For beauty of sound in arias by Donizetti, Puccini, Bizet, Giordano, and Verdi, Beniamino Gigli (1890-1957) remains unsurpassed. The delicacy and softness of his voice, which Italians call morbidezza, make his recordings a sensuous experience, from his Pearl Fishers Duet with Giuseppe De Luca to the Sextet from Lucia di Lammermoor with Galli-Curci, ‘Donna non vidi mai’ from Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, and a host of others.
The tonal palette of his singing, particularly expressive in the passaggio between the head and chest voices, was varied, with mercurial shifts. Ardent fans even excuse Gigli’s characteristic sobs and gulps, which convey emotion in a way comparable to the catch in Judi Dench’s voice that makes her Shakespearian monologues so touching. Gigli’s portamento (sliding a pitch from one note to another), gave his…
