Enrico Caruso (1906) - La Bohème: Che gelida manina

From 11th February 1906, NY. This appears to be the only recording of Che gelida manina Caruso ever did. Transposed down a semi-tone to G - Caruso was at the time not comfortable with high notes. You may want to look at my website for more Caruso info: (English and Danish). An anecdote: The Australian soprano Nellie Melba was notorius for her ruthlessness and coldness. Performing with her in La Bohème Caruso, as a joke, pressed a hot sausage into her hand that he’d hidden in his pocket as he sang “Che gelida manina, se la lasci riscaldar.“(“What a cold little hand, let me warm it“). She had considered Caruso coarse and uncultivated and this, of course, only confirmed that ...