Gaetano Donizetti's comic masterpiece, The Daughter of the Regiment, premiered in Paris in the year 1840. It was a huge success with the opera playing for more than a 1000 performance between the years 1840 and the beginning of World War I. At the time of the Paris premiere, the composer had four operas playing simultaneously in the theaters of the French capital. Donizetti was indeed the "Toast of Paris." Five years later the composer would be confined to a mental institution outside of Paris exhibiting symptoms of syphilis and bipolar disorder. A master of the operatic theater, Donizetti died far too young and at the prime of his artistic life.
Fortunately, his operas continue to delight musical lovers in our own time and generation. The tenor aria "Ah mes amis" from the first act of the Daughter of the Regiment is considered by many the "Mount Everest" of the tenor repertory. Not only does it have the catching bel canto lyricism which was a hallmark of Donizetti's composition; but the tenor is asked to sing 9 high C's. Quite a musical feat! There had not been an encore at the La Scala Opera House in Milan since 1933. But a few years ago, Juan Diego Florez sang the role of Tonio and received such an ovation after this aria that he rewarded the Milanese with an encore and sang an additional 9 high C's - making 18 for the evening! I wish I had been in the house that night!!
Below, nine of my favorite tenors offering their interpretation of this magnificent aria. To my ears, I know which tenor sings the aria best - I wonder what you think?
Love One Another - Brian
Luciano Pavarotti
Juan Diego Florez
Giuseppe Sabbatini
Marcelo Alvarez
Rockwell Blake
Gregory Kunde
Laurence Brownlee
Jean-Luc Maurette
Alfredo Kraus (I may have saved the best for last!)
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