Vickers sings "Vesti la Giubba" from Pagliacci (1955)

[Juliet0307]

Jon is so drammatic,so sensitive,so powerful,he sings with such a deepness...

He is unique.

[caruso81]

He is loosing his voice here because he is not prepared for this role yet.... To young.....

[philipvanlidth]

@caruso81 You obviously didn't read the description offered by the poster of this video. After two full orchestra rehearsals and a dress rehearsal, with a day that began at 8:00 AM, it is a miracle that he had this much voice left. I don't know of many twenty-nine-year-olds who would have that kind of vocal stamina already. It isn't that he isn't prepared for this role. He has proven that he was supremely prepared for it...

[caruso81]

@philipvanlidth True....

I didn`t read...

It is to much....

[Nello7]

He projects far more than his twenty years allows. This video is interesting to say the least. I love Vickers and this is a great historical tool. The best operatic interpretive actor perhaps ever- but the voice always bore the adversity of the performance.

[habanitos1]

He had a very light voice for that role at taht age. It sounds cool though

[mauriciomille]

@habanitos1 how old was he here?....

[aaroncaruso]

This is a young Vickers. What a gem. He does make a mistake with the Italian at the climax of the aria, but that being said- its still a rare gem. Thanks for posting!

[IlgruppoDiDocci]

TERRIBLE!

[pearlmuth3]

yes he could act and maybe his voice was not a typical Italian one but it was bigger and more dramtic then bergonzi of course better for roles Carlo did not sing. Very fine tenor with no bad habits as so many have.

[gattopardo1861]

Bellissimo. I love this! Thank you for posting. I've been looking for it.

[WiseMonki]

I always loved the way Vickers moved on the stage... like a powerful caged animal... so much tension and commitment to the role at hand. Great post... of one the of the best tenors in the last 100 years... and with the company of Bergonzi my favourite. Many thanks,

[cyfieithydd]

I found this as a link from one of my favourites (another JV video) and it is wonderful. He was 29 and studying at music college. Too many singers since (myself included) have started too young. The body isn't ready often, let alone the voice.

It is wonderful to see the raw talent here that went on to become what for me is the greatest acting tenor of the last fifty years. Thank you for this piece of history.

[rotharr]

Magnificent performance.

[cjondoran]

How Cool to know that your voice fits Canio well enough to sing it at age 29. Doesnt happen very often.

[stevevandien]

Interesting to compare this version with the one Vickers did some thirteen years later, in the film with von Karajan. Here he is clearly a developing (though impressive) artist; in the latter version he's a mature one, who doesn't even feel the need to laugh:) --

[paulostroff99]

Stunning!