Celestina Boninsegna Sings "Suicidio" From La Gioconda 1910

Celestina Boninsegna (1877-1947) was a remarkable singer, having made a professional debut at the age of 15. She went on to become famous, largely for her interpretations of dramatic heroines, especially those of Verdi. Her powerful and penetrating voice made it possible for her to be among the earliest to successfully record, and she began to do so as early as 1904. She recorded "Suicidio" three times, in 1904, 1906 and 1910. To the best of my knowledge, this is the 1910 recording.

[@Bivolari]

She certainly commands our attention! Very Italian with the right emotion and desperation. Lots of chest. Wonderful!

[@joegy9944]

Such beautiful vocal technique! So sad there are no real opera singers today! Thankful for recordings.

[@unpodimusica1]

A full, dramatic voice with a lovely creamy timbre. I'm not usually a fan of this kind of break between head and chest voice, but in her case it is inevitable! Take Ponsell's interpretation of "Suicidio" - her dark, wonderful voice is perfectly even from top to bottom and I love her to bits. But Boninsegna, I have to admit, beats her in pure drama. What an Aida she must have been!!

[@numetutelare]

Ottima interpretazione, timbro ombreggiato, canto lucente, le note basse sono splendide... legato e passaggi esemplari....

[@ESilva-qv1uv]

Such an exciting singing does not exit any more. Drama in her voice. Wonderful in every way.

[@EdmundStAustell]

Yes, indeed! Thank you. She was quite a singer...went on strage for the first time as a mere child, and rose to great heights.

[@js59695]

ponselle used chest like this. i can find numerous examples on youtube and many other singers doing the same. A strong chest/falsetto pull was dominant and why the voices were free. Now it isnt used and if taught its taught incorrectly

[@kgjhskgskgskgskdgfsk]

Have you heard Ghena Dimitrova’s chest?

[@draganvidic2039]

Correct

[@EdmundStAustell]

Yes, indeed...markedly alto-like: very effective in this aria particularly! Thanks for the comment; always appreciated.

[@EdmundStAustell]

Thank you.

[@EdmundStAustell]

E un piacere! Grazie a voi!

[@MrGer2295]

MOLTO BELLO!!! Thank you Dear Edmund for sharing this with us!!!

[@JozefSterkens]

Leaving this world while listening to la Boninsegna will be my last wish!

[@EdmundStAustell]

I could not agree more!

[@mariarosaesergiomarycib2492]

Boninsegna ,la sua voce !!!!sembra un usignolo !!!!magnifica veramente magnifica !! Mari

[@andrealupini6769]

Che meraviglia! I dischi della Boninsegna dovrebbero essere studiati da tutti quelli che vogliono cantare! In questo disco dimostra tutta la sia classe! Come sarebbe uscita fuori con una tecnica di registrazione meno primitiva? Non lo sapremo mai purtroppo! Ma ci potrei anche giurare: avrebbe asfaltato chiunque !

[@mariarosaesergiomarycib2492]

Andrea Lupini egr. Lei è un vero intenditore !!!!!!!lei non sbaglia !non sbaglia nei suoi giudizi io la leggo sempre. Con simpatia Mari

[@andrealupini6769]

mary marycib grazie! Lei è sempre gentilissima ! E spero almeno in parte di meritare i suoi graditi complimenti! Tutti possiamo condividere i nostri pensieri se lo scopo è la semplice condivisione di una emozione entrata nella nostra anima !Senza fare polemiche io ho sempre pensato che le straordinarie quanto a volte addirittura divinizzate dive degli anni 50 fossero( semplicemente) lo standard alto nella quale dovrebbe essere un cantante lirico ! Se soprattutto paragonate a tutto quello che c' era di qualità alla fine dell'Ottocento e inizi del ventesimo secolo per fortuna documentato e tuttora ascoltabile pur con evidenti limiti tecnici come in questo caso! A presto Andrea

[@spatslondon3888]

Boninsegna is without equal in this aria...also in Pace, Pace (the Edison recording). Yes, even better than Ponselle. As with Caruso...If she sounded this good through a horn, what would she have sounded like through a microphone!?

[@davidbrefort7742]

a perfect match between technique and drama, with one of the beautiful tones I've ever heard in Verdi. What a woman !

[@xavieralberto1176]

Verdi????

[@davidbrefort7742]

@@xavieralberto1176 Sorry ! I wanted to say : "one of the beautiful tones I've ever heard in Verdi and that I'm happy to discover in Ponchielli". Thanks to you and your accurate reading !

[@laprimmadonna2341]

Gran interpretación, bello timbre y buena técnica. Excepcional.

[@Ernie1]

Wonderful!!!

[@AB-rb2hk]

Meravigliosa. Nobile e drammatica. Sicura di sé nell'interpretazione di ogni momento dell'aria. Meraviglioso il registro di petto nelle celeberrime discese nel medio-grave.

[@nicolesingssongs836]

❤

[@js59695]

werent all these singers using a strong chest like this?

[@jiso5232]

They mostly had developed chest voices, but not to this extent. Tetrazzini was a similar case (for a coloratura soprano). Both these sopranos had a very good chest voice and a very good head voice, but fragmented (unconnected) registers.

[@wieslawrudnicki2638]

BrViszima

[@unpodimusica1]

Ponselle - sorry. My spell check has packed its bag and left. :)

[@marcomicheletti9957]

0:39, tu sol mi resti

[@EdmundStAustell]

C'est pas de grand' chose, mon amie:-)

[@unpodimusica1]

No.