Beniamino Gigli: A Life in Words and Music

Disc 1:
1 - Gioconda, opera in 4 acts~Cielo e mar (is preceded by a brief spoken excerpt of Gigli's memoirs)
2 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Family background
3 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Gigli's stage debut and poverty-stricken start
4 - bohème, opera~O soave fanciulla
5 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Service in the household of Countess Spannocchi
6 - favorita, opera~Spirto gentil
7 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Colonel Delfino, and Giovanni Zerri's legal agreement
8 - O Surdato 'nnamurato, for voice & orchestra (with chorus, ad lib)
9 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~A hospital visit and a scholarship
10 - Lodoletta, opera in 3 acts~Ah! ritrovarla nella sua capanna
11 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Gigli graduates and makes his debut; he goes for the high B flat
12 - Tosca, opera~E lucevan le stelle
13 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Marriage, Rome and a tour to Spain
14 - Iris, opera (melodramma) in 3 acts~Apri la tua finestra!
15 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~A letter from Fred Gaisberg of HMV
16 - Cavalleria rusticana, opera (melodramma) in 1 act~Mamma, quel vino è generoso
17 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Gigli conquers South America, and receives an offer from the Met
18 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Metropolitan Opera debut in Mefistofele
19 - Mefistofele, opera in prologue, 4 acts & epilogue~Giunto sul passo estremo
Disc 2:
1 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~The critics' verdict, and more performances
2 - Lucia di Lammermoor, opera~Tombe degl'avi miei
3 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Gigli's fate becomes entwined with Caruso's
4 - Andrea Chénier, opera~Un dì all'azzurro spazio'
5 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Who will be Caruso's successor?
6 - Traviata, opera~De'miei bollenti spiriti
7 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Life forms a regular pattern, and Gigli learns to sing in foreign languages
8 - Roi d'Ys, opera in 3 acts~Vainement, ma bien aimée
9 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Manon at the Met
10 - Manon, opera in 5 acts~O dolce incanto
11 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Catalani's Loreley
12 - Loreley, opera (azione romantica) in 3 acts~Nel verde maggio
13 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Summer in Italy, then back to New York and some physical training
14 - Roméo et Juliette, opera~Ah! ne fuis pas encore!
15 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Honorary Captain of the NYPD
16 - Africaine, grand opera in 5 acts~O paradiso
17 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Flourishing finances and professional rivalries
18 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Crushing remarks; the attraction of radio
19 - Lost Chord, song for voice & piano
20 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~A new decade, and the honour of playing Nemorino at the Met
21 - elisir d'amore, opera~Quanto è bella
Disc 3:
1 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Debuts in Paris and London, and London's critical reception
2 - Martha, opera~M'apparì (Ach! So fromm)
3 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Crisis: the death of Gigli's mother, and tension at the Met
4 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Departure from the Met
5 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~America's loss is Europe's Gain
6 - Gigli in an interview at the Savoy Hotel, London (Speech)
7 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Cherished London reviews
8 - Pagliacci, opera~No, Pagliaccio non son!
9 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Recording reflects the drama
10 - Pagliacci, opera~Suvvia, così terribile
11 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Touring, Gigli's working relationships, and a new turn of events
12 - Non ti scordar di me, for voice & orchestra (& chorus ad lib)
13 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Film popularity, Hitler and Goebbels, and the Caracalla tradition
14 - bohème, opera~Che gelida manina
15 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Voice expert John Steane's recommendation
16 - bohème, opera~O soave fanciulla
17 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~A new recording of Tosca
18 - Tosca, opera~Recondita armonia
19 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Patience and hard work produce "a perfect set of master recordings"
20 - Tosca, opera~E lucevan le stelle
21 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~A return to America and the Met
22 - Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem)~Ingemisco
23 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~The recording of Madama Butterfly
24 - Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera~Closing moments of Act 1
Disc 4:
1 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~War keeps Gigli in Italy
2 - Introductory speech to Cavalleria rusticana by Mascagni (1940)
3 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Introductory speech to Cavalleria rusticana by Mascagni (translation of the speech)
4 - Cavalleria rusticana, opera (melodramma) in 1 act~Mamma, quel vino è generoso
5 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~More role debuts, Gigli's wartime films, and Andrea Chénier
6 - Andrea Chénier, opera~Un dì all'azzurro spazio
7 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~John Steane's verdict
8 - Andrea Chénier, opera~Come un bel dì di maggio
9 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Rome Opera house rallies wartime spirits
10 - ballo in maschera, opera~Teco io sto - Gran Dio
11 - ballo in maschera, opera~Non sai tu che se l'anima mia
12 - ballo in maschera, opera~Oh, qual soave brivido
13 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Gigli's political affiliations
14 - Aida, opera~Celeste Aida
15 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Postwar Italy: an HMV manager's report
16 - Aida, opera~Per ti riveggo, mia dolce Aida
17 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Covent Garden with Rina, then a tour of Britain and Ireland
18 - Speech given by Gigli after a concert at the Royal Albert Hall
19 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~The final phase - and no thoughts of retirement
20 - Ritorna Amore
21 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~A last visit to the USA
22 - Santa Lucia, for voice & orchestra
23 - Beniamino Gigli: A Life In Words & Music, narrative with musical examples~Gigli's death, his obituaries, and his place in the tenor lineage
24 - Africaine, grand opera in 5 acts~O paradiso (ending)