Aureliano Pertile, "Una Vergine..... Favorita del Re!"

Aureliano Pertile (1885-1952,) is considered even today, over 60 years after his death, to have been a great singer and actor, one of the most important operatic tenors of the 20th century. While he did sing some bel canto standards, his preferred repertoire consisted of the highly dramatic verismo operas which were becoming so popular in his day. He could do it all; this selection from La Favorita shows a magisterial depth of dramatic intensity, even in bel canto opera; it is an astonishing combination that in his case is convincing and works well.