other performances on the 2, 6 and 10 August with similar casts.
47.03
3 September, Teatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro Orchestra conducted by Rainaldo Zamboni
Tosca (Puccini)
Cast: Elisabetta Barbato (Tosca); BG (Cavaradossi); Alessio de Paolis (Spoletta)
a) Act I: Lo vuole il Sagrestano …
b) Act II: Vissi d’arte
c) Act III: Amaro sol per te … to end of opera
LP: EJS 403 (a-c); CD: RARITIES I (a, c);
47.04
20 September, Fluminense Football club, Rio di Janeiro. With orchestra.
a) La traviata (Verdi): De miei bollenti spiriti
LP: UORC 371 (a); CD: RARITIES I (a);
47.05
20 October, National School of Music concert at the Teatro Gomes, Rio de Janeiro with Affonso Martinez-Grau at the piano.
a) Tre giorni son che Nina
b) L’Elisir d’amore (Donizetti): Una furtiva lagrima
c) Lo schiavo (Gomes): Quando nacesti tu
d) I pescatori di perle (Bizet): Mi par d’udir ancora
e) Mamma
f) Ah l’ammore che ‘ffa fa’
g) Quanno a femmena vo’
h) Addio bel sogno
LP: UORC 371 (a, c-d); ETERNA Et 740 (b, e-h); CD: RARITIES I (a);
NOTE: These tracks cannot be confirmed as coming from this concert, although it is known that eight items from this concert survive. Between 47.04 and 47.05 Gigli sung in at least 11 concerts according to Luigi Inzaghi. There are also two other tracks on Et 740, “Che gelida manina” and “Ch’ella mi creda” which are also from an unknown source.
48.01
14 May, Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires orchestra conducted by Ettore Panizza
Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea)
Cast: Maria Caniglia (Adriana); BG (Maurizio)
a) Act II: Taci! Lasciami dir …
b) Act IV: No la mia fronte … no piu nobile
LP: EJS 414 (a-b) ANNA 1032 (b); ANNA 1033 (a);
48.02
7 July, Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires Orchestra and chorus conducted by Ettore Panizza
Il trovatore (Verdi)
Cast: Maria Caniglia (Leonora); BG (Manrico); Fedora Barbieri (Azucena) Carlos Guichandut (Conte di Luna)
a) Act I: Tacea la note
b) Act I: Infida … trio to end of act (incomplete)
c) Act II: Mal reggendo
d) Act III: D’amor sull’ali rosee
e) Act III: Ah si ben mio
f) Act IV: Miserere
g) Act IV: Prima che d’altri vivere
LP: EJS 325 (a-b, d-g); ANNA 1032 (e-f); CD: GOP 804 (b-c & e-f);
NOTE: The tracks listed are the authentic arias from the listed performance. Unfortunately, at least three other performances, as well as commercial recordings make up EJS 325 according to both the Record Collector and the EJS Discography. It should be noted that even within track b there is a portion of an unidentified performance with Caniglia, Barbieri and with Paolo Silveri as di Luna.
48.03
17 July, Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires. Orchestra and chorus conducted by Ferruccio Calusio
La traviata (Verdi)
Cast: Rina Gigli (Violetta); BG (Alfredo); Renato Cesari (Germont)
a) Act I: Prelude
b) Act I: Libiamo …
c) Act I: Un di felice eterea
d) Act I: E strano … Ah forse e lui
e) Act I: Sempre libera
f) Act IV: Teneste la promessa…addio del passato
g) Act IV: Parigi o cara …to end of act
CD: PREMIERE OPERA CD 9635 (a-g); RARITIES I (b); RARITIES II (g);
NOTE: This is not complete, with excerpts from acts I & IV only. “Sempre libera” is cut off in mid verse.
48.04
2 August. A benefit concert on behalf of the Italian Red Cross from the Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires. With Luigi Ricci at the piano.
Cast: Beniamino Gigli; Rina Gigli; Maria Caniglia; Fedora Barbieri; Giulio Neri
a) I Vespri Siciliani (Verdi) Merce dilette amiche (Rina Gigli)
b) L’africana (Meyerbeer) O paradiso
c) Manon (Massenet) O dolce incanto
d) Andrea Chenier (Giordano) Un di all’azzurro spazio
e) Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Voi lo sapete (Maria Caniglia)
f) Aprile (Maria Caniglia)
g) Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Tu qui Santuzza (with BG and Maria Caniglia)
CD: DC Collection
NOTE: There was much more music at this concert including the Cherry duet from L’amico Fritz with the two Giglis. Contributions from Neri and Barbieri are also missing. According to the brief announcements included, the tracks listed were the last part of the concert.
48.05
7 August, a concert from the Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires. With Luigi Ricci at the piano.
a) Mignon (Thomas) Addio Mignon
b) Intorno all’idol mio
c) Arianna (Monteverdi) Lasciatemi morire
d) Amarilli
e) Mille Cherubini in core
f) O bei nidi d’amore
g) Serse (Handel) Ombra mai fu
h) I pescatori di perle (Bizet): Mi par d’udir ancora
i) Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle
j) Mattinata
k) L’Arlesiana (Cilea) E la solita storia
l) Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) L’animo ho stanca
m) Gloria (Cilea) Pur dolente son io
n) Vidalita
o) Vidalita (encore)
p) Bella bellina
q) La forza del destino (Verdi) La vite e inferno …
r) Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna e mobile
s) I pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba
t) Mamma
u) Maria mari
v) Core n’grato
CD: PREMIERE OPERA CD 9634 (a-v); RARITIES I (e,m,q,t); RARITIES II (h);
48.06
24 October, concert from Teatro Joao Caetano, accompanied by Affonso Martinez-Grau
a) Mignon (Thomas) Addio Mignon
b) O bei nidi d’amore
c) Arianna (Monteverdi) Lasciatemi morire
d) Mille Cherubini in core
e) Un rêve
f) Serse (Handel) Ombra mai fu
g) Ave Maria
h) Carmen (Bizet) Il fior che avevi
i) L’elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Una furtiva lagrima
j) Se vuoi goder la vita
k) Notte a Venezia
l) Occhi di fata
m) Addio bel sogno
n) Ah l’ammore che ‘ffa fa’
o) Core ‘ngrato
p) Agnus dei
LP: EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (a-f, h-p); ETERNA Et 740 (g, j-k) CD: IDIS 6356-57 (a-i, p); RARITIES II (h,p);
NOTE: Both the EMI disc and the IDIS disc label this concert wrongly as from 1951.
49.01
30 March, a BBC broadcast from the City Hall, Sheffield. With Vito Carnevali at the piano
a) Plaisir d’amour
b) Carmen (Bizet) Il fior che avevi
c) Le roi d’Ys (Lalo) Vainement ma bien-aimée
d) Core ‘ngrato
e) Lo schiavo (Gomes) Quando nacesti tu
f) Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna e mobile
LP: EJS 529 (a-f); CD: SYMPOSIUM 1322
49.02
26 June-11 July, Gigli recorded a complete Carmen sung in Italian for the soundtrack of a film that was never made. It was recorded at the Scalera film studios in Rome. The orchestra and chorus of the Teatro dell’Opera was conducted by Vincenzo Bellezza.
Carmen (Bizet)
Cast: Ebe Stignani (Carmen); BG (Don José); Gino Bechi (Escamillo); Rina Gigli (Micaela); Giulio Tomei (Zuniga); Anna Marcangeli (Frasquita); Fernanda Cadoni (Mercedes); Arturo la Porta (Dancairo) Salvatore De Tomasso (Remendado); Guido Mazzini (Morales)
LP: EMI ITALIANA 153-118255-57; UORC 158; CD: Azzurra Music G121-2; MELODRAM CDM 15005 (excerpts only);
NOTE: This item is placed in part one of this discography as the film was never made.
49.03
22 July, Recorded in Gigli’s hometown of Recanati. With accordion played by Gino Bartozetti.
a) Canzone della formica
b) Mamma
LP: EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (a-b); ANNA 1027 (a-b);
49.04
18 September, a broadcast from the Camden Theatre in London with the BBC Opera Orchestra and chorus conducted by Stanford Robinson.
a) Fedora (Giordano) Amor ti vieta
b) Le roi d’Ys (Lalo) Vainement ma bien aimee
c) Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle
d) Turandot (Puccini) Nessun dorma
CD: SYMPOSIUM 1322 (a-d);
NOTE: Symposium have dated this concert as 1952. However, it has now been found to be from the BBC programme broadcast on 18 September.
49.05
4 October, a broadcast from Radio Olympia. With the BBC Variety Orchestra conducted by Rae Jenkins
a) Core ‘ngrato
CD: EKLIPSE EKR CD21 (a);
49.06
13 October, a BBC broadcast from the Dome, Brighton. With Ivor Newton at the piano
a) La traviata (Verdi) De miei bollenti spiriti
b) Don Giovanni (Mozart) Dalla sua pace
c) Caro mio ben
d) O del mio amato ben
e) La favorita (Donizetti) Spirto gentil
f) La casarella
LP: EJS 529 (a-f); CD SYMPOSIUM 1322 (c-f);
50.01
4 May, a broadcast from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Vatican City. With orchestra of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia conducted by Don Lorenzo Perosi
Il giudizio universale (Perosi)
Cast: Marcella Pobbe (Angel of Peace); BG (Christ); Gianna Pederzini (Spirit of Justice)
LP: EJS 345: CD: Frequenz/Radio Vaticana 061-002
50.02
24 December, Orchestra and chorus of RAI conducted by Alfredo Simonetto.
Manon Lescaut (Puccini)
Cast: Adriana Guerrini (Manon); BG (Des Grieux); Mario Borriello (Lescaut); Mario Zorgnotti (Sergente); Renato Pasquale (Capitano)
a) Act I: Tra voi belle
b) Act I: Cortese damigella … donna non vidi mai
c) Act I: Vedete? Io son Fedele
d) Act II: Sei splendida … In quelle trine morbida
e) Act II: Tu, tu, amore
f) Act III: Presto! In fila! No pazzo son.
g) Act IV: Tutto su me ti posa
h) Act IV: Sola perduta, abondonata … to the end of the opera.
LP: EJS 309 (a-f, h); EJS 329 (g); MELODRAM MEL 15005 (a-f, h);
NOTE: This performance was broadcast complete and has so far only been issued as excerpts. The 1990 discography mentions a second broadcast which the RC discography says track g was from. However, there is no listing of this second broadcast, allegedly from 29 December 1950, either in the listing of RAI performances (50 anni di opera lirica 1931-1980) or in Ricaldone’s chronology or in Inzaghi. It therefore should be presumed that track g is also from 24 December.
51.01
22 January, Martini e Rossi Concert from Turin, with the RAI Orchestra conducted by Armando La Rosa Parodi
a) Turandot (Puccini) Nessun dorma
b) Turandot (Puccini) Nessun dorma (an encore)
LP: EJS 310 (a-b);
51.02
7 February, live from Naples, Teatro San Carlo. With orchestra and chorus conducted by Gianandrea Gavazzeni
L’amico Fritz (Mascagni)
Cast: Rina Gigli (Suzel); Afro Poli (David); Miriam Pirazzini (Beppe); BG (Fritz)
LP: EJS 355; EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (excerpts only); CD: ARCHIPEL ARPCD 0019
51.03
July, Broadcasts over Radio Belgrano from Teatro Gran Rex, Buenos Aires. With Enrico Sivieri at the piano
a) Paride ed Elena (Gluck) Oh del mio dolce ardor
b) Luisa Miller (Verdi) Quando le sere al placido
c) La traviata (Verdi) De miei bollenti spiriti
d) Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna e mobile
e) La forza del destino (Verdi) La vita e inferno … O tu che in seno
f) Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle
g) Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle
h) Turandot (Puccini) Nessun dorma
i) I pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba
j) Fedora (Giordano) Amor ti vieta
k) L’Arlesiana (Cilea) E la solita storia
l) I pescatori di perle (Bizet) Mi par d’udir ancora
m) Werther (Massenet) Ah! non mi ridestar
n) Marta (Flotow) M’appari
o) Lo schiavo (Gomes) Quando nacesti tu
p) Ave Maria
q) Stornelli marini
r) Vidalita
s) Ideale
t) Dormi bimbo
u) Maria mari
v) Mamma
w) Quanno ‘a femmana vo’
x) Povero pulcinella
y) Rondine al nido
z) Torna a Surriento
aa) Core ‘ngrato
bb) Mattinata
cc) Musica proibita
dd) O sole mio
CD: ARKADIA GI 801.2 (a-dd) BONGIOVANNI GB 1089/91 (d,h,j-k, q, r-t, x-z, bb-cc); IDIS 6356-57 (a-c, e-g, I, l-p, bb);
NOTE: Beniamino Gigli sang several concerts at the Gran Rex during July 1951 involving several slightly differing programs. According to Ricaldone’s chronology, the concerts dated 2 July, 26 July and 30 July were the ones broadcast. There were at least four other concerts in the series. It has not so far been possible to confirm which concerts the above tracks come from.
51.04
16 August, broadcast from the Teatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro. Orchestra and chorus conducted by Antonino Votto
La forza del destino (Verdi)
Cast: Elisabetta Barbato (Leonora); BG (Don Alvaro); Enzo Mascherini (Don Carlo); Giulio Neri (Padre Guardiano); Guillermo Neviamo (Fra’ Melitone); Giuseppe Modesti (Marchese di Calatrava)
a) Act I: Me pelegrina ed orfano … to end of act
b) Act II: Son giunta …
c) Act II: La vergine degli angeli
d) Act III: La vita e inferno …
e) Act III: Solenne in quest’ora to the end of the scene
f) Act IV: Giunge qualcun … Invano Alvaro to the end of the opera
LP: EJS 380 (a-f); EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (a, d-f) CD: BONGIOVANNI HOC 062/3 (a-f); IDIS 6356-57 (a,d-f);
NOTE: This performance is not quite complete but does include the tenor role complete, but with the usual stage cuts. Gigli also gives a dressing room interview at the end of Act I, which is in some issues, but not all. This is listed fully in part III of the discography.
51.05
20 August, broadcast from the Teatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro. Orchestra and chorus conducted by Nino Sanzogno.
Fedora (Giordano)
Cast: Elena Nicolai (Fedora); BG (Loris); Diva Pieranti (Olga); Paolo Fortes (De Siriex); Giuseppe Modesti (Cirillo); Antonio Lembo (Grech); Heraldo de Marco (Rouvel); Ernesto de Marco (Boroff); Enrico Sivieri (Lazinki – the pianist)
a) Act I: O grandi occhi lucent …
b) Act I: Egli mi disse …
c) Act II: Oh! Il Signor de Siriex
d) Act II: La donna russa
e) Act II: Amor ti vieta
f) Act II: Principessa de aveste … Infame! Piu non mi sfuggi!
g) Act II: Loris Ipanoff, oggi lo Zar to end of the act.
h) Act III: Complete although without opening chorus
LP: EJS 379 (a-h); EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (g); EKLIPSE EKR 45 (a-h);
NOTE: This performance is not complete. The act II aria, “Amor ti vieta,” on this recording is not from the performance as listed, but from a BBC broadcast dated 25 April 1952 with the BBC Opera Orchestra conducted by Stanford Robinson. The EMI Italiana disc starts at ‘Mia madre.’
51.06
31 August, broadcast from the Teatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro. Orchestra and chorus conducted by Antonino Votto
Manon Lescaut (Puccini)
Cast: Elisabetta Barbato (Manon); BG (Des Grieux); Silvio Vieira (Lescaut); Antonio Lembo (Sergente); Lisandro Sargente (Capitano); Gino del Signore (Edmondo); Guilherme Damiano (Geronte)
LP: UORC 371 (Abridged Acts I-III only: Act IV from 1950 see 50:02); EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (Tra voi belle, Donna non vidi mai, Taci taci): CD PREMIERE OPERA CD 9636 (Abridged Acts I-III only: Act IV some from 1951 and some from 1950 see 50:02); IDIS 6356-57 (Tra voi belle, Donna non vidi mai, Taci taci):
NOTE: The Premiere recording contains Acts I-III and act IV seems to mostly be passages from 50.02. However, the sound picture changes from Manon, senti amor mio to Un soccorso and we seem to perhaps return to the 1951 performance. These few minutes produce a similar sound picture to the live performance and it also sounds more like Barbato.
51.07
7 October, radio concert, broadcast from the Auditorium of Radio Gazeta, Sao Paulo. The symphony orchestra of Radio Gazeta is conducted by Armando Belardi.
a) Werther (Massenet) Ah non mi ridestar
b) Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna e mobile
c) Quanno ‘a femmana vo’
d) La forza del destino (Verdi) Invano Alvaro (with Joaquin Villa)
LP: EJS 310 (a-d); ANNA 1049 (a-d); CD: RARITIES I (d);
NOTE: Four other items were sung at this concert, “Quando nacesti tu,” “Mimosa,” “Core ‘ngrato,” and “O paradiso,” which have so far not come to light.
51.08
23 October, concert recorded from Teatro Jao Caetano, Rio de Janeiro. With Enrico Sivieri at the piano.
a) Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Tra voi belle
b) Quand’il tuo diavol nacque
c) Vaghissima sembianza
d) O del mio amato ben
e) Bella bellina
f) Mimosa
g) Vidalita
h) Luisa Miller (Verdi) Quando le sere al placido
i) I pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba
j) Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna e mobile
k) L’africana (Meyerbeer) O paradiso
l) Rondine al nido
m) La fanciulla del West (Puccini) Ch’ella mi creda
n) Mattinata
LP: EJS 382 (a-n); EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (b-c, h); HRE 213 (a-n); CD: IDIS 6356-57 (b-c, h);
NOTE: This is not the complete concert. Four songs from the program are missing from what has been released so far and they are songs that Gigli did not sing very often. They are “Dint ‘o suonno” (not recorded by Gigli at all), “Senza nisciuno,” “Sentinella,” and “Se.”
51.09
25 October, concert recorded from Teatro Jao Caetano, Rio de Janeiro. With Enrico Sivieri at the piano.
a) L’elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Una furtive lagrima
b) Ave Maria
c) I pescatori di perle (Bizet) Mi par d’udir ancora
d) Core ‘ngrato
e) Werther (Massenet) Ah! non mi ridestar
f) Ideale
g) Ideale
h) Musica proibita
i) Povero pulcinella
j) Ah! L’ammore che ‘ffa fa
k) Torna e Surriento
l) I pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba
m) Lo schiavo (Gomes) Quando nacesti tu
n) La bohème (Puccini) Che gelida manina
o) Se vuoi goder la vita
p) Maria mari
q) Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle
LP: EJS 382 (a-k, q); EJS 403 (l-n); EJS 464 (o-p); HRE 213 (a-f); CD: RARITIES I (k,o);
NOTE: This concert is not complete with several items missing including, “E la solita storia,” “Chanson Hindoue,” “O dolce incanto,” “Notte a Venezia,” “Occhi di fata,” “O sole mio,” and “Il fior che avevi” from Carmen.
52.01
8 January, Teatro San Carlo, Naples. Orchestra and chorus conducted by Franco Patane
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni)
Cast: Adelina Campi (Santuzza); BG (Turridu); Piero Guelfi (Alfio); Amalia Pini (Lola); Irene Acampora (Mamma Lucia)
LP: EJS 350: EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (excerpts only); CD: OPERA FANATIC OF57;
52.02
8 January, Teatro San Carlo, Naples. Orchestra and chorus conducted by Franco Patane
I pagliacci (Leoncavallo)
Cast: BG (Canio); Pina Malgarini (Nedda); Giuseppe Gentile (Tonio); Saturno Meletti (Silvio); Piero de Palma (Beppe);
LP: EJS 351: EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (excerpts only); CD: OPERA FANATIC OF57;
52.03
25 April, a broadcast recorded from the concert hall at BBC Broadcasting House, with the BBC Opera Orchestra and chorus conducted by Stanford Robinson
a) La Rondine (Puccini) Dimmi che vuoi
b) Bella bellina
c) Fedora (Giordano) Amor ti vieta
d) Ideale
e) Caro mio ben
f) Plaisir d’amour
g) Marta (Flotow) M’appari
h) L’africana (Meyerbeer) O paradiso
i) I pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba
j) Turandot (Puccini) Nessun dorma
LP: EJS 329 (a-d); EJS 336 (e-i); CD: EKLIPSE EKRCD 21 (a-i);
NOTE: Track j is listed as being part of this concert, but it has not been issued on the Eklipse discs. Symposium have listed a Nessun dorma as being from 1952 but it is actually from 1949.
52.04
31 October, a broadcast recorded from the concert hall at BBC Broadcasting House, with the Philharmonia orchestra conducted by Stanford Robinson
a) Core ‘ngrato
b) L’elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Una furtiva lagrima
c) I pescatori di perle (Bizet) Mi par d’udir ancora
d) Ave Maria
e) Marechiare
f) Che ‘sso turnato a fa?
g) Maria mari
LP: EJS 336 (a-d); EJS 357 (e-g); CD: EKLIPSE EKRCD 21 (a-g); RARITIES I (a, f);
NOTE: This BBC recording was recorded on the date shown, but not broadcast until 25 December 1952
52.05
3 November. This was recorded at the Royal Variety Performance from the stage of the London Palladium. With Enrico Sivieri at the piano.
a) I pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba
b) Torna a Surriento (with Gracie Fields)
CD: EKLIPSE EKRCD 21 (a-b);
NOTE: This was recorded live on the date listed but broadcast on 9 November. Gigli and Gracie Fields performed this song as a duet.
52.06
25 November, concert live from the Stockholm Concert Hall. With Enrico Sivieri at the piano.
a) Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Tra voi belle
b) Vaghissima sembianza
c) O del mio amato ben
d) Notte a Venezia
e) Bella bellina
f) Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) L’anima ho stanco
g) L’africana (Meyerbeer) O paradiso
h) Luisa Miller (Verdi) Quando le sere al placido
i) Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna e mobile
j) Core ‘ngrato
k) Quanno ‘a femmena vo’
l) Carmen (Bizet) Il fior che avevi
m) Aïda (Verdi) Celeste Aïda
o) Reviens mon amour
p) Un rêve
q) Musica proibita
r) Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle
s) La bohème (Puccini) Che gelida manina
t) Rondine al nido
u) Sentinella
v) Che sso turnato a fa?
w) La fanciulla del West (Puccini) Ch’ella mi creda
x) Torna a Surriento
y) Maria mari
z) Maria mari (encore)
CD: BLUEBELL ABCD 076 (a-z); BONGIOVANNI GB 1189-91 (a-b, e-f, k, o-p, s);
53.01
17 January, live from Naples, Teatro San Carlo. With orchestra and chorus conducted by Gianandrea Gavazzeni
L’elisir d’amore (Donizetti)
Cast: Rina Gigli (Adina); BG (Nemorino); Giuseppe Taddei (Belcore); Italo Tajo (Dulcamara); Anna Maria Borrelli (Gianetta)
LP: EJS 354; CD: BONGIOVANNI HOC 035-036;
53.02
9 February, Martini & Rossi concert with RAI orchestra conducted by Nino Antonellini
a) I pescatori di perle (Bizet) Mi par d’udir ancora
b) Lodoletta (Mascagni) Ah, ritrovarla nella sua capanna
c) Fedora (Giordano) Amor ti vieta
d) La juive (Halevy) Rachel quand du seigneur
e) La traviata (Verdi) Ah fors’ e lui … Sempre libera with Rosanna Carteri
LP: EJS 310 (a-c); EJS 247 (d); MRF 43 (e); FONIT-CETRA CDMR 5005 (a-d); RARITIES II (b-d);
53.03
14 May, privately recorded at Beniamino Gigli’s house in Rome with Enrico Sivieri at the piano
a) I pescatori di perle (Bizet) Del tempio al limitar (with Walter Vagnozzi)
b) L’amico Fritz (Mascagni) Suzel, buon di … tutto tace (with Orietta Moscucci)
LP: EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (a); UORC 371 (a); CD DC collection (a-b);
NOTE: According to Ricaldone, this is seen as a rehearsal for the next day’s benefit concert with the same three artists as well as Giulio Neri.
53.04
8 November, recorded at the Sportspalast Berlin. This concert is with the RIAS Orchestra conducted by Zoltan Fekete as well as with Enrico Sivieri at the piano.
a) L’africana (Meyerbeer) O paradiso
b) Serse (Handel) Ombra mai fu
c) Don Giovanni (Mozart) Dalla sua pace
d) Guten abend, gute nacht
e) Musica proibita
f) Carmen (Bizet) Il fior che avevi a me tu dato
g) Aïda (Verdi) Celeste Aïda
h) Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna e mobile
i) Manon (Massenet) O dolce incanto
j) La bohème (Puccini) Che gelida manina
k) Notte a Venezia
l) Ave Maria
m) Tre parole
n) Core ‘ngrato
o) Mattinata
p) Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle
q) I pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba
r) Quanno ‘a femmena vo’
s) Maria mari
LP: MELODRAM MEL 220 (a-s); CD: MELODRAM CD 00146 (a-s); BONGIOVANNI GB 1189-91 (a, p-q);
NOTE: The two-lp set from Melodram contains the orchestral overtures as well as all the vocal pieces. The overtures were from Prince Igor (Borodin), La forza del destino (Verdi) and I vespri siciliani (Verdi)
53.05
21 December, a Martini & Rossi concert live from the Teatro Municipale in San Remo with the RAI orchestra of Milan conducted by Nino Sanzogno
a) Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle
b) Marta (Flotow) M’appari
c) L’elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Una furtiva lagrima
d) Andrea Chenier (Giordano) Un di all’azzurro spazio
LP: FONIT CETRA LMR 5005 (a-d); CD: FONIT-CETRA CDMR 5005 (a-d); RARITIES II (d);
54.01
29 August, Gigli at his home town of Recanati to celebrate 40 years of singing.
a) Canzone della formica
b) La campana di San Giusto
LP: TIMA CLUB Tima 69-70 (a-b); CD: CLAMA CD-5 (a-b);
NOTE: These two tracks were preceded by speeches from the Mayor of Recanati, Luigi Flamini and Gigli himself. He also sings “Se vuoi goder la vita” and “Mamma,” which have not been published officially as yet. See part III for other details on this occasion.
54.02
31 October, Concert at the Great Exhibition Hall in Helsinki, Finland with Enrico Sivieri at the piano. Broadcast from Finnish Radio.
a) L’africana (Meyerbeer) O paradiso
b) I pescatori di perle (Bizet) Mi par d’udir ancora
c) Un rêve
d) In the silence of the night
e) Mattinata
f) Carmen (Bizet) Il fior che avevi a me tu dato
g) Dormi bimbo
h) Povero pulcinella
i) I pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba
LP: ANNA 1071 (a-i); CD: FUGA 9172 (a-i); RARITIES I (d, i)
54.03
27 December, a Martini & Rossi concert live from the Teatro Municipale in San Remo with the RAI orchestra of Milan conducted by Alfredo Simonetto
a) L’africana (Meyerbeer) O paradiso
b) Werther (Massenet) Ah! non mi ridestar
c) L’arlesiana (Cilea) E la solita storia
d) Andrea Chenier (Giordano) Un di all’azzurro spazio
LP: EJS 262 (a-d); FONIT CETRA LMR 5002 (a-d); CD: FONIT CETRA CDMR 5002 (a-d);
NOTE: This was a joint concert with Maria Callas. She sang arias from Il ratto del Seraglio, Dinorah, Louise and Armida. There were no duets from this concert.
55.01
17 February, Broadcast of appearance at the Vienna Konzerthaus in Vienna. With Dino Fedri conducting the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and at the piano.
a) L’elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Una furtiva lagrima
b) Le violette
c) Don Giovanni (Mozart) Dalla sua pace
d) Reviens mon amour
e) Guten abend, gute nacht
f) Mille cherubino in core
g) L’africana (Meyerbeer) O paradiso
h) Mattinata
i) Marta (Flotow) M’appari
j) Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna e mobile
k) Musica proibita
l) Carmen (Bizet) Il fior che avevi a me tu dato
m) Core n’grato
n) Tre parole
o) Ave Maria
p) I pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba
q) Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle
r) Non ti scordar di me
s) Maria mari
CD: BONGIOVANNI GB 1055-6 (a-s);
55.02
21 March, BBC recording at Maida Vale studios with the BBC Theatre Orchestra conducted by Stanford Robinson and Dino Fedri at the piano
a) L’elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Una furtiva lagrima
b) Torna a Surriento
c) Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle
d) Ritorna amore
LP: EJS 357 (a-d); EKLIPSE EKRCD 21 (a-d);
NOTE: This was recorded on 21 March for broadcast three days later, on March 24.
55.03
2 May, Concert at Massey Hall in Toronto, Canada. With Dino Fedri at the piano.
a) Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna e mobile
LP: EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (a);
NOTE: All the items from the two Canadian concerts (55.03 & 55.04) were seemingly recorded by Gigli fan, Jean Holt. EMI Italiana labelled their Mattinata as originating in Toronto; however, the acoustic is exactly the same as the other tracks on this disc from Montreal.
55.04
12 May, Concert at the Forum Amphitheatre in Montreal, Canada. With the Montreal Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alfredo Antonini
a) L’elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Una furtiva lagrima
b) Mille Cherubini in core
c) L’africana (Meyerbeer) O paradiso
d) Mattinata
e) Marta (Flotow) M’appari
f) Musica proibita
g) Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna e mobile
h) Core ‘ngrato
i) Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle
j) Reviens mon amour
l) Dormi bimbo
m) Notte a Venezia
n) Mamma
o) Torna e Surriento
p) Quanno ‘a femmena vo’
q) I pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba
r) Maria mari
LP: ANNA 1071 (a-r); EMI ITALIANA 153-54010-17 (d, f, h, l, o-p, r);
55.05
12 December, Television broadcast of Gigli at his house in Rome with Eric Robinson at the piano
a) Adeste fideles
b) Guten abend, gute nacht
LP: EJS 469 (a-b);
NOTE: This is the final professional engagement of Beniamino Gigli. These two items were recorded in his house at Rome, accompanied by Eric Robinson. They were broadcast on Eric Robinson’s BBC ‘Music for you’ programme on 25 December. An orchestra and small chorus were added to the piano for the programme.
David Cutler: October 2024
TEST