Search - Pietro Adolfo Tirindelli, Edouard Lalo, Paolo Tosti :: Carlo Bergonzi in concerto

The Tenor of The Century

Rick Holden (sceptic.one@mindspring | Huntsville, AL | 10/16/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although the new century doesn't really begin until January 1st, 2001, people seem bent on declaring The Best Book of the Century, or The Most Important Invention, and so on. Bergonzi is now 75 and although that beautiful golden tone is still there, the voice is a little tired and the top no longer secure. But, by every standard, Carlo Bergonzi IS The Tenor of The Century. The only "converted" baritone who really sounded like a tenor, Bergonzi has had a long and distinguished career. The voice has always been beautiful, unique, of more than sufficient volumn, perfectly placed, and intelligently used. Secure throughout its full range, with a ringing top until about age fifty when throat problems began to interfere on occasion, the voice was as near perfection as a voice could be. Character counts, too. Bergonzi never gave a half-hearted performance, never acted the "prima donna," never cancelled without good reason, and always showed respect for his audience. He once apologized to a Met audience because his old throat problems had come upon him just before curtain time, but he wanted to go on anyway and not disappoint. I saw him in recital at age 58 and his voice started to crack during a sustained note; the close eyes popped open, there was a visible struggle--and he literally restored his voice. I saw him a year later in "I Lombardi," with Cristina Deutikom and Paul Plishka, and the voice was strong and secure, soaring over orchestra and chorus with ease. Frequently, his final encore piece was the the song, "Non To Scordar Di Me" (Don't Forget me). No one who heard him ever will. This century has had an abundance of great tenors--Caruso, Gigli, Bjoerling, Tagliavini, DiStefano, Domingo, Corelli, Peerce, Pavarotti, Prevedi, Konya, Tauber, Tucker, Del Monaco, Aragall, Carreras, Wunderlich, and recently, Alagna, Hepner, Cura, Bocelli--and none of them are diminished by giving acknowlegement to Bergonzi. If we must give a "best" to someone, then that honor goes to Carlo Bergonzi; as the Spanish say, No hay que uno!"