Richard Tucker live in 1971 recital - Wagner's "Morgenlich leuchtend"

[stevevandien]

OK, I'm going by my middle-aged (and therefore quite fallible) memory here. But did not Tucker, in "The Tenors," say that he'd promised his voice teacher Paul Althouse (a heldentenor, by the way) never to sing a German vowel?

I wonder, because Tucker sings this lovely aria so well, and he's also closing in on 60 years old here:) --

[SHICOFF1]

@HeroTenor Thank you for your kind words! Yes Tucker was sensational but actually though I know Neil and his wife But I'm not Neil Shicoff I just use" Shicoff 1" on you tube being a fan of his. I'm older then Neil also and by the way I knew Ricard Tucker very well .

[SHICOFF1]

Probably at the Philly Robin Hood Dell .

[SHICOFF1]

Yes he said in 1970 on radio interview that he wanted to sing some Wagner on stage. He died in Jan.1975  Luckily he did sing Samson on stage in 1971 and Juive in 1973 and 1974 complete.

[HeroTenor]

@SHICOFF1 Perhaps he influenced your Juive? It was Great. A Tour de Force.-  Of course your Hoffman is still in my memory as stunning! Bravo Caro! I love the fact that Tucker found no difficulty in singing spinto roles and Samson etc, An Inspiration!

[Jass077]

This really is very good, apart from the so-so German. He does run into a little trouble with the murderous tessitura at the end, but he probably would have made a fine Walther, Lohengrin and perhaps even Tannhäuser earlier in his career.

[Cantormatis]

Wow, singing Wagner!!! Who knew? He sang it beautifully!

[AulicExclusiva]

WOW!

I thought he was going to sing it in English. My jaw dropped.

He sings it very well, too, at age 58.

[Lauritz1]

Definitive! Need I say more! Pity he passed without doing Meistersinger, Lohengrin and Tannhauser on stage.

[tenorismo]

@Lauritz1 Its a shame he passed without getting a production of La Juive at the met .

[pearlmuth3]

This was outside I hear the wind at one point. He later felt the role was not suited for his voice but in 1970 in a long interview he said he was considering singing Wagner on stage.

[GermanOperaSinger]

Tucker singing Wagner? Incredible and at the beginning I couldn't even believe it was him...he sounded like Wunderlich for some reason! He sounds so young here and still a very beautiful voice despite his age.

[Operafiend22]

a testament to his excellent technique

[pearlmuth3]

His early Magic flute for the Met was very good but the met did it and Cosi in English at that time sadly. He was 58 years old here.

[Agorante]

Actually I cherish Tucker's English language Cosi. At the time I too didn't believe in opera in English - but I was wrong. Tucker taught me.

[pearlmuth3]

I am glad VinylToVideo put my recording on and I believe it was from Philly but have no clue where and Tucker did another concert in 1972 also in Philly but it was not outside so if this was outside I never found out where.  I gladly sent it to him when he asked if Tucker ever sang Wagner he did so twice at concerts and often did several lieder numbers in Recital. I remember a really good one in 1968 at the los angeles music center on Jan.28th I still have the program. Great tenor he was.

[Yoni89]

Wow, stunning!

And I've never seen Tucker's profile! We have very similar noses.. Guess it runs in the club.. LOL

[VinylToVideo]

Yes I think it does!

[sospello]

Wow, this is rare. Very impressive and I like your photos choice--a great portrait of him.

[VinylToVideo]

Thank Aprille Millo for this photo which I found on her website!

[ShawDAMAN]

Awesome!

I wonder where in Philly. I'm pretty familiar with the city. It almost sounds like it's outdoors, do you know?

Thanks!

[VinylToVideo]

No idea; I'm not even 100% sure it was in Philly although I'm pretty sure it was. It does sound outdoors though and was recorded from the audience. I had to remove the applause at the end because it was too loud to normalize the rest of the recording.

[ShawDAMAN]

Tucker singing Wagner is something I never thought of; it works! :)