An example of the perfect use of head tones by a tenor

Autographed photograph of Renzo Casellato available at Harmonie Autographs

The Italian lyric tenor Renzo Casellato is perhaps not the first tenor one thinks of when a discussion of the French School of singing.  However, this Youtube clip of  Mi par d'udire ancora from Georges Bizet's Les Pecheur de Perles is absolutely some of the most sublime lyric tenor singing one can hope to hear.  His perfect use of head tones, superb phrasing, diction and yes a tad bit of falsetto makes this one of the finest renditions I have heard of this gorgeous but seldomly performed aria.





Italian:

Mi par d'udire ancora,
o scosa in mezzo ai fior,
la voce sua talora,
sospirare l'amor!
O notte di carezze,
gioir che non ha fin,
o sovvenir divin!
Folli ebbrezze del sogno, sogno d'amor!
Dalle stelle del cielo,
Altro menar che da lei,
La veggio d'ogni velo,
Prender li per le ser!
O notte di carezze!
gioir che non ha fin!
o sovvenir divin!
Folli ebbrezze del sogno, sogno d'amor!
divin sovvenir, divin sovvenir!

French:
Je crois entendre encore
Caché sous les palmiers
Sa voix tendre et sonore
Comme un chant de ramiers.
Oh nuit enchanteresse
Divin ravissement
Oh souvenir charmant,
Folle ivresse, doux rêve!
Aux clartés des étoiles
Je crois encor la voir
Entr'ouvrir ses longs voiles
Aux vents tièdes du soir.
Oh nuit enchanteresse
Divin ravissement
Oh souvenir charmant
Folle ivresse, doux rêve!
Charmant Souvenir!
Charmant Souvenir!