Je Crois Entendre Encore Richard Tucker

[tuadolcefanciulla]

This is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful!

[tenorschofield]

Amazing how a so robust and big voice can manage to sing so gently and sweet this sad heartened aria.Tucker was sure one of the "best of the best" of all times!!!

Thanks for sharing this "proactive masterclass" for all us .looking for the scence of lyrical singing!!!! BRAVOOOO!!!!

[aaronsande]

@tenorschofield Glad you enjoyed it! I was surprised myself, when I found this recording!

[Lovelytenor1]

Masterful!

[mgdoom]

I like him very much...it may be stupid to say it....but to me he sounds as a "spinto" version of Di Stefano...he sounds natural and effortless singing....but his voice is very powerful

[aaronsande]

@mgdoom He was a magnificent singer...did you know his funeral was on the stage of the MET? =D

Hmm, I would say Corelli, whom you clearly know, is more the spinto version of Di Stefano because they both had those gorgeous diminuendi.

Tucker didn't sound this lyrical for long...he gained much more volume over time.

[mgdoom]

@aaronsande I agree...Corelli and Di Stefano were the kings of diminuendi....but sometimes Tucker reminds me of a "spinto Di Stefano"....don't know why, it may be the timbre! I am not an expert, though ;)

[halavey]

Chicago theatre of the air and very few are available, Aida is , Carmen, Boheme and Boris but all in English his first radio shows in Chicago where in 1944 before his met debut on WGN CHICAGO RADIO NATION WIDE. Aida, CAV, TOSCA AND MANY MORE IN ENGLISH WHERE DONE BUT SHORT VERSIONS. HE FLEW TO CHICAGO WEEKLY OFTEN.

[halavey]

He sang in short versions on nation wide brdcsts from Chicago Theatre in the 40's live on stage, the big Medinah Temple Aida, Boris, Otello-- yes! Carmen, Boheme, and many more plus many operetta's besides. He did sing don carlo and forza, chenier, Carmen, the duke and lucia all early in fact Edgardo was in 1946 and Hoffmann in 55 and Gioconda early besides at the met 1945. His top was even bigger latersure. His Samson, Aida, Juive came later , he sang well always, Lescaut in 1950 great

[goodboybuddy1]

One feels that Tucker was a singer who always tried to do his best. Here he is a bit of the 'bull in the china shop' but I can't help responding to his heartfelt effort. Thanks for posting!

[aaronsande]

Well said...thank you for the comment!

[MaestroAmduscias]

Non è in tono dai, troppo pesante, sforzato. Kraus è molto meglio, anche Gedda, Gigli e tanti altri.

[aaronsande]

He was a spinto, not suited for this very high, lilting aria. But I posted this because he gave it an excellent shot. Very lyrical, for Tucker!

Those you listed are better for this aria, especially Kraus and Gigli!

[carlogic1953]

@aaronsande There are many more, for that matter (I am answering to MaestroAmduscias the Supercilious castigamatti) from the happy lot of tenori lirici leggeri and lirici puri. But I think Richard Tucker did a terrific work. Many thanks for posting!

[aaronsande]

@carlogic1953 Agreed =D Thank you for the comment.

[Labienus]

Again I can't buy that his prime was in the late 50's-so many of his best roles he didn't assume until the 60's

He not only kept this voice to the end but kept it undiminished that's the difference(there a a few other tenors wnt into their late 50's Kraus e.g. Vickers despite the final yrs. of Pav it was in remarkable form fairly late

Do people flame Tucker? I'm an admirer but he did have lapses of taste and style not the most insightful interpreter

[aaronsande]

I leave the specifics about Tucker to you old fogies who heard him sing live ;P

Yes, some flame him and a few are just plain trolls, others just have it in for Tucker for various reasons.

Well, Corelli was often lapsing in taste as well, my friend, as I have expressed to you ;P

[Labienus]

and we old fogies are glad we did!

Don't chicken out recordings tell the story

You can be critical of a singer analytical try to place their accomplishments in perspective & still admire them

yes not just Youtube but opera boards attract all kinds of maniacs all public forums(sadly) do but opera people seem both more passionate and unstable

I never said he didn't I just prefer his more authentic full of garlic and strong red wine

you know there are Men, Women, and Tenors

[halavey]

He was a great tenor and later kept his voice better then most of them anyhow and at age 61 compared to so many he died still in fine voice for his age or any age. I think his prime was in the late 50's when he was in his mid 40's. Actually even though he is my favorite I like in this aria very much the rendition Gigli recorded, it's rather unique. Some people like to Flame Tucker but those of us who really heard him like opera beauty (Ed) and not those who just say they did know the truth.

[halavey]

Interesting, this was posted on Mrs Sara Tucker's birthday, Jan 28th. She passed away 10 years after he did.

[aaronsande]

Wow! Some things were meant to be!

[aaronsande]

Ok, but please take it down a notch! LOL =D

flaze3 I'd trust halavey here unless you can actually find that vid and we can check it out...he KNOWS his Tucker!

[Labienus]

Could he actually be Ed Rosen?

No I never heard of Tucker doing Romeo

[aaronsande]

He is not Ed Rosen, but someone else who commented on one of my two Tucker videos IS Ed Rosen. I am not sure if he wants his identity shared, so... =D

[halavey]

tucker never sang Romeo live or otherwise.

[halavey]

Co much wrong info on you tube, I wish Tucker when young did sing Romeo but no he never did ever, not one note of it.

[halavey]

COOPER COND HERE. MET OPERA ORCH.

[LordMgls]

Send my best regards to your pals and Mr. Levine than. I do appreciate Met's work with Levine. By the way, would you send me the production of La Rondine???

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This version is very interesting. We aren't able to hear his spinto. That's very unusual. That's the solution he found to give us a very different rendition of an aria that is (do not censore me because you all know it is truth) to be sung by a lirico. The result: a top best rendition of aria. And straight to the favourites :-)

[aaronsande]

I would never censor such an honest and praising comment of Tucker! Many thanks! =D

[tomfroekjaer]

Great post, Aaron! The lyrical beauty of Gigli and the power of Caruso combined. Never heard this before - thanks !

[aaronsande]

You're welcome! Thanks for the great comment!

[tomfroekjaer]

Tucker is really exceptionally "empathetic" - emotionally involved - in this performance. Love it ! 5 stars !

[halavey]

his first RECITAL LP and it was #4248 COLUMBIA--RICHARD TUCKER, GREAT TENOR ARIAS.  1947

[halavey]

Groves is a Richard Tucker foundation winner and a lyric tenor, I have the Tucker here on this one on one of his first LP Recital Studio recordings, a lyric spinto then who became a big true spinto, Groves is more lyric. I think even though Tucker is my favorite in this recording I love Gigli doing it and yes even more then the Bjorling recording of 1945

[aaronsande]

Can you tell us when this recording was and where? Sorry to put the pressure on you =D

Groves, if not leggiero, is almost leggiero. Listen to that top...

[mradaChris]

I enjoyed my listen, beautifully sung. But I still think my favorite is Paul Groves who sings this.

chris

[aaronsande]

LOL who is Paul Groves?

[mradaChris]

watch?v=I-PXr_q3bek

[aaronsande]

Hmm...well, if you like the leggiero sound, I suppose. You can't really compare a leggiero to a spinto. That's a nice microphone he has in his face, by the way ;P Tucker had no need of microphones.

If you prefer leggieros, here's one who never needed a mike either, singing this aria:

watch?v=-mtvSY_poNs

[mradaChris]

That was nice too.  I don't know the differences in types of tenors, I only know what I like.

[Herur22]

Thank you, Aaron. Tucker sung it beautifully, though I think that this aria has to be sung more with mezza voce to catch the ethereal beauty of this daydream.

[aaronsande]

You're absolutely right...his voice isn't the best for this aria. But he did an amazing job given the instrument he had!

[GentleSavage1]

this is my favorite version, what do you say ^^

watch?v=rXyMEt7lMiM

I like Tucker here, though, thanks Aaron for posting it.

It's one of my favorite arias.

[aaronsande]

Pippo! He was wonderful, and just right for this aria. But, that's still transposed down (as is Tucker's version), and I would expect a lyric tenor to sing it in the written key with the high C.

Since Tucker is a spinto, and his high B was earth-shattering, I fully accept HIS transposing it down! =D

[CharlotteinWeimar]

Noble, beautiful singing. Very different from the floated, head tones of Gigli but, when sung so well, equally valid. Vive la difference! Many thanks.

[aaronsande]

Thank you for listening and commenting!

[macciboma]

Grande tenore dalla voce passionale celebre tenore. Grazie da Walter.

[aaronsande]

Thank you Walter.

[Labienus]

yes agreed it is remarkable how similar his voice was 25 yrs. later and other than a natural darkening and more dramatic sound undimished voice for an entire career I have no idea what flaze3 is talking about?

I don't know if I accept such a distinct vocal prime with him I was at the prima of Luisa Miller what was he his late 50's good for any tenor at any age of course his first Canio around that time

remember his Met debut 45 as Enzo so his voice was never really light or small

[Labienus]

As you know I heard him live many times my first Met opera 59 Carmen Merrill Stevens was at his 25th anniversary, and for God's sake his funeral only one on stage of Met

a few yrs. ago I sort of reviewed his singing after being so familar with it the sheer sound technique big top yes, but what stood out was the gorgeous line the lyrical singing

but he could be undisciplined in later yrs lurch around distort the line then be fine again

sure voice a bit lighter in 47 IMO a true spinto

[aaronsande]

Thank you for the excellent comments and anecdotes!

[flaze3]

Tucker sounds in good voice here--not like later in his career! :-p (don't hurt me, Aaron!)

[aaronsande]

Argh! It's not me you have to worry about, man...it's those who will be watching this video after you made that comment ;P

[GermanOperaSinger]

flaze3: He was always in good voice, save a few months after his first heart attack in 1961. His vocal prime was between the mid-1950s and early-mid-1960s. He was more lyrical in the 1940s.

aaronsande: After singing for many years as a professional cantor, and 5 years with the Brooklyn Jewish Center by 1947, I would hardly call Tucker 'inexperienced' in the art of singing. Maybe in opera, if that's what you meant.

Tucker sings very well here, but I still prefer him in Italian repertoire.

[aaronsande]

Yes, GOS, I meant inexperienced in operatic singing. And I was trying to refer mostly to his youth and the many years of career he had AFTER this recording!

[meltzerboy]

Although not exactly his meat and potatoes, Tucker could sing certain French music as well as the best of them. If his voice need be categorized, he is a lyrico-spinto tenor I think. He sings the bel canto music from Lucia to perfection as he does several of the operas of Verdi and Puccini. Thanks, Aaron, for sharing this rarity.

[aaronsande]

You're welcome. This indeed surprised me, especially from a young (read: inexperienced) Tucker!

To me, a "spinto" tenor is a "lyric spinto" or "lyrico-spinto". Or are you trying to say he's in-between say, Corelli (most often called "spinto") and Pavarotti?

Either way, I agree, there's really no need to categorize. He's "great", and that's all the categorization I need.

[ShawDAMAN]

Beautiful, nope never heard this studio recording. As I said I've heard a beautiful live recital version of this but it was much much later, 60's or early 70's. Thanks :)

[aaronsande]

I suppose you're right, it does sound like a studio recording...but it's odd they chose to include the "recitative" before the aria, in this instance. I wouldn't have expected that in a studio recording.

[racheleleeba]

Lovely, thank you for this.

[aaronsande]

You are most welcome! I'll see if any of the other tracks on these CDs are as rare and gorgeous as this...

[Yoni89]

I've been looking for this!

[aaronsande]

Happy to serve! Definitely look up that CD I listed in the description. Incredible what you get for the money, if you can find it!

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Aaron: Excellent posting... superb in every way! THANK YOU!

[aaronsande]

You're welcome, Doug. Thanks for the praise =D