Jerry Hadley 1989 - It Must Be So - Candide

[richtomes]

Such a riddle that a man who can do something so touching, wise and generous as this could have also done such a brutal, senseless and selfish thing when he took his own life.

[nichtsleezy]

@richtomes Please do not make such a harsh "judgement" against him. You have absolutely no idea if he suffered from some forms of mental illness and/or depression which would explain why he committed suicide. Be grateful that you do not suffer from such illnesses!!

[funkeyllama27]

such beautiful singing, it's so sad to think that he is gone): thanks for posting!

[BenjaminDLarsen]

Sends chills and thrills every time I watch it. Thanks so much for posting this. He's an inspiration to every singer.

[gertrudewhite]

Jerry Hadley performed at my college and was probably the best fine arts event I attended while there. He had not only a wonderful voice but an amazing stage presence combined with unique acting skill. I was so sad to just find out he died. :^(

[Houndentenor1998]

Hadley was a marvelous artist. Does anyone know if there is a recording of Le Reve on youtube?

[xoolkam]

Great song from a great singer.

[cbhagman]

I was watching Classic Arts Showcase today and they kept running the "Make Our Garden Grow" finale. So of course I had to look and see what other "Candide" selections were on YouTube. I'm glad I found this one.

And oh, how sorry I am that Jerry Hadley is no longer among us.

[pgnorgan]

One of my colleagues sang at the Met with Jerry. He told me that it was a combination of marriage problems, and a lull in his career. What a beautiful musician. He is sorely missed. May he rest in peace.

[ScoDeu]

What beautiful, musical singing.

[EdwardGabrielsen]

He knew how to sing on the soft side of his voice. He kept the beauty in the tone and could move easily across his entire range. There is no forcing or pushing here. Beautiful singing! There are few singers today who can do this.

[MrCafiero]

Because they don't understand registration and how to get rid of constriction. Jerry knew how as he was taught by a master.

[MrCafiero]

@EdwardGabrielsen That's right. He was taught registration work by my teacher.

[EdwardGabrielsen]

@MrCafiero I guess your teacher understood the voice. So much horrible singing these days, based on the misunderstanding that beautiful singing is the same thing as loud singing. Singers driving the beauty out of their voices by pushing the voice, pushing the instrument with so much breath pressure that the throat constricts and there is no freedom of movement, only loud sound. In Hadley we can hear the actual beauty of the voice in all it's expressive capabilities.

[MrCafiero]

@EdwardGabrielsen Yes, he certainly did. And I am so glad that he passed it on to me and I now teach it as he taught it. And we are all about big singing, but it should be big because the voice is properly developed and working efficiently. One should also have dynamic ability, fioratura etc. It is sad what is being taught today in all the universities and with private teachers. They have no idea what they are doing.

[madlutist]

The fact that good singers can project without microphones seems to have been lost to popular music. Thankfully, there are intelligent people posting videos like this to hold me over...

[Edhyde24601]

I know what you mean. Classical Singing/Opera is so refreshing because it reminds us what the human voice is truly capable of. It's a shame that today's culture takes pride in mediocrity in regards to music.

[pillsome195]

I like the happy medium of spot-on technique mixed with modern musical theatre. Though, I find that much harder to do than singing classically. Not pushing a straight tone.... ugh. lol. I just get bored by the sound of classical singing.

[richtomes]

Stunning - speechless every time I see it.

[babycatcher2004]

Could this ever be more beautifully sung?!

[lokotasouix]

Thank you sharing this video of Jerry Hadley singing 'It Must Be So'. Jerry's performance here is so heartfelt, so flawless, so heavenly.

[hotwriter36]

What was the cause of his suicide? Was it depression or a lull in his career? I remember seeing him many times on tv and thought he was wonderful in everything.

[novascotiawill]

Absolutely beautiful. I am only now really discovering this incredible talent...  Jerry's musicality, diction, phrasing and feeling in his singing were all incredible. Very sad that he left us, but we are fortunate to have his recordings and video clips such as this... thank you so much :)

[Imagitv]

I was born the same year as Jerry. Life gets a little more weary the longer we go on.  Suicide is such a sad thing. If there's a heaven he's in the choir now with Pavarotti.

[lisag6]

@Imagitv I was very touched by your lovely and poignant comment. Thank you.

[jkcdiva]

I saw Jerry in several San Diego performances, and his singing was always delicate, and he was completely involved in every role. I am so saddened by the loss of his life. What a tragedy!

[novascotiawill]

I consider you to be very lucky... I would have loved to have seen him live...

[giapso33]

we miss you jerry

[lobo81865]

I was very sorry to hear such a talent had died. I have one of his broadway cd's. It is one of my favorites.

[paulmauffray]

I had the honor of working with Jerry in Salzburg, and it was an even greater to be his friend. He was one of the nicest people I ever knew, and every moment of every rehearsal was a joy to work with him. In the opera world, where so much is so fake, it is a tragedy to lose someone so real and honest as Jerry Hadley. r.i.p.

[ggclk]

Very very moving.

[Pandora6546]

Jerry we'll miss you - we ache for the world's loss and pray you are at peace and have found transcendance.

[mikhaelah]

I am heartbroken that yet another voice has been lost. I hope you have found peace...

[jonzfriend]

"May God come between you and harm in all the empty placse you must walk." Rest in Peace.

[garrincha777]

Caro Jerry R.I.P.

Marco dall'Italia

[neilthebananapeel]

Rest In Peace...

[Ravenelvenlady]

Beautiful, sweet tenor. I will miss him. May he rest...,may he rest.

[garyokee]

God rest his troubled soul.

Rest in peace, brother.

[mrrk]

Such a tragic end for someone who gave such pleasure to so many. Hearing him sing this is so moving. RIP.

[JDChicago]

Transcedent moments.... The souls singing until the spirit enters and becomes them. I am familiar with the artists that have that and my own experience. I will very gratefully include his work into that list. To walk through the path of depression... which is very challenging to overcome at any age.. we all seemingly need to more understand He just need our warm blessings. And the remembering a voice that touched, and moved many...and a heart that offered it all up for us to enjoy.

[Ruxton]

Oh Jerry - why?

[crswellian]

3 of 3: The reviewer wrote of that same transcendent moment! Today I'm 48 and Hadley is 55. That night, I was 27 and he was 33, a rising star. I feel a dull and nagging sadness. I hope Jerry Hadley knows the beauty he brought to his audiences, even if he struggled to find it for himself.

[jppooch]

I feel certain Jerry knew to the very end what he brought to his audiences. That you remember that transcendent moment is a great memorial that you will think on for the rest of your life. As a singer, I can tell you we would all like to have just one moment when we did that for someone. Depression robbed him of much, but it can't take away what he created.

[crswellian]

2 of 3: I found a NYTimes review on-line by Will Crutchfeld, Nov 10, 1985, of the very opera I saw at the Kennedy Center: Jerry Hadley as Lenski, [in] a part that suits his voice perfectly. He did some remarkably beautiful singing - especially in soft passages - and at certain moments the character came to particularly touching life (his inflections in the brief exchange before the duel were those of an imaginative artist fully absorbed in the dramatic moment).

[crswellian]

1 of 3: In 1985 I saw Mr Hadley as Lenski in the Washington Opera's performance of Eugene Onegin. I remember him because he created a transcendent moment with the aria before the duel. Because of the stillness after, I knew the audience experienced it too. I went back the next night to re-experience it but it didn't happen, despite that it was beautiful. That's when I learned there are these inexplicable experiences in the arts that are rare, a magical gift. I've only had a few since.

[jppooch]

Yes, very sad. I heard him in Anna Bolena with Joan Sutherland in I think 85'. What a beautiful, unforced voice he had. May he find peace.

[scottreiburn]

Why Jerry? It can't be so...

[richtomes]

that's right

[CandieGirl]

What a sweet rendition.

[gypzyjz]

RIP Jerry.

[Mazerthehazer]

saddest...thing...ever.  Go with God Jerry.

[sukeltajat]

Thank you for posting this.  Poignant.

[azuremusical]

we are all diminished

[drdre333]

Hopefully he is in a better place now. 8-)

[dyetkoque]

'There is a sweetness in ev'ry woe...' -- Candide. (...as there was in your voice). 7/12/2007. We are stunned and incredibly saddened by your leaving. With a heavy heart, from one of your many admirers.

[MrCafiero]

Beautiful!