Richard Tucker at the Hollywood Bowl (1951) part 5 "Addio alla madre" and "Torna Surriento"

[SHICOFF1]

@ShawDamon About your mom , Spanish-- I have a small Lanza movie magazine from 1952 and it is just small comic book size, only Lanza info and pictures of his family never released and it makes a mistake! I asked his mom, it says his mother was Spanish but actually Mary's mother was part Spanish as she told me her mom was Part Spanish, of course her dad was Salvatore Lanza and Italian. I met him in 1962 on Christan st. standing in front of the house. He asked me in for a glass of wine!

[SHICOFF1]

Cont. from below / In 1929 they opened the present Chicago opera house but kept the old one and give recitals and concerts still. 1973 was the opening of it again as it was closed for sometime so Tucker/Merrill sang in very good voice the concert, yes it was even better still then the new york one. His voice in the O PAR. when he sang up I remember hit the back wall and echoed back at me in the front center section. They have great Sound, since no carpet at all, all wood floors and seats cont,

[SHICOFF1]

Interesting note but he had a cold during that 73 Recital that did not bother him much but in May around May 20 or 21 he sang with Merrill the same basic program in Chicago excepet not the Otello which he felt as not good for his voice. I did copy most of it from a good seat in the huge auditorium theater behind Roosevelt University which is much bigger than the 3,400 odd seat opera house, it's where Caruso sang. that was the opera house till 1929 cont.

[SHICOFF1]

Beautiful even in just fair sound outside in 1951. Emotional and powerful, steady and solid.

[ShawDAMAN]

@SHICOFF1 yup love him in this aria. I got the Merrill/Tucker 1973 carnegie hall recital, brand new 2 CD's, at a thrift store the other day for $1.50!!!! I let my mother borrow it the other day and his singing of 'addio alla madre' on there nearly moved her to tears, and she doesn't even understand much Italian haha (she's spanish.)

[GermanOperaSinger]

Sung with all the fire and passion just like a native Sicilian! Bravo!

[ddzz37]

i like his version here, his voice is suited for this aria, well done.

[pearlmuth3]

He always loved singing this emotional aria and I like the way he sang his encore.