Chiedo gentilmente di non copiare e riproporre questo materiale così come è nel rispetto del lavoro svolto ma anche dell’esclusività stessa. Si può condividere con il link. Grazie...EJR
Dear EJR, I noticed that one of your videos (Mario Del Monaco Non piangere, Liù! 1952 Audio HQ) is not working. Could you pls upload it again? Thank you.
It was Del Monaco's second visit to Yugoslavia. The first time he was a guest at the Belgrade Opera, he sang Don José in Carmen and that happened, if I'm not mistaken, in 1960. This second time, his visit was raised to the level of a state event in the presence of Marshal Tito in the audience. This information I am presenting may not be correct, and my father can't help since he doesn't really remember those events anymore, but I think that on that occasion MDM was awarded one of the highest state orders by President Tito. In a country which in 1945 was on the winning, anti-fascist side and which through partisan resistance and sacrifice finally stood side by side with the great nations, so much so that Tito was highly respected in the West, even though Yugoslavia was a socialist country, a great tenor was seen as a friend of the people and a comrade, he was as much admired here for his famous voice as he was respected for his personal qualities and his well known anti-fascism. As shown in this video, Tito received MDM very cordially, (you can see a gallant gesture when Del Monaco kisses the hand of Jovanka, Tito's wife, which was not the usual custom of etiquette in our socialist court, but it shows MDM's demeanor so beautifully, he truly was the king among this communist bunch). It was impossible to get a ticket for either of the two performances. Del Monaco's partners were the leading sopranos of the Belgrade Opera, then the young and beautiful Radmila Bakočević (Norma) and Milka Stojanović (Desdemona). Was he just being nice to his younger colleagues or were they really good? (both sopranos achieved great careers, considering the low relevance of the Belgrade opera scene from which they started, reaching even the lights of major opera houses and even the stage of the Met - Bakočević may still hold the record for the number of Normas she sang, and Stojanović was declared one of the most beautiful soprano voices when she sang in New York; both ladies still living in Belgrade and looking great in their advanced age!) - but MDM had nothing but praise for their performances. Tito attended the performance of Otello on the second night, certainly the story he liked better, lol, jealousy, love passion and intrigue, Norma is about demanding singing and rigid characters, although in Norma, he would have cheered for Pollione for sure. Tito loved artists and understood music, supposedly, he played the piano (only in pictures, for posing and that was it, I pretty much doubt his bigger skills ), but opera was his weakness! His romantic attempts, according to ( whispered) rumours, were rejected by Zinka Milanov herself, no more, no less! My parents, who were newlyweds at the time, wanted very much to hear the famous tenor they loved. Alas, with all the pomp of the state officials, the diplomatic corps and special guests, understandably, there were not many free seats left for ordinary music/opera lovers, and the auditorium of the National Theater in Belgrade is quite small in terms of capacity. In additon to that, the acoustics in the hall are also awkward ( Domingo has some "good" memories of the acoustics there), vacuums up the sound although for MDM's stentorian voice a deaf hall could hardly be an obstacle, he simply sang across the entire Republic Square which is the place where the Theater is located. My mother was expecting a baby. I don't think I ever forgave her for not giving me the chance to hear that magnificent voice, I'm sure I would have remembered it until the last wondrous sound, and I was born in the spring of 1971.
@SuperMagren Good morning, dear SuperMagren, lovely to hear a word from You! ..our favorite voices for sure, MDM, most exciting, magnetic, Di Stefano's most beautiful lyrical voice ever, I love them, unforgettable artists. With Corelli, what a trio of legends they make! Wish You a wonderful day!
Chiedo gentilmente di non copiare e riproporre questo materiale così come è nel rispetto del lavoro svolto ma anche dell’esclusività stessa. Si può condividere con il link. Grazie...EJR
Dear EJR, I noticed that one of your videos (Mario Del Monaco Non piangere, Liù! 1952 Audio HQ) is not working. Could you pls upload it again?
Thank you.
seit über 60 jahren liebe u. verehre ich diesen großartigen künstler! aber sattgesehen? nein, ich lechzt nach mehr!! danke!
Sublime et inégalable Mario Del Monaco !!!
Voix splendide au timbre extraordinaire !!!
C'est le plus grand ténor du monde.
It was Del Monaco's second visit to Yugoslavia. The first time he was a guest at the Belgrade Opera, he sang Don José in Carmen and that happened, if I'm not mistaken, in 1960. This second time, his visit was raised to the level of a state event in the presence of Marshal Tito in the audience. This information I am presenting may not be correct, and my father can't help since he doesn't really remember those events anymore, but I think that on that occasion MDM was awarded one of the highest state orders by President Tito. In a country which in 1945 was on the winning, anti-fascist side and which through partisan resistance and sacrifice finally stood side by side with the great nations, so much so that Tito was highly respected in the West, even though Yugoslavia was a socialist country, a great tenor was seen as a friend of the people and a comrade, he was as much admired here for his famous voice as he was respected for his personal qualities and his well known anti-fascism. As shown in this video, Tito received MDM very cordially, (you can see a gallant gesture when Del Monaco kisses the hand of Jovanka, Tito's wife, which was not the usual custom of etiquette in our socialist court, but it shows MDM's demeanor so beautifully, he truly was the king among this communist bunch).
It was impossible to get a ticket for either of the two performances. Del Monaco's partners were the leading sopranos of the Belgrade Opera, then the young and beautiful Radmila Bakočević (Norma) and Milka Stojanović (Desdemona). Was he just being nice to his younger colleagues or were they really good? (both sopranos achieved great careers, considering the low relevance of the Belgrade opera scene from which they started, reaching even the lights of major opera houses and even the stage of the Met - Bakočević may still hold the record for the number of Normas she sang, and Stojanović was declared one of the most beautiful soprano voices when she sang in New York; both ladies still living in Belgrade and looking great in their advanced age!) - but MDM had nothing but praise for their performances. Tito attended the performance of Otello on the second night, certainly the story he liked better, lol, jealousy, love passion and intrigue, Norma is about demanding singing and rigid characters, although in Norma, he would have cheered for Pollione for sure. Tito loved artists and understood music, supposedly, he played the piano (only in pictures, for posing and that was it, I pretty much doubt his bigger skills ), but opera was his weakness! His romantic attempts, according to ( whispered) rumours, were rejected by Zinka Milanov herself, no more, no less!
My parents, who were newlyweds at the time, wanted very much to hear the famous tenor they loved. Alas, with all the pomp of the state officials, the diplomatic corps and special guests, understandably, there were not many free seats left for ordinary music/opera lovers, and the auditorium of the National Theater in Belgrade is quite small in terms of capacity. In additon to that, the acoustics in the hall are also awkward ( Domingo has some "good" memories of the acoustics there), vacuums up the sound although for MDM's stentorian voice a deaf hall could hardly be an obstacle, he simply sang across the entire Republic Square which is the place where the Theater is located.
My mother was expecting a baby. I don't think I ever forgave her for not giving me the chance to hear that magnificent voice, I'm sure I would have remembered it until the last wondrous sound, and I was born in the spring of 1971.
@SuperMagren Good morning, dear SuperMagren, lovely to hear a word from You! ..our favorite voices for sure, MDM, most exciting, magnetic, Di Stefano's most beautiful lyrical voice ever, I love them, unforgettable artists. With Corelli, what a trio of legends they make!
Wish You a wonderful day!
Гений