The Birth of ‘Modern’ Vocalism: The Paradigmatic Case of Enrico Caruso

Abstract In the decades spanning turn of twentieth century Italian opera singing underwent a profound transformation and became ‘modern’. I explore formative elements this modernity its long-term effects on way we sing today through paradigmatic case tenor Enrico Caruso. frame Caruso’s vocal evolution within rise verismo opera, comparing selected recordings, reviews rules aesthetic prescriptions contained in treatises to show how his new vocalism differed from that old bel canto. To set achievement context also analyse recordings two other tenors era: Giovanni Zenatello Alessandro Bonci.