Truly spectacular performance! I believe Tucker had cantorial training, which accounts for his expressive use of the "wailing" or "crying" sound, used to masterful effect in this aria.
His last performance of I PAGLIACCI was on Tuesday, December 3, 1974, with Norman Mittelmann, Anna Moffo, Lenus Carlson, and Robert Schmorr, with John Nelson conducting.
What an outstanding and absolutely SEARING performance. Tucker IS Canio here. Thank you VERY, VERY much for sharing this with us. A great artist and a great MAN to the end of his life. Too bad he didn't live long enough to broadcast CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA and LES VEPRES SICILIENNES later that season, or UN BALLO IN MASCHERA and LA GIOCONDA the following season - or LA JUIVE in 1976-77!!!!!
I'm not really used to the spinto Tucker. Everything I own with him is from the late 40s or early 50s. I really must get some of these later recordings!
In one of the Met intermission features from the tapes the Met and Texaco released in 1990, Tucker said that Mr. Bing had wanted him to sing Canio as early as the Quintero production in 1958, but that he had turned it down - too early in the day for Canio!! I'm glad he waited: he really did become the "aging, love-mad clown" that Zeffirelli wanted in this production. And we have the strike to thank for his 1970 broadcast, because that would have been McCracken on 12/6/69 otherwise!
I balanced out the comment back with a thumbs up... it's just the ridiculous Tucker haters... within hours of putting the highlights of the 1964 Tucker Tosca up on YouTube it had been given one star... this one was also given one star at some point which is why the rating is only 4 and a half at the moment.
I used to disable my ratings too but now I really don't care...we shouldn't worry about some joker's 'ratings' because they are as insignificant as their opinion. It's probably that dickwad from Argentina on a secret account anyways. Probably a facist who can't stand Jewish singers, he will rot in hell with Juan Peron and the rest of those Nazi sympathizers.
The original reason I started is because before I posted opera I posted a lot of other kinds of music. Then when my subscribers saw I was posting videos they weren't interested in they rated them accordingly. I guess I could change it back now but it doesn't really matter.
Excellently sung for a tenor of any age, certainly at 61. The voice has lost some of the beauty it possessed back in the 1950-60s, but still as exciting as ever. Never mind this isn't the one I have, this is a different one. Are you sure this was THE last performance? Thanks for posting.
The easiest way to tell if this was Tucker's LAST performance with the Met is if Anna Moffo is the Nedda. If not but you're sure it's from 1974, the Nedda would have to be Atsuko Azuma.
I stand corrected, I didn't think this was a broadcast seeing as you could hear the bravos clearly at the end. I'm certain that my friend didn't record it himself as he wasn't there, but perhaps the reel-to-reel I received from him was a copy from the original. Regardless, Tucker's singing is wonderful here.
Compare this to Domingos singing in 1941+ 61=2002. Tuckers voice was always more open throated and more squillante then the overrated spaniard.
Bjoerrelli 2 months ago
Truly spectacular performance! I believe Tucker had cantorial training, which accounts for his expressive use of the "wailing" or "crying" sound, used to masterful effect in this aria.
petrina1022 2 years ago
His last performance of I PAGLIACCI was on Tuesday, December 3, 1974, with Norman Mittelmann, Anna Moffo, Lenus Carlson, and Robert Schmorr, with John Nelson conducting.
jmccracken1963 2 years ago
What an outstanding and absolutely SEARING performance. Tucker IS Canio here. Thank you VERY, VERY much for sharing this with us. A great artist and a great MAN to the end of his life. Too bad he didn't live long enough to broadcast CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA and LES VEPRES SICILIENNES later that season, or UN BALLO IN MASCHERA and LA GIOCONDA the following season - or LA JUIVE in 1976-77!!!!!
jmccracken1963 2 years ago 6
It was an honor to be there. All of us cried on stage.
jeiversen 2 years ago 3
I love the "bah!" here. lol
OettingerCroat 3 years ago
I'd have liked to hear the applause!
VinylToVideo 3 years ago
I'm not really used to the spinto Tucker. Everything I own with him is from the late 40s or early 50s. I really must get some of these later recordings!
VinylToVideo 3 years ago
You've definitely been missing out! To my ears he's a darker spinto tenor, bordering on dramatic. Wonderful!
Heck, even when he was considered lyric in his earlier years he had that wonderful rich spinto tone.
Yoni89 3 years ago 3
In one of the Met intermission features from the tapes the Met and Texaco released in 1990, Tucker said that Mr. Bing had wanted him to sing Canio as early as the Quintero production in 1958, but that he had turned it down - too early in the day for Canio!! I'm glad he waited: he really did become the "aging, love-mad clown" that Zeffirelli wanted in this production. And we have the strike to thank for his 1970 broadcast, because that would have been McCracken on 12/6/69 otherwise!
jmccracken1963 2 years ago 4
I clicked add to favorites at the beginning and end of the song, cause I forgot I added it already. I was too preoccupied by the voice.
My god.
Yoni89 3 years ago
I balanced out the comment back with a thumbs up... it's just the ridiculous Tucker haters... within hours of putting the highlights of the 1964 Tucker Tosca up on YouTube it had been given one star... this one was also given one star at some point which is why the rating is only 4 and a half at the moment.
Mooorhe 3 years ago
That's the reason I don't allow my posts to be rated!
VinylToVideo 3 years ago
I used to disable my ratings too but now I really don't care...we shouldn't worry about some joker's 'ratings' because they are as insignificant as their opinion. It's probably that dickwad from Argentina on a secret account anyways. Probably a facist who can't stand Jewish singers, he will rot in hell with Juan Peron and the rest of those Nazi sympathizers.
GermanOperaSinger 3 years ago
The original reason I started is because before I posted opera I posted a lot of other kinds of music. Then when my subscribers saw I was posting videos they weren't interested in they rated them accordingly. I guess I could change it back now but it doesn't really matter.
VinylToVideo 3 years ago
Excellently sung for a tenor of any age, certainly at 61. The voice has lost some of the beauty it possessed back in the 1950-60s, but still as exciting as ever. Never mind this isn't the one I have, this is a different one. Are you sure this was THE last performance? Thanks for posting.
GermanOperaSinger 3 years ago 3
I'm 99% certain this is THE last performance.
Mooorhe 3 years ago
The easiest way to tell if this was Tucker's LAST performance with the Met is if Anna Moffo is the Nedda. If not but you're sure it's from 1974, the Nedda would have to be Atsuko Azuma.
VinylToVideo 3 years ago
Anna Moffo is singing Nedda in this performance. I'm quite sure it is the last one.
Mooorhe 3 years ago
Definitely his last Met performance.
VinylToVideo 3 years ago
I stand corrected, I didn't think this was a broadcast seeing as you could hear the bravos clearly at the end. I'm certain that my friend didn't record it himself as he wasn't there, but perhaps the reel-to-reel I received from him was a copy from the original. Regardless, Tucker's singing is wonderful here.
Mooorhe 3 years ago
Excellent, perhaps his last performance at the Met in December 1974?
VinylToVideo 3 years ago
wow, awesome singing! I love it when a good tenor voice ages marvelously, Tucker's sure did!
OettingerCroat 3 years ago 3
Great singing for a tenor of any age but especially of course for a 61 year old! Sounds as good as he ever did... :-o His laugh is very eery =)
Was someone trying to applaud prematurely at 1:41-1:43? :P
ShawDAMAN 3 years ago
I think that's Tucker clapping as part of his Canio portrayal. He does something similar in the video titled 'two Pagliacci arias' I think.
Mooorhe 3 years ago
Ah. That makes more sense. :)
ShawDAMAN 3 years ago
yah I think so too, he applauds on the line "e ognun applaudirà," in English "and everyone will applaud." :-D
OettingerCroat 3 years ago