Richard Tucker live at the Met in 1970 - "Cielo e mar"

[iraterecords]

My father (Barbusci) was the Steersman) do you have that section where he sings ?. Me & my sister would love to be able to hear that.

[SHICOFF1]

@doktorlustig Be sure to listen to his 1959 version at the met also-- as posted by vinytovideo or german opera singer, forget which one posted it, just amazing!

[premiereopera1]

Tucker is magnificent here, singing the aria that he had sung at his Met debut 25 years earlier. The preservation of his voice, and the great sheen on that voice was a miracle to behold and to listen to. I was at this 25th anniversay gala, in which Tucker sang, staged, the complete Act 1 of Traviata w. Sutherland, complete Act 2 of Gioconda w. Tebaldi, MacNeil, Elias, and the complete Act 3 of Aida, w. Price, Merrill. What a great night for great singing. One act lyric, one spinto, one dramatic!

[assindiastignani]

@premiereopera1 I'm so envious. Were you there? I could not beg, borrow or steal a ticket for that night. I waited outside the house for hours, hoping someone would give back a ticket or leave early...anything!

[doktorlustig]

I have never heard a better "Cielo e mar" from Tucker. And he was 56 here!

[ballaratboy]

Magnificient!

[jmccracken1963]

Thank you VERY much for sharing this snippet with us. GREAT singing by a 57-year-old Tucker. WOW!!!!!!

[ShawDAMAN]

That's interesting if the Bb is interpolated. I've never heard this aria sung without it.

[FAUSTORICCARDO]

I agree, He was a Greatest american tenore. Eccezionale questa sua "cielo e mar".

Grazie

[metropolitan1966]

Bravo!!! I have always love his renditions of this aria. So suave, lyrical, moving and powerful. Tucker was indeed "The American Caruso." I could listen to this all day!

[ShawDAMAN]

Great, as he always was with this aria. I love the touch at 4:11.

[halavey]

I thought they all end it with the B flat? Corelli live Peerce, Bjorling (on recording) etc?

[gaytenor]

Un voce d'oro!!!! A classic performance of one of the most difficult of all tenor showpieces by the world's greatest tenor at the time. First we have the seamless legato line and perfect control followed by a wonderful example of playing to the gallery with the BIG FINISH on the interpolated b-flat (the score pitch is a g) at the end of the aria. The darker sound of the later Tucker voice may have been more appropriate for Enzo which is, after all, a spinto role.

[halavey]

Actually he sang an even better one then this one 4 years after this in 1974, less then a year before he died in NJ,and after the terrific 1959 performance it is next best IMO. I think it also is on you tube and surely is on a premiere opera pod cast. This is very good though for a man 56 years old.

[halavey]

Yes recorded from the audience by a friend of mine .

[halavey]

Yes of course I agree for his age or any age it's great but my favorite Tucker Gioconda is the 1959 met which is also on you tube. His singing of Trav. with Joan S. is unusual he sang it at the met in a 1946 brdcst with Albanese and again with her in 1954 Brdcst and with Warren and then in 1967 with Caballe

[GermanOperaSinger]

56 years old here and as spectacular as ever. Sure the voice is heavier than it was in the 1950s but he handles with with such ease and grace, that support and breath control few singers could match. In the very first phrase, 'Cielo', listen to that even, spinning TRUE vibrato that unfortunately in today's tenors is usually replaced by an ugly wobble. Simply the greatest post Caruso Italianate spinto tenor. What an excellent way to end the day.

[racheleleeba]

Five stars.