Gigli sings “O del mio dolce ardor, “ from Christoph Willibald Gluck’s “Paride ed Elena“ 1935

Gigli’s masterful sense of melodic line brings this ancient aria (1770) to life in a unique way. Old arias and songs such as this have for many years constituted the literature with which aspiring young classical singers begin their studies. Most , however, are not able to grasp, until much later in their careers, what is required to enter into the spirit of such a piece. It is in fact extremely difficult in terms of line and phrasing. Gluck’s phrases are exceptionally long, as are those of Bellini. The line is easily broken, and the beauty of the song can evaporate. Gigli’s ease of vocal production, and ability to sustain a very long melodic phrase show how beautiful this ancient air can be in the hands of one of the greatest of singers. YOU CAN FOLLOW MY BLOG AT: