Franco Corelli

Corelli (8 April 1921 – 29 October 2003), affectionately dubbed the “Prince of Tenors”, was in the 50’s, and 60’s, one of the most exciting and virile voices around. Still today, his ferocity, intensity, trumpet like sound, and ability to scale down his voice, combine to be remembered as a voice like no other.

It did not harm him, that Corelli had movie star good looks. He was not from a musical family, and romanticized legend has it that he never took a voice lesson in his life. What is true, is that he was largely self-taught; his technique and histrionic singing was  not always “by the book.”

Here he is live as Cavaradossi:

Combined with an electrifying  voice and dreamy looks, he was popular at all the world’s greatest opera houses. He sang the entire canon of Italian opera, but rang out best in dramatic roles. Corelli never had an exclusive contract, and recorded for all of the major labels. His best recordings include a Turandot with Nilsson and Scotto, a Serafin Norma with Callas, Ludwig, and Zaccaria, and a Karajan Carmen, with Price, Merrill, and Freni.

Here is a collection of his incomparable “diminuendos”:

Corelli had a lisp, and was suffered notoriously from severe stage fright. His wife Loretta di Lelio, also an opera singer, traveled with him to most of his engagements.

Incidentally, I have his autograph.

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