Cortigiani, vil razza, fr. Rigoletto / Titta Ruffo & Chorus

[Wolfe]

From Act II of Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto

This recording brings full drama to bear upon this music. One of the rarer times on old 78's when you can get the illusion of it being acted out in the studio instead of merely sung. This was ecorded in 1908.

Povero Rigoletto (Poor Rigoletto)...Cortigiani vil razza, danatta (Deceitful courtiers, race of cowards.)

Titta Ruffo (1877-1953) sung in opera from 1898 to 1929 and had an extremly successful career.







PLAY

[OrthoSean]

A nice Ruffo, indeed! I've always liked his singing, even on the two very late electrics he did which went unissued on Victor (for obvious technical reasons) until Addison Foster reissued them later.

Sean

[Wolfe]

I like most of my Ruffo records as well.

Big exception being the famous Otello duet with Enrico Caruso. it gets praise from some quarters, but for me it devolves too much into a shouting match.