LES INTROUVABLES DE LA TURANDOT Non piangere Liù – 1. Gérard Korsten (Cape Town 1965)

Cape Town, June 1965

This curious recording from South Africa features the tragic Gé Korsten as Calaf. He had a major career as a pop singer ("The South African Mario Lanza") but had originally trained as an opera singer. He did not speak any Italian (as you can hear here), his style does not suit the role particularly well, and the high Bb is somewhat stiff. However, he was a musical and passionate performer and had a very charismatic voice that certainly stood out. He tragically committed suicide by a gunshot to the head.