Enrico was born on February 27, 1873 in the outskirts of Naples into a family of workers. His father worked as a watchman in warehouses of port in Naples, and the mother was frequently ill. At the age of ten Caruso started singing in church and in the streets in order to earn some money and support his family. It was a matter of chance that Caruso studied at Gulelmo Vergine's vocal school; later he met his outstanding teacher, the great conductor Lombardi.
It is reported that specialists when hearing Caruso's voice in his childhood admired it greatly. Thus, the famous tenor Anjelo Masini, having heard Enrico singing told Verjine " … Caruso has got the most beautiful voice I've ever heard all my life". The baritone Eduardo Messiano, with who young Enrico sang in the summer resorts of Naples, told him that his voice was divine and unique.
Till his death Enrico remembered Lombardi's lessons with warmth and admiration. "This was sunshine. Never have I sung in the manner that corresponded to my nature. Since then I have sung at full voice and conveyed my voice that colouring which my heart wanted it to have." S. Fucito, who had been Caruso's accompanist for the last six years of his life, in his book Caruso and the Art of Singing points at the combination of excellent vocal qualities and diligence. "There's no doubt that the tenor is gifted by wonderful voice and fine lungs; nevertheless it was his exceptional diligence that allowed him to use them at full capacity …" Caruso constantly worked on extending opportunities to control his respiration rate and to use his vocal qualities fully. He could beautifully take a higher note and kept it long, skill which he didn't posses when he was young. After Caruso had excelled in tenor range he started mastering the bass range. He succeeded in his intentions and was ready to perform a bass part but as a tenor he felt embarrassed to have a claim on performing a bass aria. But here luck smiled on him. During the performance La Boheme in Philadelphia, before the beginning of the last act, the performer of the bass part Andreas de Sigerola told Caruso that he had got a hoarse voice and would be unable to sing his aria. "Please, don't worry", Caruso, told him, - I've got an idea. Just be sure not to tell Pollaco anything." Pollaco was the conductor. When it was the time of bas aria, Caruso went on to the stage. His face was covered with an enormous hat. Pollaco was speechless, but Caruso sang the part in such a way as if it was an ordinary thing for him to do. The conductor was furious. Caruso's action, however, made such a sensation, that his recording company offered him to record that aria. The aria, which was judged by the critics as one of the most miraculous arias ever recorded, came to prove that Caruso's voice had three octaves.
According to Caruso's biographers, the singer had complete knowledge of all the operas where he performed. It's easy to understand. But it was almost incredible that a tenor could perform a famous bass aria spur-of-the-moment perform so masterfully that almost everyone admired. Obviously, Caruso had rehearsed the aria before. Therefore, he seized up the opportunity to perform it. Caruso, probably, had rehearsed some other arias as well; bit was deprived of the opportunity to perform them. The book by V. Tortorolli Enrico Caruso states that that there exists a record of the opening from an opera I Pagliacci for a baritone, sung by Caruso Caruso.
November 16 is considered to be the day of Caruso's debut. On this day, in 1894, he appeared in the Nuovo theatre in Naples in Friend Franchesco by Morelli. The young tenor was 21 years old then. Later Enrico had continuing success in many opera houses in Italy. On December 31, 1900 Caruso first appeared on the stage of La Scala in the opera La Boheme where he had moderate success. But after his second performance The Love Drink Caruso started to receive invitations from all musical centres in Europe.
In 1903 Caruso appeared in the Metropolitan Opera in Rigoletto. Soon he was known as the leading tenor in this famous theatre, where he had his last performance in 1920. And in early summer of 1921 Caruso returned to Naples, where he died on August 2, 1921.
Everyone who visits the museum of the Metropolitan Opera can see the portraits of outstanding opera actors, as well as will find out that in this theatre there exists a Caruso cult. Besides his portrait, there are exhibited two caricatures by him, and his four costumes, which he wore when acting in various operas; there is also a huge stand where the singer's photos are displayed. During his 17 years in the Metropolitan Opera Enrico had acted on 607 performances and 37 various operas.
The sculpture of Enrico Caruso in the Caruso Museum in New-York
of the thearte Metropoliten Opera, G. Galechyan is on the right.
Galechyan Georgy
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