Who was the greatest tenor of the 20th century?

Bjorling exceeded Pav in power, Mike S. That was Pav's problem. His voice lacked the requisite size to be called the greatest ever, even though he undoubtedly belongs in that pantheon of great singers.

I think Jussi Bjorling was the greatest tenor of the 20th century, followed closely by Fritz Wunderlich

Now I have to look these men up!

huh????

His voice brought joy and a possibility of weeping. Strange and wonderful!

My personal favorite is Placido Domingo. He has a way of singing that is beauty personified. To hear him sing Ave Maria is something that must be heard, to understand the glory of that work..

Love him- My grandmother was into Mario Lanza when he was in Boston she HAD to see him.

We all have our idiosyncrasies mine is Puccini at sunset in the summer---Madam Butterfly, Tosca, LaBoheme and of course Turandot. BLISS- The Sunset --Puccini--

Caruso, hands down!!! I almost always cry when I listens to my father's Caruso records.

sweet and smooth, wow what a voice

Mario Lanza

plus Caruso, Bocelli and Mario Lanza.

Excellent All but Pavarotti's stage presence was in a class of his own...this wonderful Opera master will be missed very much.

How sad that he is gone now, i loved Pavarotti who was "bigger" than life....in many ways. I also remember the remarkable voice of Mario Lanza who's left a huge impression on me as a child...even on that scratchy old 45 record player. What special gifts these men received from God to share with the world..talent like that doesn't come along often. All of the above are wonderful but these two were my absolute favorites in Opera.

Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, although they are all great. I had the great priviledge to hear a performance by Pavarotti in person back when he was in his prime. I sat about 15 yards away from him and the power he projected was simply awesome. It did raise goosebumps.

I think he had one of the best voices of all time.

Actually I love opera and it was hard to pick just one from this list as I think they are all great but I picked Pavarotti. I was sadden to hear that Pavarotti had succumed to pancreatic cancer which he had fought for so long to overcome but alas it was not to be. He could really hit those high C's. Everytime I hear him sing I get a catch in my throat and tears in my eyes for this man was truly gifted. He also had a marvelous sense of humor and was accessible to his public who adored him. I truly loved to hear him sing as part of the Three Tenors, Carreras, Domingo and Pavarotti. Pavarotti crossed into other types of music and could sing them with just as much compassion as he did in opera. I am sure the angels in heaven have welcomed him into their mist as they sing in that heavenly choir of praise. May God bless his family as they try to get through these days!

They are all great, how on earth do you expect us to pick. Thanks Art, you have some good questions. Betty

FOR THOSE OF US THAT LOVE OPERA, PAVAROTTI BROUGHT IT TO LIFE AGAIN FOR THE BABY BOOMES...IN THE SIXTIES WHEN WE WERE PUTTING DOWN THE CONVERTIBLE TOPS AND TURNING THE ROCK AND ROLL LOUD ENOUGH TO BLAST THE NIGHT AIR, WE WERE LISTENING TO PAVAROTTI WHEN WE WERE LYING IN THE SHAG CARPET..... FOR TRUE MUSIC LOVERS -HE WAS THERE WITH JOHNNY RAE, NAT KING COLE, JOHNNY MERCER, AND A DOZEN OTHER VELVETY VOICES THAT BROUGHT TEARS TO OUR EYES...WE HAVE (BABYBOOMERS) SEEN AND HEARD THE MOST WONDERFUL MUSICIANS OF ANY TIME IN HISTORY. VOICES THAT DIDN'T NEED ALL THE ELECTRIC GADGETS THAT THESE ''would bes'" USE TODAY. HE PAVED THE WAY FOR CARRERAS AND DOMINGO. FOR FUN- LISTEN TO JOHN DENVER AND DOMINGO.."PERHAPS LOVE" IS A BEAUTIFUL ALBUM. IT WILL SURPRISE EVEN THE DIE HARDS. WE WILL MISS PAVAROTTI - AS WE MISS THE OTHERS AGING ALONG WITH US....

Will miss his sound...He was a great singer....

Not sure I have the ear to judge purely on voice. I enjoy all these guys, and the Irish Tenors. My dad said Caruso was fantastic, so I'm going with him.

he crossed the line into fields of music that no other singer of this caliber has ever done. he had the personality to match the talent. i was not a great fan of this type of music, but when he sang, i loved to listen!!!!!

I loved Beverly Sills too

Lanza was Pav's superior in every way, both in beauty and power. And Mario was the far superior crossover singer.

But Pavarotti is up there/ his jolliness ...was exuberant to the soul.

No question, sorry to see him go, glad to have his prolific legacy to remember him by.

i have heard of their names, however, never listened to the music, but i feel if anyone with a voice such as theirs, who am i to say to was the greatest. hats off to all who can sing like that.

I usually love a little of all music..but this type..just not something I would listen to.

Just play the you tube I put on my answer and listen to a tiny bit babe and see a little about this. It's a short piece and one of my favorites. Cat

Oh Cat..dont get me wrong..these people have great voices..but I cant listen to it very long..gives me headaches lol.

A name not mentioned, Mario Lanza, I remember hearing him when I was a small child. Booming tenor voice that filled the auditorium, then a toss up between Pavarotti and Placido Domingo (when he was in his prime)

I have always loved to hear Mario Lanza sing and that he died to young.

Hank, I agree with your comments on Mario Lanza's talent. Lanza was a truck driver turned world-famous tenor who never forgot where he came from. He married a girl from my old neighborhood in Chicago and was very generous to her family.

I think he has them all beat --He was Great

Agree, totally gorgeous voice, although I'm not sure that he had, nor claimed to have, the technique of the Carusos/Giglis/Bjorlings did he? or did he?

You are correct. Caruso is the one. I also agree with Mario Lanza. Bjoeling also. Gigli is a master. Listen to him with the great Erna Berger. Incredible people.

http://www.youtube.com/user/o...

Grazie mille ! I don't get to this site often, sorry it took so long to reply !

I like him best

Bocelli is a great singer in his own right. I also love to hear him sing. I have always wished that God had gifted me with that kind of talen that comes from him and others like him.

All of them gave me a headache.

Hey some people get sick from eating anything other than McDonalds... don't worry about it.