I saw an interview with him where he said Lanza was a favorite voice of his and when I heard him in the house he was singing full out Forte most of the time but back then the voice was steady, a lyric sound that was very strong but he sang some roles later probably not best for his voice .
...all i can say is technique technique technique...italian italian italian...learn it or when you get older the voice doesnt grow and most distinctly the high voice.
@ThePavafan has nothing to do with the italian language. Its the italian style. Voices can be big but it isnt about size..haha..its about the overtones. I have heard plenty of loud singers. Especially here in america. btw doesnt mean i was sayin Leech was a bad singer. He had a nice career.
This guy was supposed to be the next Mario Lanza ? what a joke. I could hardly listen to the whole aria , his vibrato was way way to fast and shaky in spots almost had a wobble in the voice and his B natural was terribly strained , this was painful to watch.
I do agree that he is a good tenor and interprets well......but, he is just American and Americans don't form the vowels as well as a italian, french, or hispanic opera tenor can.....it just doesn't sound the same or as good....unfortunatley he will never be on the same level as the great 3.....
I agree with tenormd. Leech is truly a great tenor. He simply doesn't have a vowel at the end of his name, and that is used against him. I am tired of the tiny voiced tenors that come out today. Leech's Huguenots was witout equal. I listened to a poorly sung Huguenots recently that was transposed and sung in Italian by Corelli! What pure garbage it was but nobody dares to say a thing because of his vowel. How about that horrible lisp he had as well?
good singer but notice how he sings full out 100% all of the time during this aria. in contrast, look at how Pavarotti sang this aria. Pavarotti new how to save the voice, not give 100% all the time and his voice stayed (relatively) fresh and "young". unfortunately Richard didn't have such "reservations" with his voice and went into bigger and bigger rep without real caution. he is still singing, but a shadow of what his voice used to be.
I saw him years ago in Paris in Manon by Massenet with Flemming. The voice was clear, nice color and powerful but he sang everything forte and the vibrato was quite huge.Artistically not very interesting. A kind of Carreras without emotional power.But I will recomand to see him on stage because it works even if it s not as good as the great tenors.
I simply don't get it. I keep reading so many negative comments about this tenor. He sounds great. And how often do we get to hear American tenors in this class?
Despite a slight flutter (no big deal) a very good rendition. His voice sounded very free and natural until the high B, which looked painful for him but still sounded great.
He's going back to French repertoire now, which is actually better for him. It's too bad there aren't many comic roles for his sort of voice, since he's a really fine comic actor.
Right-his Raoul in Mayerbeer's Huguenots is unbelieveably good.His top D flat is thrilling. Frankly his Italian works are not as good...I would like to see him sing Gonoud's Romeo-I think this is where he shines-Still a great American tenor of the Tri-cities Opera programme, in Bimington under Peyton Hibbitt, where he started at 15 or 16 I think?
I think he started studying with Peyton Hibbitt then. He also sang Ralph Rackstraw, Nanki-Poo, Richard Dauntless, and Fairfax with the Summer Savoyards. That's son why he's such a good comedian.
With Peyton "don't just sing the words; sing the meaning."
I saw him in DON PASQUALE and he sang flawlessly and was SO funny.
On "From the Heart" The song "Senza nischiuno" will break your hear.
not much voice support or not much covering when you don't have a good day can ruin your voice ,but this is the best la solita storia shown on youtube.pls put a better recording if you have one ,thanks.
Hummm!! Here I can see why people say he losted his voice qualities. I think is because the same reason (way of voice support) of Sylvia McNair and Chris Merritt. Really SAD!
maybe he was having a bad night, but in any case the pitch is low througout the recit and there is an alarming flutter in there. I have really loved his singing in the past, and wish him well.
Honestly, i dont know what u guys are listening to. This was a great performance, the voice was wonderful. Bravo Leech! And what the hell is a vocal wig? what yall mean by that?
What's wrong with you guys? This was a great interpretation, the voice was wonderful, doesn't look to me like he has lost much. Bravo Leech. And what do yall mean by a vocal wig?
They come, they give us their very soul, so what if they lose their magic in the process? Leech was one, Carreras another, Callas, Scotto, ad infinitum. Should we define greatest by the loss of it? Yes, I think so.
Once a fantastic tenor who lost his voice, and sings as if this didn(t happen. Same thing about his hair : he lost them, and is trying to pretend that this didn't happen. I deeply admire Richard Leech for his artistical abilities and for what used to be his voice, but he's singing with a vocal wig.
And what a nice wig it is. Listen to Pavarotti in this. The voice is much better, but he's sings it like he's reading directions on the back of a pancake box.
Lanza was the electronic wizard--a beautiful voice at times but like Scotty utterly dependent upon engineers beaming him up. With an additional 5 years training in Europe--away from Hollywood--he might have made it in Opera. But he's no Jussi Bjorling. He's more an Andrea Bocelli singer. There's a profound difference between Lanza-Bocelli and and the unequaled Bjorlin.
Lanza was no electronic wizard. He rarely used anything to enhance his voice except for in the movies. But I think that calling Jussi Bjorling a greater tenor is wrong, Jussi Bjorling had a pretty good voice but no where near a good as Lanza's, Bjorling could barely prounounce the words he was singing most of the time!
Lanza was a great entertainer, but Leech is a proven tenor. He sang over 100 performances at the MET, and is an International performer. He performs tributes to Lanza concert style. He has an endearing quality. I am suprised at the comment concerning his pitch by a "corelli fan". Corelli had quite a powerful, but not very pleasing voice and his diction was at best full of lisps and tongue tied.
Richard Leech had some surgical work on his hair and he looks much more handsome here than in the duet he performed with the late great Pilar Lorengar. Richard looks young and boyish here with a real neat haircut.
Lanza was not an Opera singer, he had a beatiful voice but, the same as Andrea Bocelli he couldn't be heard in an opera house over an orchestra without using a mic.
Apparently making a career out of cheesing for a camera and lip-synching to studio recordings gets you placed in the pantheon of great OPERA tenors with the likes of Bjorling. I really like Lanza's voice....but a bunch of movies and some recitals don't make him an operatic great.
yes yes.. its good.. but he is not even short to Mario Lanza or Jussi Bjorling in this aria, they both make everyone look like little kids after you heard them...
I saw an interview with him where he said Lanza was a favorite voice of his and when I heard him in the house he was singing full out Forte most of the time but back then the voice was steady, a lyric sound that was very strong but he sang some roles later probably not best for his voice .
SHICOFF1 3 months ago
jode, es la mejor version que he escuchado, y mira q he escuchado versiones.
Leech es un grande y en vivo mas aun, es espectacular, vocal e interpretativamente
NIKOFIGAROS 10 months ago
...all i can say is technique technique technique...italian italian italian...learn it or when you get older the voice doesnt grow and most distinctly the high voice.
js59695 10 months ago
@js59695 Many germans who don't know italian had huge voices.
ThePavafan 6 months ago
@ThePavafan has nothing to do with the italian language. Its the italian style. Voices can be big but it isnt about size..haha..its about the overtones. I have heard plenty of loud singers. Especially here in america. btw doesnt mean i was sayin Leech was a bad singer. He had a nice career.
js59695 5 months ago
he sings well, well maybe not as good as....are we a lot of spoilt brats that want everybody to sound like our personal favorite???
variety is the spice of my you tube life...
thanks for posing!
neelsdp1 1 year ago
This guy was supposed to be the next Mario Lanza ? what a joke. I could hardly listen to the whole aria , his vibrato was way way to fast and shaky in spots almost had a wobble in the voice and his B natural was terribly strained , this was painful to watch.
Etnalleb 1 year ago
He sounds like a lyric to me, and really fails to bring the drama and emotion needed for this piece.
kevin86h 1 year ago
Does anyone know what year this was?
searnold56 2 years ago
1996 - it was James Levine's 25th Anniversary Gala
matthew1908 2 years ago
I do agree that he is a good tenor and interprets well......but, he is just American and Americans don't form the vowels as well as a italian, french, or hispanic opera tenor can.....it just doesn't sound the same or as good....unfortunatley he will never be on the same level as the great 3.....
TheCatcherkid 2 years ago
you will never be on the same level as the 3 tenors! who do you think you are?!!?
naumann911 2 years ago
@naumann911 the guy had a career so he was somebody...who do u think u are...
js59695 10 months ago
he sounds like a heavier florez. everything sounds the same
singermanz 2 years ago
...and after seeing this he doesn't really seem like a pinkerton.
juicyfourtwenty 3 years ago
what happended to this tenor, anyone knows,? is he still singing?
giacomolaurivolpi 3 years ago
Ya, he's singing with us in the Atlanta Opera this year as Pinkerton.
juicyfourtwenty 3 years ago
I agree with tenormd. Leech is truly a great tenor. He simply doesn't have a vowel at the end of his name, and that is used against him. I am tired of the tiny voiced tenors that come out today. Leech's Huguenots was witout equal. I listened to a poorly sung Huguenots recently that was transposed and sung in Italian by Corelli! What pure garbage it was but nobody dares to say a thing because of his vowel. How about that horrible lisp he had as well?
manishafan 4 years ago
good singer but notice how he sings full out 100% all of the time during this aria. in contrast, look at how Pavarotti sang this aria. Pavarotti new how to save the voice, not give 100% all the time and his voice stayed (relatively) fresh and "young". unfortunately Richard didn't have such "reservations" with his voice and went into bigger and bigger rep without real caution. he is still singing, but a shadow of what his voice used to be.
golfr10under 3 years ago
It moves you! Thats what singing is all about!
Not all singers can sing perfect!
And all perfect singers doesn´t move you!
I must say that some (vocally) not so perfect artists have moved me more than "Pavarottis/Domingos" -like voices.
Zarah Leander is a swedish singer who moves me. Her voice isn´t perfect, but her delivery is excellent!
maxhansendk 4 years ago
POR FAVOR MAS CONTROL EN EL VIBRATO
MUCHISIMO PARA MI GUSTO
EL FINAL LA AFINACION cuidado!!!!
Supuestamente son profeccionales
Que queda entonces???
maxmarce 4 years ago
I saw him years ago in Paris in Manon by Massenet with Flemming. The voice was clear, nice color and powerful but he sang everything forte and the vibrato was quite huge.Artistically not very interesting. A kind of Carreras without emotional power.But I will recomand to see him on stage because it works even if it s not as good as the great tenors.
frenchyfrench 4 years ago
I simply don't get it. I keep reading so many negative comments about this tenor. He sounds great. And how often do we get to hear American tenors in this class?
tenornmd 4 years ago
I like it.
Bravo tenore.
MarioLanza2 4 years ago
Wow his voice really did go.
lacosanostra222 4 years ago
Very sincere Rendition!!! The man sins with heart and that should be respected.
Voic3mast3r 4 years ago
Amazing and beautiful
sergava 4 years ago
Despite a slight flutter (no big deal) a very good rendition. His voice sounded very free and natural until the high B, which looked painful for him but still sounded great.
spgtenor 4 years ago
He's going back to French repertoire now, which is actually better for him. It's too bad there aren't many comic roles for his sort of voice, since he's a really fine comic actor.
Mapman923 4 years ago
Right-his Raoul in Mayerbeer's Huguenots is unbelieveably good.His top D flat is thrilling. Frankly his Italian works are not as good...I would like to see him sing Gonoud's Romeo-I think this is where he shines-Still a great American tenor of the Tri-cities Opera programme, in Bimington under Peyton Hibbitt, where he started at 15 or 16 I think?
vickersman 4 years ago
Binghamton.
I think he started studying with Peyton Hibbitt then. He also sang Ralph Rackstraw, Nanki-Poo, Richard Dauntless, and Fairfax with the Summer Savoyards. That's son why he's such a good comedian.
With Peyton "don't just sing the words; sing the meaning."
I saw him in DON PASQUALE and he sang flawlessly and was SO funny.
On "From the Heart" The song "Senza nischiuno" will break your hear.
I agree that his Raoul is brilliant.
Mapman923 4 years ago
not much voice support or not much covering when you don't have a good day can ruin your voice ,but this is the best la solita storia shown on youtube.pls put a better recording if you have one ,thanks.
smartsteve 4 years ago
wow! i really don't hear his loss of voice here...if he lost his voice then he must have been pavarotti or something before he lost it....
vincitor 4 years ago
Hummm!! Here I can see why people say he losted his voice qualities. I think is because the same reason (way of voice support) of Sylvia McNair and Chris Merritt. Really SAD!
aguacun 4 years ago
maybe he was having a bad night, but in any case the pitch is low througout the recit and there is an alarming flutter in there. I have really loved his singing in the past, and wish him well.
marctenor 4 years ago
Honestly, i dont know what u guys are listening to. This was a great performance, the voice was wonderful. Bravo Leech! And what the hell is a vocal wig? what yall mean by that?
SonoPortoricano 4 years ago
What's wrong with you guys? This was a great interpretation, the voice was wonderful, doesn't look to me like he has lost much. Bravo Leech. And what do yall mean by a vocal wig?
SonoPortoricano 4 years ago
They come, they give us their very soul, so what if they lose their magic in the process? Leech was one, Carreras another, Callas, Scotto, ad infinitum. Should we define greatest by the loss of it? Yes, I think so.
epa300 5 years ago
Once a fantastic tenor who lost his voice, and sings as if this didn(t happen. Same thing about his hair : he lost them, and is trying to pretend that this didn't happen. I deeply admire Richard Leech for his artistical abilities and for what used to be his voice, but he's singing with a vocal wig.
archiloque 5 years ago
And what a nice wig it is. Listen to Pavarotti in this. The voice is much better, but he's sings it like he's reading directions on the back of a pancake box.
epa300 5 years ago
Lanza was the electronic wizard--a beautiful voice at times but like Scotty utterly dependent upon engineers beaming him up. With an additional 5 years training in Europe--away from Hollywood--he might have made it in Opera. But he's no Jussi Bjorling. He's more an Andrea Bocelli singer. There's a profound difference between Lanza-Bocelli and and the unequaled Bjorlin.
blakemooney 5 years ago
Lanza was no electronic wizard. He rarely used anything to enhance his voice except for in the movies. But I think that calling Jussi Bjorling a greater tenor is wrong, Jussi Bjorling had a pretty good voice but no where near a good as Lanza's, Bjorling could barely prounounce the words he was singing most of the time!
lacosanostra222 5 years ago
Lanza was a great entertainer, but Leech is a proven tenor. He sang over 100 performances at the MET, and is an International performer. He performs tributes to Lanza concert style. He has an endearing quality. I am suprised at the comment concerning his pitch by a "corelli fan". Corelli had quite a powerful, but not very pleasing voice and his diction was at best full of lisps and tongue tied.
manishafan 5 years ago
If occasionally sneaking off-pitch, Richard Leech still sings this beautiful aria expressively and incredibly emotionally. Very touching.
hymnforlorca 5 years ago
Richard Leech had some surgical work on his hair and he looks much more handsome here than in the duet he performed with the late great Pilar Lorengar. Richard looks young and boyish here with a real neat haircut.
BOUZOUKIE 5 years ago
He goes a little bit out o pitch sometimes.
corellilover 5 years ago
Lanza was not an Opera singer, he had a beatiful voice but, the same as Andrea Bocelli he couldn't be heard in an opera house over an orchestra without using a mic.
corellilover 5 years ago
He was never really trained to do opera either, If he had been trained his career would have been a lot different.
lacosanostra222 5 years ago
But Mario has performed in the opera Madama Butterfly and put on a perfect performance. His voice could be heard fine over the orchestra!
lacosanostra222 5 years ago
Lol...cory
davidSBG 5 years ago
You did not just mention Bjorling and Lanza in the same sentence.
coryisasleep 5 years ago
Apparently making a career out of cheesing for a camera and lip-synching to studio recordings gets you placed in the pantheon of great OPERA tenors with the likes of Bjorling. I really like Lanza's voice....but a bunch of movies and some recitals don't make him an operatic great.
Fitz65 5 years ago
Thank you. I couldn't agree more about Lanza. To even mention him in the same sentence as Bjoerling is a disgrace!!
porsche4277 5 years ago
Yes, he did. BLASPHEMY! The law of blasphemy, blasphemer is stoned. :)
epa300 5 years ago
yes yes.. its good.. but he is not even short to Mario Lanza or Jussi Bjorling in this aria, they both make everyone look like little kids after you heard them...
relorduy7 5 years ago
Richard Leech has such a beautiful lyric voice and wonderful musicality!
coryisasleep 5 years ago