ROBERT MERRILL FINAL INTERVIEW with STEPHEN TEXON.mpg

[stevetexon]

Yes, that sounds just like Bob Merrill. Loved reading your little story. In my case he called me "lad" until we got close and then he called me Steve. He told me the story of Lawrence Tibbet saying those very words to him, after he (Merrill) sang the Prologue to Pagliacci on at a Sunday night Gala in the mid 1940's shortly after his Met debut in 1945.

[gallferi]

As I've said in so many YT videos, that I am honored to have sung with him in Florida (1978) in Rigoletto ( I - Sparafucile). I would like to recollect an incident in the hotel-elevator: We were together, going to our rooms after a rehearsal, naturally all the people in the elev. recognized him. He turned to me and said: "You have a helluva voice my boy!" The people in the elev looked at me, with "who is this boy?" look, and it made me feel very good.

[escamillion]

thanks for the upload!!

[stevetexon]

Yes, Wow indeed! Merrill was touched by God!

[stevetexon]

Thank you! My great pleasure.. so glad you enjoyed it!

[cantorbaby]

An undeniable talent to be remembered with great fondness. Thank you Stephen for a super interview.

[ChaznAvi]

Wow!

[baritonebynight]

Thanks for posting...one of my favorite voices of all time. His Pearl Fishers recording is the gold standard, IMHO.

[dreamerjhhan]

His voice is magnificent. He is passionate person. I love him. Thank you for posting.

[stevetexon]

Indeed it is a unique recording, with Bernstein conducting. What greater voice could ever be found to be the Baritone Cantor? None! Thanks for your comments.

[Ettoredipugnar]

I love his recording of the Bloch Sacred Service. And Im Italian .

[stevetexon]

Yes indeed! He was an exceptional human being.. remaining modest, while knowing his own greatness. He was actually humbled by his own divine vocal gifts, and told me so in different ways. Example: "What's a kid from Brooklyn doing on stage at the Met.. or singing with Toscannini? The Lord above fashioned his voice to be supreme!!

[marcusunlimited]

You know you are amongst a good man when he is unaware of the definition of the word "icon" in comparison to himself. :) // Not to mention one of the greatest baritones ever. :)

[stevetexon]

Thanks for your lovely comment. Yes, an exceptional human being and an exceptional singer. A voice like this appears once in a thousand years!

[sprinter848]

...as beautiful a man as he was a great singer.

[stevetexon]

So happy you enjoyed it! He was the greatest guy, and imagine singing Tevye with the greatest Baritone voice of the 20th Century! O course Zero Mostel and Topol were legendary, but a voice like Merrill you'll never find. Tevye fit him like a glove!

[justtheoneanne]

This is so wonderful. I love Robert Merrill. I think it's wonderful that his favorite role was Tevye, because the way I got to know him was from his recording of Kismet with Regina Resnik. :)

[undiscoveredtenor]

Excellent interview Steve! Mr. Merrill was the real deal...talent, professionalism, and down to earth. They don't make talent like this anymore. Thanks for posting this video. Regards, Joel

[stevetexon]

Wow! Thank you George for saying it exactly as it is! No other Baritone voice on Earth could equal or surrpass Merrill! There were many great ones up there in his league no question, but HE was king, and touched by God!

Stay tuned for my Anna Moffo clip in tribute to Merrill, to be posted shortly.

Best wishes, ST.

[GeorgeOfZala]

Thank you for the upload of this interview. There is no other voice on Earth I enjoy so much as Robert Merrill's. His humanity and artistry lives forever.

[stevetexon]

Absolutely right about that! He actually MELLOWED with age as most people do, yet back in his prime he was not very accessible..wife's fault not his. With that colossal instrument, he never taught voice. I was kind of a lucky exception when we became friends in regional productions after he left the MET. He actually vocalized to a high Bb on occasion, and demonstrated. Stay tuned for the full DVD soon to be released, and many thanks for your comments!

[musikenergy]

I had no idea that Merrill was so relatable and down to earth. I thought he would have developed a new accent and turned little stuffy with the kind of career he had. I thought wrong. He seems like the guy who will hold a conversation with you at the market without you knowing how phenomenal he is! I love his quote, 1st you're a human being, 2nd you're an artist. Great advice.

[stevetexon]

My pleasure. The full version of the interview will be available on DVD very soon, and will also include a beautiful tribute to Merrill by Diva Anna Moffo. Very unique and special! Please spread the word, and stay tuned to my website or google me for further updates.

Regards, Steve.

[stevetexon]

Hi Friend- Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, the full length version which includes a beautiful tribute to Merrill by Anna Moffo will be available very soon. Stay tuned to my websites for all future updates. Please tell others about it.. it is very special. A motion picture may be in the offing too!

Regards, Steve.

[Greekbaritone]

Thank you so much for uploading these highlights. Would be curious to know if there was a chance of able to view the whole interview at some point. Again, thanks!

[racheleleeba]

Oh, this was WONDERFUL!!! Thank you so much!!!

[stevetexon]

You are so very welcome. Should have done this a long time ago.. long story. Anyway, please give me some suggestions on good promotion!!

stevetexon@hotmail.com Hope to hear from you.

Steve.

[premiereopera1]

Wonderful. Thank you for posting this.

[ShawDAMAN]

THANKS for this gem. Great to see what a jovial and essentially modest guy he was, and sharp as ever at about 80 yrs old!

Very valuable and interesting advice too about not changing the natural quality of the voice regardless of the role you are singing. This is something I think some singers nowadays try desperately to do which probably just hastens their decline.

"Thats all you're getting at these prices" hahaha

[SHICOFF1]

Thank you so much for this great and rare interview late in Merrill's life. His was the most beautiful Baritone voice RIP Bob merrill.