Ettoredipugnar and anstopus how fortunate you were to see and hear these great singers. I am now 71 and love all the beautiful songs of opera but have never been there.....In Melbourne Aus we seem to get only fleeting glimpses of the magic . Graham Melb Aus
Yes, George Schick is fantastic--pushing the tempo in the right spots!--as you would expect a Met conductor to do--but rarely hear a regular accompanist doing!
One of the most memorable moments of my life. I was there. Right after this, they sang the duet from Don Carlo. It was about 1970. This is one of the greatest duets in the entire reporitory. Long live Bizet!
@Carlo Quinto Amen to that! Tucker, Merrill,Peerce,Warren,Shicoff,Tourell, Sills,Peters,Peerce,Raisa,Kipnis,London,schmidt, Jadlowker, Baum, Morell and many more.
We used to say, at the time, that the greatest Italian opera singers were Jewish. It was said with love and respect, we weren't being smart alecks, it was true. After hearing this, we can add French!
Listening to these two generous men gives me goosebumps from beginning to end. Such wonderful expression of love and joy for what they do. Is the world such a different place that this level of talent and skill is no longer fostered or appreciated? I hope not. What these brilliant men show us in their work is how humans can make this world a better place. This is what we need today as ever.
The whole duest is beautiful! I love at around 4:40 when they sing "jusqu'a l'amour" and both of their amazing voices echo off the back wall! Powerful and beautiful!
This is the first time I've listened with just piano for instrumentation - and it's wonderful! The sheer harmony doesn't get masked by anything. So you can hear two guys who met in a corner of hell saluting living. Very mature rendition. Good today too.
I've heard this many times, and it still makes me cry. Two veterans, perhaps a little beyond their absolute best, but still with enough sheer voice and technique to put most younger tenors and baritones, then and now, to shame:) --
This is singing on the grandest order. Such vocal beauty from two American Joes.... Men just don't sing like this anymore, I don't care who the big stars are.
The first time I ever heard this was when my parents bought this album. I listened to it over and over again. I wanted to sing like Richard Tucker. I would try to imitate his phrasing, everything. This is just the best!!
I can tell you he was a very nice man and good to his fans. Jan Peerce and Richard Tucker even had their phone numbers listed in the NY phone directory, probably the only two . star met tenors to do so! .
Yes you are correct the met was stubborn about Juive with him back then he kept trying with them but no luck he finally did it staged in New Orleans in 1973. He also was given the short end by RCA . His last operatic recording was Juive hilites in 1974 but he wanted to record the whole opera and Victor said no-- so Arroyo, Moffo and Tucker did the hilites and Richard told me later Victor said they wanted to Record the entire opera laterbut then he died suddenly, Jan. 1975. He was born 8/28/13
One of the greaatists crimes of the 20th centuary was that Richard Tucker was never given a production of La Juive at the Met. Love them both. I am Italian but I have all of their recordings secular ,Operatic and religious. Miss you guys.
I believe you after hearing them both on opera and recital and they sang the same basic concert that following May, 1973 in Chicago which I attended and it was easily as good as this one. Just terrific with good reviews.
What is most impressive is that Tucker was 58 yeras old here he died on jan 8th 1975 and this was jan. 7th 1973 two years and one day before he passed away.
Richard Tucker makes me cry. Merrill did have the most beautiful baritone voice I've ever heard. Good ole Amreican Boys showing the world how it is done! Bravo! A classic!
This is the first time I've heard Tucker sing this duet with Merrill. Simply amazing how Tucker could lighten such a thunderous voice into a gorgeous lyric instrument...Merrill may have had the most beautiful male singing voice of all time...I think this is almost as beautiful as the studio Bjorling/Merrill version, if not more.
Ettoredipugnar and anstopus how fortunate you were to see and hear these great singers. I am now 71 and love all the beautiful songs of opera but have never been there.....In Melbourne Aus we seem to get only fleeting glimpses of the magic . Graham Melb Aus
23zowie23 1 month ago
They were at the height of their powers. I saw them the same year at the old temple univercity music festival during that summer. Fantastic.
Ettoredipugnar 2 months ago
Just heard Tucker's voice echoing back from the rafters. What a voice.!.
JRobbySh 2 months ago
Ruth and Gehrig of Opera! Bet they would smile at the comparison.
JRobbySh 2 months ago
Yes, George Schick is fantastic--pushing the tempo in the right spots!--as you would expect a Met conductor to do--but rarely hear a regular accompanist doing!
liedersanger1 3 months ago
Speechless
Catwink41 4 months ago
One of the most memorable moments of my life. I was there. Right after this, they sang the duet from Don Carlo. It was about 1970. This is one of the greatest duets in the entire reporitory. Long live Bizet!
aristopus 5 months ago 2
@Carlo Quinto Amen to that! Tucker, Merrill,Peerce,Warren,Shicoff,Tourell, Sills,Peters,Peerce,Raisa,Kipnis,London,schmidt, Jadlowker, Baum, Morell and many more.
SHICOFF1 5 months ago
Bravo! Fortissimo! Bravo!
higherpoweredone 5 months ago
Let us not forget George Schick. Folks like him (or her) can make or break a recital. Extraordinarily difficult job.
madisonelectronic 6 months ago
Richard Tucker has the most beautiful voice of any tenor I have ever heard.
jamest681 6 months ago
We used to say, at the time, that the greatest Italian opera singers were Jewish. It was said with love and respect, we weren't being smart alecks, it was true. After hearing this, we can add French!
CarloQuinto 7 months ago 2
Listening to these two generous men gives me goosebumps from beginning to end. Such wonderful expression of love and joy for what they do. Is the world such a different place that this level of talent and skill is no longer fostered or appreciated? I hope not. What these brilliant men show us in their work is how humans can make this world a better place. This is what we need today as ever.
DianaJacklin 8 months ago
as beautiful as Bjorling&Merrill
lll1030 9 months ago
Ascoltare due artisti del genere insieme mi commuove per la loro bravura...grazie di questi splendidi momenti...saluti
federic017 11 months ago
Just beautful and Great.
Michaelbos 1 year ago
The whole duest is beautiful! I love at around 4:40 when they sing "jusqu'a l'amour" and both of their amazing voices echo off the back wall! Powerful and beautiful!
pp22v 1 year ago
This is the first time I've listened with just piano for instrumentation - and it's wonderful! The sheer harmony doesn't get masked by anything. So you can hear two guys who met in a corner of hell saluting living. Very mature rendition. Good today too.
VolkgartenBySquirrel 1 year ago
I've heard this many times, and it still makes me cry. Two veterans, perhaps a little beyond their absolute best, but still with enough sheer voice and technique to put most younger tenors and baritones, then and now, to shame:) --
stevevandien 1 year ago
I grew up on Richard Tucker. He is the greatest!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bladezone1 1 year ago
This is singing on the grandest order. Such vocal beauty from two American Joes.... Men just don't sing like this anymore, I don't care who the big stars are.
tenorbear60 1 year ago 3
The first time I ever heard this was when my parents bought this album. I listened to it over and over again. I wanted to sing like Richard Tucker. I would try to imitate his phrasing, everything. This is just the best!!
spizzell1 1 year ago 3
I can tell you he was a very nice man and good to his fans. Jan Peerce and Richard Tucker even had their phone numbers listed in the NY phone directory, probably the only two . star met tenors to do so! .
halavey 2 years ago 2
Yes you are correct the met was stubborn about Juive with him back then he kept trying with them but no luck he finally did it staged in New Orleans in 1973. He also was given the short end by RCA . His last operatic recording was Juive hilites in 1974 but he wanted to record the whole opera and Victor said no-- so Arroyo, Moffo and Tucker did the hilites and Richard told me later Victor said they wanted to Record the entire opera laterbut then he died suddenly, Jan. 1975. He was born 8/28/13
halavey 2 years ago
One of the greaatists crimes of the 20th centuary was that Richard Tucker was never given a production of La Juive at the Met. Love them both. I am Italian but I have all of their recordings secular ,Operatic and religious. Miss you guys.
tenorismo 2 years ago
I believe you after hearing them both on opera and recital and they sang the same basic concert that following May, 1973 in Chicago which I attended and it was easily as good as this one. Just terrific with good reviews.
halavey 2 years ago
I was there and it was one of the most memorable nights of my life. No bull.
aristopus 2 years ago
Wow, what wonderfully lyric singing from late Tucker. Merrill never seems to age vocally- and the two of the blend marvelouly.
Cantormatis 3 years ago
What is most impressive is that Tucker was 58 yeras old here he died on jan 8th 1975 and this was jan. 7th 1973 two years and one day before he passed away.
pearlmuth3 3 years ago 2
No, Tucker was 59, about to be 60 in 1973.
operabeauty 2 years ago
GIVES ME CHILLS!
TreblesBasses 3 years ago
Magnificent! Sure do miss these voices!
acecoo 3 years ago
Richard Tucker makes me cry. Merrill did have the most beautiful baritone voice I've ever heard. Good ole Amreican Boys showing the world how it is done! Bravo! A classic!
metropolitan1966 3 years ago 20
This is the first time I've heard Tucker sing this duet with Merrill. Simply amazing how Tucker could lighten such a thunderous voice into a gorgeous lyric instrument...Merrill may have had the most beautiful male singing voice of all time...I think this is almost as beautiful as the studio Bjorling/Merrill version, if not more.
GermanOperaSinger 3 years ago 12
Listening to them sing this beautiful duet is about the only way I, a grown man, can be reduced to tears. I miss them both.
OperaSnob 3 years ago 18