Beniamino Gigli: A Life in Words and Music (2004)

Track Listing

1. La Gioconda, opera, Op. 9: Cielo e mar (is preceded by a brief spoken excerpt of Gigli's memoirs)
2. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Family background
3. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Gigli's stage debut and poverty-stricken start
4. La bohème, opera: O soave fanciulla
5. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Service in the household of Countess Spannocchi

1. La Gioconda, opera, Op. 9: Cielo e mar (is preceded by a brief spoken excerpt of Gigli's memoirs)
2. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Family background
3. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Gigli's stage debut and poverty-stricken start
4. La bohème, opera: O soave fanciulla
5. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Service in the household of Countess Spannocchi
6. La favorite, opera: Spirto gentil
7. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Colonel Delfino, and Giovanni Zerri's legal agreement
8. O surdato 'nnamurato, for voice & orchestra (with chorus, ad lib)
9. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: A hospital visit and a scholarship
10. Lodoletta, opera in 3 acts: Ah! ritrovarla nella sua capanna
11. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Gigli graduates and makes his debut; he goes for the high B flat
12. Tosca, opera: E lucevan le stelle
13. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Marriage, Rome and a tour to Spain
14. Iris, opera (melodramma) in 3 acts: Apri la tua finestra!
15. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: A letter from Fred Gaisberg of HMV
16. Cavalleria rusticana, opera (melodramma) in 1 act: Mamma, quel vino è generoso
17. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Gigli conquers South America, and receives an offer from the Met
18. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Metropolitan Opera debut in Mefistofele
19. Mefistofele, opera in prologue, 4 acts & epilogue: Giunto sul passo estremo
20. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: The critics' verdict, and more performances
21. Lucia di Lammermoor, opera: Tombe degl'avi miei
22. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Gigli's fate becomes entwined with Caruso's
23. Andrea Chénier, opera: Un dì all'azzurro spazio'
24. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Who will be Caruso's successor?
25. La Traviata, opera: De'miei bollenti spiriti
26. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Life forms a regular pattern, and Gigli learns to sing in foreign languages
27. Le Roi d'Ys, opera in 3 acts: Vainement, ma bien aimée
28. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Manon at the Met
29. Manon, opera in 5 acts: O dolce incanto
30. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Catalani's Loreley
31. Loreley, opera (azione romantica) in 3 acts: Nel verde maggio
32. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Summer in Italy, then back to New York and some physical training
33. Roméo et Juliette, opera, CG 9: Ah! ne fuis pas encore!
34. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Honorary Captain of the NYPD
35. L' Africaine, grand opera in 5 acts: O paradiso
36. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Flourishing finances and professional rivalries
37. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Crushing remarks; the attraction of radio
38. The Lost Chord, song for voice & piano
39. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: A new decade, and the honour of playing Nemorino at the Met
40. L'elisir d'amore, opera: Quanto è bella
41. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Debuts in Paris and London, and London's critical reception
42. Martha, opera: M'apparì (Ach! So fromm)
43. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Crisis: the death of Gigli's mother, and tension at the Met
44. Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples: Dep