The Young Giuseppe Di Stefano - Opera Arias & Songs Testament

Young Di Stefano is the most perfect recorded tenor voice I’ve ever heard. I’ll leave it to others here to elaborate on that, will just note that this CD has, along with the famous 1944 and 1947 sessions, some material that’s of poorer recording quality, as well as some mid-50s tracks where he already, sadly, makes that “duck” sound. As a result, did not get to enjoy this disc as much as I anticipated.

This CD is corny, sentimental, and absolutely wonderful. A collection of old Italian folk songs and opera, but di Stefano sings with such warmth, clarity, and sincerity it's as if I'm hearing some of these for the very first time. Unlike other performers, who seem to feel that the music is a mere vehicle for displaying their vast "talent," there is not a particle of arrogance about di Stefano. You don't have to be a music scholar, and you don't even have to know Italian; all you need is ears, and this will pull you in completely. I say buy two because you'll want one for yourself, and you'll also want one to give to someone you really like.

This collection takes us from Di Stefano's very first recordings ("Vola, Vola, Vola" and "Canto ma Sotto Voce"), under the pseudonym Nino Flavio, to his late mid career recordings ("Passione") (which span from aproximately 1944 to 1959) and all of the selections are done exquisitely. The selections that are real standouts here are the two selections from Mignon by Thomas, the rarely recorded "Avete Torto" from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, "E Lucevan le Stelle" from Tosca, and the two Fanciulla del West arias. This is also the best recording of Bixio's "Mamma" you'll ever hope to hear. Treat yourself to a recording of one of the most beautiful voices of all time in his absolute glorious prime. The one thing this recording will leave you wanting is more Di Stefano!

Other tenors had better techniques, but no other, not Bjorling, not Gigli, not even Bergonzi had a bigger heart than Giuseppe Di Stefano. When Pippo sang, he meant every word. And his voice was like sunshine. Those of us lucky to have heard him live (in my case not that long ago), know that he is a living miracle.

Di Stefano developed a type of asthma around 1960 and some say he struggled after that. These recordings were all made between 1944 and 1956 when he was at his vocal prime. Di Stefano was unusual in that despite his undoubted talent he wasn't a 'superstar' of opera but was more focused on presenting his art in the way that suited him. Well known spats with major opera houses like the Met didn't help. However his voice is tremendous and capable of producing spine tingling performances of every kind of song from grand opera to traditional Italian folk songs.His diction is near perfect and he maintains a sharpness and focus, never seeming to wander off pitch and he does this without using some of the 'tricks' employed by other tenors of his generation.Listening to the modern tenor Joseph Calleja brought me back to Di Stefano whom I hadn't played for years. Calleja and Di Stefano to me have a very similar tone and timbre and both are extremely easy to listen to. I can thoroughly recommend this recording, although I must admit to paying £5 for a used copy rather than £25 for a new one!