My wife has a vinyl recording (boxed set) of Cavalleria Rusticana, and I Pagliacci with Mario del Monaco singing the leading tenor roles.

Del Monaco was a handsome sucker (CLICKY) with an extremely powerful voice. When he was first hired by the Metropolitan Opera (to sing Radames in Aida), for some strange reason some opera critics panned him even before they heard him on stage. The big tenor aria in Aida occurs at a very difficult spot for the singer—in the first act, just a few minutes after the curtain goes up, with no chance to warm up (making it essential for him to be well warmed up before going on stage).

Del Monaco launches into "Celeste Aida," sings it beautifully and powerfully all the way, then when he hits the big, high Bb at the very end, he hits it so powerfully that he bends the walls of the opera house out and it registers on seismographs in California! And he holds it until Tuesday morning.

The audience when absolutely nuts! Standing ovation. Cheers and applause lasted for several minutes. Del Monaco had made it plain that he owned the role of Radames, and just about any other operatic role he wanted to tackle.

The critics who had pre-trashed him hid under their seats and slunk out of the opera house afterwards with their coats pulled over their heads.

Don Firth