Titta Ruffo - Alla vita che t'arride - Un ballo in maschera - Verdi

Titta Ruffo (June 9, 1877 - July 5, 1953) gives a master class in perfectly coordinated registration and full throated singing with ease. In Musical America, December 27, 1913, Ruffo wrote the following: "In view of the fact that numerous vocal instructors have endeavored to claim the credit of having been my "teacher" I desire to state emphatically that my brother Ettore is the one to whom practically all such distinction is due. I studied four months at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome under Signor Persichini and was told that I possessed neither voice nor musical talent. Afterward I received instruction from Signor Sparapani for two months and from Signor Casini for four months, but as this was not sufficient tuition for an operatic career I placed myself under the tutelage of my brother. I remained his faithful pupil for six years and am the living proof of his scientific method of voice production. All those asserting that they have been my "teacher" and therefore responsible for my success arrogate to themselves false and mendacious prerogatives." This is the ultimate chiaroscuro voice. So dark and yet so full of squillante!! No one can touch this version for ultimate vocal splendor!