Vickers is the Verismo (Vero, meaning "true") Tenor. He finds the arch of truth and drives the truth into the music. At the beginning neutral talking to himself - the man drinking in sadness (the tide will turn) - the screaming at the child - the soul raised to ask turn back time - the boy's words - the dazed realization that what slipped his hand is not just a boy or a rope - his soul has gone over - his old self calls out his name - but only sorrow replies - only the shadow of his soul.
To fully appreciate this scene, one should know the opera, since Grimes frequently quotes earlier passages ("Old Joe," "Now the great Pleiades," "What harbor shelters peace," etc.) But Vickers is so overwhelming that I'm sure some first-time viewers and listeners have been brought to tears by this video. I know the opera and Vickers' performance rather well, yet I can't watch this without sobbing:) --
Wow! Am I such a big fan that my ears are decieving me? At the age of 62(?) he sounds as good as he ever did. Once I hear Vickers in anything he sets the standard for me
The man consumes the art form and reconstitutes it in such an intelligible way. There standing before you is the ultimate artist of perhaps any art form. He constantly endeavors to ask the rhetorical questions and somehow manages to find an answer. We will never walk amongst a giant such as this ever again in this genre. You can build busts of Domingo and shout the vocal genius of Caruso, but all of us should bow to the complete intellectual artistry of Mr. Vickers.
Vickers is the Verismo (Vero, meaning "true") Tenor. He finds the arch of truth and drives the truth into the music. At the beginning neutral talking to himself - the man drinking in sadness (the tide will turn) - the screaming at the child - the soul raised to ask turn back time - the boy's words - the dazed realization that what slipped his hand is not just a boy or a rope - his soul has gone over - his old self calls out his name - but only sorrow replies - only the shadow of his soul.
deutschefach 6 months ago
very few singers of any sort could pull of such a scene. amazing
ShawDAMAN 11 months ago
Incredible! At around 8:17 that high piano singing....unbelieveable. Just amazing singing and artistry at any age!
RossiniSoprano 1 year ago
To fully appreciate this scene, one should know the opera, since Grimes frequently quotes earlier passages ("Old Joe," "Now the great Pleiades," "What harbor shelters peace," etc.) But Vickers is so overwhelming that I'm sure some first-time viewers and listeners have been brought to tears by this video. I know the opera and Vickers' performance rather well, yet I can't watch this without sobbing:) --
stevevandien 1 year ago
He was Grimes.
TheLEJT1 1 year ago
Wow! Am I such a big fan that my ears are decieving me? At the age of 62(?) he sounds as good as he ever did. Once I hear Vickers in anything he sets the standard for me
lemeshev 1 year ago
The man consumes the art form and reconstitutes it in such an intelligible way. There standing before you is the ultimate artist of perhaps any art form. He constantly endeavors to ask the rhetorical questions and somehow manages to find an answer. We will never walk amongst a giant such as this ever again in this genre. You can build busts of Domingo and shout the vocal genius of Caruso, but all of us should bow to the complete intellectual artistry of Mr. Vickers.
Nello7 2 years ago 5
@Nello7 amen
ShawDAMAN 11 months ago
Vickers is incredible! Britten is genius! The two together are mesmerizing.
jbrown91287 2 years ago 2
Untouchable -the greatest in our time
dziady1 2 years ago 2
What an artist!
crabbe88 2 years ago