Ezio Pinza is perhaps best remembered for his portrayal of de Becque in
South Pacific,
but he was a splendid basso and international opera star.
Ezio Pinza is perhaps best remembered for his portrayal of de Becque in
South Pacific,
but he was a splendid basso and international opera star.
This recording is from the late twenties or early thirties. Rethberg’s voice is characteristically vibrant and the vocal line is musical. Pinza is likewise more than acceptable even though he has a rather droning vocal part. And Gigli demonstrates the lack of line and the over-the-top tenorisms that were his trademark. His voice is clear and exciting—but he mucks it up with his intolerable sobbing shtick. The record itself is in fairly good shape except for the unfortunate distortion on the final chord, in this instance probably caused by much play with a worn needle.
