Beniamino GIGLI - Ridi PAGLIACCIO DVD 1942 / Conducted by Luigi Ricci / Bel Canto Society BCS-D0513 / Starring: Alida Valli, Paul Hörbiger / Black & White

UPC 789984051368

MADE IN EU

REGION 0 NTSC DVD (ALL REGIONS)

Audio: PCM mono

Total Runtime: 85 minutes

English Summary:

Gigli, Alida Valli, Paul Hörbiger...Luigi RICCI, conductor.The best plot of any Gigli movie.Paul Hörbiger movingly portrays the real-life Canio on whom the opera was based. In the opera's premiere, Gigli is the Canio. To express the drama, he colors his voice far more than any other Canio on film or record. The film includes nearly the entire role.In Ridi Pagliaccio Gigli's voice is more mature--and more appropriate for the part--than in his 1934 recording. On the recording he is colder and less detailed interpretively. It was made before he had stage experience with the role, whereas the film dates from 1942, when he was appearing as Canio at the Rome Opera. In the 1934 recording he gives priority to sonority. In Ridi Pagliaccio he gives priority to emotion. 

The powerful plot concerns Canio after prison, and the composition and premiere of Pagliacci. Paul Hoerbiger movingly portrays the real-life Canio. In the opera's premiere, Gigli is the Canio. To express the drama, he colors his voice far more than any other Canio on film or record.

In Ridi, pagliaccio Gigli's voice is more mature--and more appropriate for the part--than in his 1934 recording, on EMI. On the recording he is less secure rhythmically and colder and less detailed interpretively. It was made before he had stage experience with the role, whereas the film was produced a month after he sang a run of Canios at the Rome Opera. (A live version, from 1952, is exciting, but the CD transfer, on Eklipse, has pitch problems so severe that his voice is hard to recognize.)

Gigli's mezza voce remained ravishing to the end of his career. In Ridi pagliaccio he purrs "Prendi: l'anel ti dono," from Sonnambula, with surpassing sweetness.

The music in the film breathes beautifully, presumably thanks to the conducting of the legendary Luigi Ricci. This is a rare recorded example of his work. (He is remembered as a coach to Gigli, Olivero and others and was a composer in his own right.)

For all these reasons I watch the film again and again.--Stefan Zucker

Beniamino Gigli (pronounced [benjaˈmiːno ˈdʒiʎʎi]; 20 March 1890 – 30 November 1957) was an Italian opera singer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest tenors of his generation.

Early in his career, Gigli possessed a beautiful, soft and honey-like lyric voice, with incredible mezza-voice, allowing him to sing light, lyrical roles. As he grew older, his voice developed some dramatic qualities, enabling him to sing heavier roles like Aida and Tosca. Some critics say that he was over-emotional during his performances, often resolving to sobbing and in some cases, exaggerations.