A Life In Words & Music

Disc 1
1. Cielo e mar – Ponchielli: La Gioconda
2. Family background
3. Gigli's stage debut and poverty-stricken start
4. O soave fanciulla – Puccini: La Bohème
5. Service in the household of Countess Spannocchi
6. Spirto gentil – Donizetti: La favorita
7. Colonel Delfino, and Giovanni Zerri’s legal agreement
8. O surdato ’nnamurato
9. A hospital visit and a scholarship
10. Ah! ritrovarla nella sua capanna – Mascagni: Lodoletta
11. Gigli graduates and makes his debut
12. E lucevan le stelle – Puccini: Tosca
13. Marriage, Rome and a tour to Spain
14. Apri la tua finestra! – Mascagni: Iris
15. A letter from Fred Gaisberg
16. Mamma, quel vino è generoso – Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana
17. Gigli conquers South America
18. Metropolitan Opera debut
19. Giunto sul passo estremo – Boito: Mefistofele

Disc 2
1. The critics' verdict
2. Tombe degl’avi miei – Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor
3. Gigli's fate becomes entwined
4. Un dì all’azzurro spazio – Giordano: Andrea Chénier
5. Who will be Caruso’s successor
6. De’ miei bollenti spiriti – Verdi: La Traviata
7. Life forms a regular pattern
8. Vainement, ma bien aimée – Lalo: Le Roi d’Ys
9. Manon at the Met
10. O dolce incanto – Massenet: Manon
11. Catalani’s Loreley
12. Nel verde maggio – Catalani: Loreley
13. Summer in Italy, then back to work
14. Ah! ne fuis pas encore! – Gounod: Roméo et Juliette
15. Honorary Captain of the Navy
16. O paradis – Meyerbeer: L’Africaine
17. Flourishing finances and career
18. Crushing remarks; the attack
19. The Lost Chord – Sullivan
20. A new decade and honours
21. Quanto è bella – Donizetti: L’elisir d’amore

Disc 3
1. Debuts in Paris and London
2. M’appari – Flotow: Martha
3. Death of his mother
4. Departure from the Met
5. Europe replaces America
6. Interview in London (1946)
7. Reviews and reception
8. No, Pagliacci non son! – Pagliacci
9. Recording reflections
10. Suvvia, così terribile – Pagliacci
11. Touring and career changes
12. Non ti scordar di me
13. Film era and politics
14. Che gelida manina – La Bohème
15. O soave fanciulla – La Bohème
16. Recondita armonia – Tosca
17. E lucevan le stelle – Tosca
18. Ingemisco – Verdi: Requiem
19. Madama Butterfly Act I closing
20. Further reflections and career growth

Disc 4
1. War years in Italy
2. Intro to Cavalleria rusticana
3. Translation of speech
4. Mamma, quel vino è generoso
5. Andrea Chénier recordings
6. Un dì all’azzurro spazio
7. Come un bel dì di maggio
8. Un ballo in maschera excerpts
9. Political context
10. Celeste Aida
11. Pui ti riveggo mia dolce Aida
12. Postwar touring
13. Final career phase
14. Ritorna amore
15. Santa Lucia
16. Death and legacy overview