Richard Tucker - Rachel, Quand du Seigneur - La Juive

[meltzerboy]

No doubt this is a very fine piece of singing by Tucker, and I might even have said great if there were no Caruso recording of the aria. Caruso puts more anguish into the lyrics and his tone is incomparably sweet and brilliant, albeit strenuous as it is one of his final recordings. I also prefer Caruso's French though he himself was never satisfied with the way he sang in that language. Thanks, Aaron, for sharing this performance.

[halavey]

His prime came in the mid 50's surely but the voice was always great. His 1950 Lecaut live and 49 in Aida with Toscanini and his magic flute at the met where very fine. I like him in Chenier, Gioconda and Forza especially well .

[halavey]

He was a lyric tenor and then on top of that had the power in 1945 to sing Gioconda and bring the house down so he was a lyric and he had squillo also, you do not hear it in this recording but live on radio in 1946 singing cielo you hear it, just not as much as later but more then many lyrics in his time. after all he was 33 here. Most lyrics did not touch Gioconda live at 33 years old and did not sing it in dramatic fashion, listen to last note in the 49' Aida Tosc. aria on you tube.

[aaronsande]

No, I CAN hear the squillo in this recording, very much so! That's why I still said I think it's a great voice, in my description!

[ShawDAMAN]

Great, but I do much prefer his later live versions :-) You can hear the squillo better. Thanks a lot for posting this

[aaronsande]

Without a doubt, Tucker without the spinto is just a lyric tenor--not as exciting...but it's still interesting to hear. You're welcome!