Top Ten Songs Installment 3

From my most favorite opera, "La Boheme"
I give to you O Soave Funciulla, a song with angelic quality

The story behind this moment of song is:
After her candle blows out and she finds that she has no matches, Mimi,
goes down the hall to Rudolpho's room and their relationship is begun.
They share of their past and mutual attraction is there.
This song is sung as they prepare to go outside. They are singing of their new-found love.

In alot of my reading and watching, it is said that both Italian singers, and Italian opera is cold.
I have not found this to be true.
I have always felt quite a bit of warmth from the music in this Opera in particular.
I am not as well-listened as I would like to be so maybe I have missed something.

The version I present before you is the very first version
I saw as a 12 year old girl, dreaming of being a singer/songwriter one day.
Jussi Bjoerlin is among my favorite tenors of all time.

Some others to listen to are:
Nellie Melba
Joan Sutherland
Maria Callas 
Rosa Ponselle 
Tito Scipa (Singing Mappari is brilliant!) 
Beniamino Gigli 


 Here it is for your listening pleasure.

Renata Tabaldi and Jussi Bjoerlin

Three more film gems in my humble opinion.
Wonderful operatic moments!

Richard Tauber sings Schubert's Serenade

Tito Schipa Sings Mappari 

One of my other favorite pieces also by Puccini
Maria Callas Sings Vissa D'art from Tosca

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