Leonard Warren - Lord's Prayer (with piano)

[operassassin]

I'd care about religion if it seemed as sincere and gorgeous as this.

[voxpopful]

These great singers took all the time in the world with their phrases. They built the expressive power up gradually and so musically. Above all, there's always, always expression, from the heart, from the soul. He sings the high note at the end as though he had endless reserves of power; you never felt strain or yelling, or faking or rushing. Where are they today, these marvelous artists?

[viewpoints3]

This is so beautiful. viewpoints3

[raphaelhudson]

Beautiful singing. The talk about circumference has some validity. Yet at the same time the width of a voice usually gets much wider with age as the vocal folds thicken. Compare the early gobbi with the gobbi of tosca for an obvious example. circumference is only one factor. In fact I know a tenor who in recordings from his 30s had a very small lyrical soft voice, yet now has an enormous verdi tenor voice.

[Fegen]

What a voice! Leonard Warren was one of the best baritones to ever grace the stage

of the Met Opera House in New York City where he also died during a performance.

[gaytenor]

To say that Tucker lacks some ill-defined "special quality" in his voice does nothing more than illustrate the ignorance of the poster. Tucker was acclaimed a great singer with a voice of ravishingly beautiful tone every where he performed. But here we are told in seriousness that he was merely good! The man was the highest paid tenor of his time and acclaimed the best tenor alive in most of the Italian houses especially La Scala. What could he have accomplished if he was great??? Dumbstruck!!

[chuckgafford]

The greatest baritone of the 20th century - and maybe ever --

So sad he died too soon at the Met.

[joshuaborg]

wow!

[sillyboydeux]

I adore Battistini, Gobbi, Bastianini anda Maneguerra for quite different reasons than I adore Leonard Warren: it's a different kind of artistry. Battistini was so fierce that I imagine the stage floor catching fire beneath him on occasion. Gobbi, similarly, Bastianini for the ravishing colors of the voice, and Maneguerra was probably the best singing actor of his generation. But Leonard Warren singing the Our Father says it all: his voice is pure spirit and smoke, like Marian Anderson.

[wattever333]

1:50 I have seen this image before, in a local newspaper. what is he holding in his hand? it looks like half a barbell.

[halavey]

Only a fool or idiot would dislike Warren. Cream rises and he rose up on top.

[lpvcrcd]

doesn''t get any better than Warren Although legatofancier's opinions seem to crave reinforcement by the likes of operagoers? and professionals? this user can only site the extraordinary

natural gift of Warren....Excessive tongue tension aside[how he came up with that only legatofancier knows for surel] Mr Warren holds a place in baritone glory few do ..Was any voice greater ? Ask yourself after hearing all his roles and all his vocal rendiitons Tone and sound is purely objective.

[halavey]

Peerce told me Warren was the greatest and Tucker who sang often with him also was very impressed by his sound, Milnes of course was and has said so but not everyone likes him. I prefer him to Ruffo and I would never argue about the beauty of Merrill's voice but I would take Warren over all as a singer to Ruffo or Bastianini. I do like Mac Neil and I don't care what opera people pros or not said and if Peerce had said Warren was not great I would not care either. For me he is best.

[halavey]

If you like the Bass voice singing it, listen also to peter Aldrich singing it in Church-- also on you tube. This anyhow is fantastic as you would expect from Warren.

[halavey]

Izar--Jan Peerce told me in 1977 that Warren had the High C and I believed him. It seems to bother you when this is mentioned, so what he still was Warren and he was the greatest Verdi singer in his time and one of the best of all time and we love the voice.

[halavey]

Yes, Number one all things considered.

[MaestroJosephShore]

What lukebrainard2006 is saying about the vocal tract is true. Warren had a very large pharyngeal circumference. The longer the vocal tract, the lower the vowel formants. The overall tract (pharynx plus mouth) is what counts. A large curcumference acts the same as length. Warren had very low vowel formants but the vocal fold properties of a tenor, making his exceptional sound. He did not have "tongue tension." He could sing with agility and duration. The term "thickness" is inappropriate.

[GermanOperaSinger]

So, if I understand correctly, had Warren's vocal tract been shorter, he would have been a tenor? Does that also mean, a man with a baritone's vocal cords and a short vocal tract would have a slightly 'tenorial' quality to his timbre?

[MaestroJosephShore]

yes, in all probability.

[legatofancier]

Thank you for the strong technical analysis! It 's discussions like this that give some of us a chance to learn something! However, as far aa taste goes, whether you call Warren's sound "thick," "mushy," "wooley," or "excessively covered,." I know that I am not the only music lover that finds it strange and unappealing.

[wattever333]

I also appreciate calm discussions. However for every attempt at explaining vocal phenomena, there are always lots of counter-examples.

Leonard Warren is the most "tenorish" verdian baritone I ever heard. Mattia Battistini comes in close second. He could barely sing the C in the middle of the lower staff (C3?). There is also Camille Maurane and Michel Dens but they are a very different style.

[MrCafiero]

How do you possibly know what I mean exactly by "thick" unless I demonstrate it? You only know what *YOU* mean by thickness. Warren definitely had some "thickness" in the sound caused by certain muscles in the tongue being somewhat over-tensed, but not in the way that caused him inflexibility and lack of duration. You are talking about something other than what I am talking about.

[hillbillytenorino]

@MaestroJosephShore

I need to go get my pharyngeal circumference measured ASAP so I can stop wasting money on voice lessons if it;s too small. That sure would explain a lot!

[halavey]

I don't know a thing about his tongue and don't care cause the end result was a very great one in a million sound! Bravo Warren!

[lpvcrcd]

He was known as the python because of his tense tongue. Jack :Lalanne meditated with him to get him to relax . his tongue . Warren said if the tongue was too relaxed he would be forked.

[halavey]

Warren had a very big voice and he could sing the high C, so if your not a fan why bother here? Nobody will change the fact he was the greatest Verdi singer in his time and one of the best of all time. Bravo Warren!

[emaleroland]

It's not exactly like it but it sounds like the baritone that use to come on during the sign off on Channel 11 KHOU in Houston, TX. I've been looking for it for quite some time. Not sure if Warren was the singer or not.

[Jonnybrams]

He died in 1960. I don't believe he ever lived in Texas.

[lpvcrcd]

That was Texas Titta Ruffo who sang on channel 11. He was also known as Texas Tonio>

[stevevandien]

Just gorgeous. Beautifully sung and absolutely heartfelt.

[brentanoleader]

Thanks so much for this-

[legatofancier]

In his book The American Opera Singer, Peter G. Davis wrote of Warren:

"And of course the easy top was its special glory -- when relaxing with friends Warren would often tear into tenor arias like "Di quella pira" and toss off the high Cs that many tenors lacked."

This is probably not quite correct. The late tenor Jack Harrold (son of Orville Harrold) told me that he personally heard Warren sing "Vesti la giubba" at a party. Harrold said Warren tossed it off and laughed.

[pavoman23]

Why do you go on all of Warrens videos and insult him you are really one weird fuck

[legatofancier]

It's not an insult to say that I do not understand his reputation based on his recordings. My hope is that someone with knowledge and insight can explain his reputation to me. You have disqualifed yourself on both counts.

[MrCafiero]

Leonard Warren was incredible as far as having developed and coordinated vocal registers and a huge, resonant voice. What you are hearing, legatofancier, that you don't like is the "thickness" Warren had in his sound. That is due to some excess tongue tension he had. That being said, everyone has vocal flaws they could fix, but he was nonetheless amazing.

[legatofancier]

Thank you very much for your thoughtful, enlightening reply! "...the 'thickness' Warren had in his sound. That is due to some excess tongue tension he had." Now THAT makes sense! Very illuminating! Once again, you have my thanks!

[lukebrainard2006]

This is a positively ludicrous statement from someone who never worked with Warren or knew him. There was no "excess tongue tension" in Warren's production. He could not have had the agility that he had were his tongue to have been "tense." Leonard Warren had a massive neck. Circumference in the vocal track has much the same effect as lengthening. So the frequencies of his vowel formants were low, giving the voice a richness that you deride as "thickness." Give me a vocal break.

[MrCafiero]

What is ludicrous is your ignorance. The neck has nothing to do with it. The size of the pharyngeal cavity affects resonance as most resonance is there. You have no clue what I mean by "thickness". It is something specific. And please spare me thinking Warren was perfection as everyone has flaws.

[lukebrainard2006]

I'm sorry Mr. Cafiero, I just do not believe you know a thing even though you act like you are an expert. I don't buy you.

[MrCafiero]

ROFL!! How convenient for you.

[legatofancier]

I've spoken to a number of operagoers and professionals who heard Warren live and who described his sound as "mushy" and "wooley." Another way to describe it would be "thick." Some of his exaggerated diction might be explained by "excessive tongue tension." It seems logical. As Peter G. Davis put it, Warren's sound was "...not to all tastes."

[stevevandien]

I too have communicated with some who heard Warren live, and ALL of them said the voice was huge and resonant, without thickness or wooliness. Be that as it may, I certainly understand and respect your preference. There are several singers whom I don't much like, though most listeners love them:) As you note, it's a matter of taste. I love Warren, plus Merrill and Ruffo as well -- also Stracciari, who was perhaps the finest Verdi baritone on record:). Best wishes, Steve

[wattever333]

what is a vowel formant?

[wattever333]

I don't know cuz I didn't see it, but I get the impression there is a curl in the tongue on the high notes. There's some tongue obstruction, but it's not woolly, that's fer sher.

[MrCafiero]

No, he is not wolly. He is not woofy either. The sound is a bit thick. And to know what I mean by that you would have to hear a demonstration of the differences.  And one would have to understand what is causing that physiologically. It is not to say Warren was not great. He was, but he did have this "thickness" that others did not have. It is plain as day when you listen to him sing vs. Merrill or Ruffo.

[wattever333]

I agree with your logic. Comparison is the only way to explain one's concepts.

[MrCafiero]

Thank you for that because so many on here go into hysterics rather than just considering what someone else is saying. Especially with something like this that must be demonstrated to really know what they mean. :)

[lpvcrcd]

Mr Ed was known to have had tongue tension/ What Wilbur told me.

[MrCafiero]

Which muscles? Because some should be tensed and others should not be tensed!  :^)

[lukebrainard2006]

Maybe you don't get Warren, not having seen him, but the reason the opera world loves Warren is because of his rich noble voice with an unmatched ringing top. No other baritone could match him for richness of sound and ease in the head voice. Maybe you like a slimmer voice like Merrill. That's OK but most of us will take Warren as number one.

[legatofancier]

Thank you for your constructive comments. While it is impossible to argue taste, it can be valuable to discuss our likes and dislikes. As far as taste goes, I prefer an open sound that is well focused with a firm (not hard) tone. Titta Ruffo would fit that descrtiption and there was nothing "slim" about his voice. Not having heard Warren live, I can only suspect that that the microphone might has distorted some qualities in his voice. Yes, I do prefer Merrill's voice, among others. Thanks again!

[wattever333]

he did not insult him, he quoted a book that said he had high notes.

[pearlmuth3]

Chicago is very big but has very good sound I prefer it to SF calif or say Detroit which has dead spots and Chicago only in a couple of places is dead. I heard Kraus and Jussi and both where not powerful voices but I had no trouble hearing them in the upper balcony yet at the old met some say Jussi sounded very small but I never was in that house. Mac Neil in the new met sounded huge on top and people who heard both tell me Warren was that big also. Chicago SEATS about 3,700, VERY BIG.

[wattever333]

is there any that counts other than "size"?

[JackOperaMan]

@pearlmuth3 Are you talking about the old opera house in Detroit, or the new one?

[pearlmuth3]

Yes interesting I heard Mac Neil in 73 do a met performance with Tucker in Pagliacci and his top voice was very big and it was that kind of voice also and between the two of them the house went wild. I never was lucky enough to hear Warren in the house but several friends did and when I worked in Radio in the 60's Hines came into the station and I had a great conversation with him but mostly about tenors. I don't know much about his book. He was very tall and very nice as I recall back then.

[izar1234]

I only heard Mac once in the house. It was in Chicago in the early 80's with Vickers in Pagliacci. Chicago is a barn to sing in. Vickers sounded awesome and filled the house easily, but Mac's A-flat and G in the Prologue remain the two biggest sounds I've ever heard in any opera house from any voice. He had a nice wobble going around D above middle C by then, but his extreme top, say above high F, was still incredible, with no hint of wobble.

[meltzerboy]

I once heard MacNeil in a Rigoletto performance outdoors in the late 1960's (before any wobble emerged), and he was very impressive in terms of power, range, technique, and tone color. Of course, so are Warren and Merrill. I heard Merrill many times at the Met as well as in outdoor performances, and I can say without doubt, he had the most beautiful baritone voice of his time.

[pearlmuth3]

I know two people who knew him as well or better then then Hines but I never asked them. The party thing was from others who knew him but not as well as even Hines. We have heard that for years so even if it's wrong he still had the high C and the party thing was talked about on radio even 35 years ago, whatever he was the greatest Verdi Baritone and had a high C at a party or not but he had the note easily. Not really important he was Lenard Warren.

[izar1234]

Agreed, not really important about the party stuff. Sure, he had a high C. Other baritones did and do as well. MacNeil had one that was supposed to be unreal. Also, agree overall that Warren was the best Verdi baritone.

[izar1234]

After all, how much would it add to Birgit's legacy if it were claimed she used to sing Queen of the Night arias at parties? Though she probably could.

[pearlmuth3]

PERHAPS HINES IS WRONG

[izar1234]

"Perhaps Hines is wrong"

Perhaps. And perhaps he is correct. But he said in his opinion it was urban legend. He didn't say for sure. At any rate, he knew him well. Did you? Or more to the point, did you ever attend a party where he sang Di Quella Pira, or do you know anyone who did?

[pearlmuth3]

I think it's fantastic every time I hear it.

[Abben32]

Where did you find this? I love it!. My favorite baritone singing this great song. I heard it first on a podcast but it wasnt with piano great find!

[pearlmuth3]

Warren took his Catholic faith very seriously and Converted to the faith in 1950. Born a Jew to Orthodox parents in April, 1911 he met his Irish Catholic wife and married in 1940 but did not convert till 1950 he studied the Religion for years and became a more devout Catholic then his wife who had clergy in her family. He was given a special honor by the Church in NYC when he died. He had become strict but Tucker told him once "Lenny you gotta do what you got too do" they where good friends

[pearlmuth3]

Warren was so amazing he could diminuendo on even a tenor high C and would sing Di Quella in Key at parties he could do anything , piano down to a whisper, Falsetto and open up on any note so he sings here with his usual delicate yet masculine sound, the ending is really great as he diminuendo's beautifully.

[izar1234]

Jerry Hines told me flat out that the Di Quella pira story is an urban legend. Firstly, Warren, a very private, rarely went to parties. Secondly, he was very careful about his voice and singing a tenor cabaletta at a party hardly fit the Warren that Hines said he knew. At any rate, unless one was present at a party and actually heard him sing it, and knew it was in key, I think I'd agree with Jerry's assessment that it's another urban legend that has taken on a life of it's own.

[cameratamaestro]

Hines told me this as well. As far as size goes, MacNeil had his good days and bad. If he had a bad day it was not the biggest or best voice. I heard him on good nights many times and I think it was the biggest sound. But that doesn't mean all that much. There were many many tenors bigger than Bjoerling. Size is NOT all that important. Quality and creativity are.

[Operafiend22]

I'm glad to hear this. I am of the same thought re: voice size and quality od sound.

[seektheforce]

@pearlmuth3 could you post one of them?

[pearlmuth3]

Yes German-- Warren and Tucker blended even better then RT did with Merrill and Jussi with Bob Merrill who was more lyric, they sounded great together as in the Pearl duet.

[okaukuejo]

How lovely, and how nice of you to post this for christmas. Happy christmas to you and everybody else.

[sospello]

Tanti auguri di buone feste--Merry Christmas and the best for 2009.

[patjan92]

That quickly became my favorite version of the Lord's Prayer. Beautiful.

[CharlotteinWeimar]

Glorious as always.  Thank you and Happy Christmas

[tHEnOOSEsWING]

Thank you Theodore for this great contribution to Christmas.

[OettingerCroat]

beautiful... he sounds a bit like a baritonal Jussi Björling :-)

very nice song to hear in Christmas time ;-)

thanks GOS

[GermanOperaSinger]

Yes, that same mellow sweet tone. Although Warren in the house was an enormous dramatic baritone voice with huge top notes while Bjorling had a rather smallish voice.

[OettingerCroat]

true