I love watching Luciano Pavarotti sing “Nel cor più non mi sento” from Giovanni Paisiello's 1788 opera La Molinara Hello friends, If you mention the “yellow book” to any current or former vocal student, they would know exactly what you were talking about.
Here is the full list of songs from the book. I may start posting some other favorites in the comment section. So many beautiful ones to choose from! If only my younger self could see this! 🙈
When I first started reading your comments about the "yellow book," I groaned to myself, "This sounds like another example like 'The Art of the Fugue.' " Bach's voluminous works on the fugue are characterized as superb examples of great composing, surely require great virtuosity, and are also boring as hell. So, I had very low expectations while I listened to your yellow book examples, and I was surprised and delighted to hear them. Of course, the singers you chose could make singing a telephone book sound wonderful - if there still were telephone books.
Sadly, many voice teachers (mine included) do not tell their students that some of the works in the 24 Italian Songs and Arias come from actual operas of the 17th century. That is, the arias are part of an opera & that they fit within a larger narrative work with characters, emotions, etc. The great singers who still sing these songs and arias learn/know this and they bring all their craft to them. Pavarotti was one who performed these arias in recital. A great example is a recital one can fine on YouTube at the Brooklyn Academy of Music early in his career (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPJisqcDgDg&list=PLNvlNmiC23ap6MZGghkDvFeZqwLE37rVM) and on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Luciano-Pavarotti-Recital-York-1973/dp/B0000019VI). In this recital the first THREE works are from the 24! A fascating glimpse of what these Song and Arias can become when approached with the right perspective. I wish that EVERY voice teacher would impress on their students their absolute seriousness as works of art (as they certainly were when they were written in the 17th century). I'll never forget hearing Pavarotti sing "Caro mio ben"!! What a revelation after having heard so many frestman voice students sing it (or attempt to sing it). Give those YouTube vidoes some time; you'll not regret it (only caveat is that the recording is by an audience member, I think, so that quality is lacking, but the sincerity of the performers is obvious).
Here is the full list of songs from the book. I may start posting some other favorites in the comment section. So many beautiful ones to choose from! If only my younger self could see this! 🙈
Alma Del Core
Amarilli, Mia Bella
Caro Mio Ben
Che Fiero Costume
Comme Raggio Di Sol
Danza, Danza, Fanciulla Gentile
Gia Il Sole Dal Gange
Il Mio Bel Foco
Lasciatemi Morire
Le Violette
Nel Cor Piu Non Sento
Nina
Non Posso Disperar
O Cessate Di Piagarmi
O Del Mio Dolce Ardor
Per La Gloria D'Adorarvi
Pieta, Signore
Pur Dicesti, O Bocca Bella
Se Florindo E Fedele
Se Tu M'ami
Sebben, Crudele
Tu Lo Sai
Vergin, Tutto Amor
Vittoria, Mio Co
When I first started reading your comments about the "yellow book," I groaned to myself, "This sounds like another example like 'The Art of the Fugue.' " Bach's voluminous works on the fugue are characterized as superb examples of great composing, surely require great virtuosity, and are also boring as hell. So, I had very low expectations while I listened to your yellow book examples, and I was surprised and delighted to hear them. Of course, the singers you chose could make singing a telephone book sound wonderful - if there still were telephone books.
Another favorite shared by a reader this morning: Teresa Berganza singing Le violette from Scarlatti's opera "Pirro e Demetrio" (1694)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAb_qkTO3-E
Pavarotti recorded Beethovens' In Questo Tomba Oscuro which is unforgettable and deeply moving that students could sing as well.
Sadly, many voice teachers (mine included) do not tell their students that some of the works in the 24 Italian Songs and Arias come from actual operas of the 17th century. That is, the arias are part of an opera & that they fit within a larger narrative work with characters, emotions, etc. The great singers who still sing these songs and arias learn/know this and they bring all their craft to them. Pavarotti was one who performed these arias in recital. A great example is a recital one can fine on YouTube at the Brooklyn Academy of Music early in his career (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPJisqcDgDg&list=PLNvlNmiC23ap6MZGghkDvFeZqwLE37rVM) and on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Luciano-Pavarotti-Recital-York-1973/dp/B0000019VI). In this recital the first THREE works are from the 24! A fascating glimpse of what these Song and Arias can become when approached with the right perspective. I wish that EVERY voice teacher would impress on their students their absolute seriousness as works of art (as they certainly were when they were written in the 17th century). I'll never forget hearing Pavarotti sing "Caro mio ben"!! What a revelation after having heard so many frestman voice students sing it (or attempt to sing it). Give those YouTube vidoes some time; you'll not regret it (only caveat is that the recording is by an audience member, I think, so that quality is lacking, but the sincerity of the performers is obvious).