Richard Crooks - Serenade From The Student Prince (1930)

[celyon1]

Been trying to find this recording for quite sometime, found this by accident bringing back some wonderful memories Richard Crooks really outshines. Thanks

[SHICOFF1]

@vinyotovideo Yes cause the chorus sounds 1925 yet he sounds much fresher in sound. Odd remastering.

[SHICOFF1]

Crooks sang at the met in Lyric roles like Faust and even with his small lyric tenor was heard easily and they never used amplification in those days. He sang very well and also sang on Firestone. His singing of the theme song is remembered . Lanza did become the most popular tenor to sing this in the film the student prince but was dubbed in with Edmund Purdom playing the part . Lanza had the voice, enough power and beauty to have an operatic career if he had worked towards opera, not movies

[VinylToVideo]

It should be noted that Crooks is not the only tenor heard here; Lambert Murphy is as well. This was actually recorded in 1925 (unless I am thinking of another recording).

[ILoveJenni47]

@VinylToVideo I think you are referring to a different recording. The information I included in the description under the video is included in the CD booklet from the "Only a Rose" CD shown in the photo. I also think the sound quality is too advanced to be 1925, the first year of mainstream electric recording. Lewis James is the other tenor you hear.

[VinylToVideo]

@ILoveJenni47 I will post the other one when I get a chance. As for the sound quality, that depends on many different things including the quality of the recording equipment and shellac used for the original master, the condition of that master 70 or 80 years later, and even the quality of the equipment used to transfer it to CD. The earlier one might even be better. Listen to Mary Garden's 1926 recording of "Depuis le jour" posted by "Operalala" which could pass for a recording from the 40s.

[SHICOFF1]

@baghend Lanza did not have a monster voice but was probably a good mid sized lyric spinto and crooks was a pure lyric, not a big voice but big enough in his lyric roles. Not to take anything away from Lanza but he sang that D flat in a studio recording and perhaps Crooks could also, in the studio anyhow but the two voices where very different. Crooks was an opera singer and Mario was an operatic tenor, mostly in film and Concerts, with a great natural voice.

[Shamsithaca]

The most beautiful pianissimos I have ever heard! The B-flats are exquisite! BRAVO!

[baghend]

Though I'm not qualified to say, and while I admire Lanza's early performances, I think Crooks was without doubt the finer performer, with greater range and passion. Just a preference- Crooks is, for me, easier to listen to and can move me to tears with some of his work- Lanza can impress with his power but ...

And from what i read Crooks was a fine man as well as a fine tenor.

[Shamsithaca]

@baghend You know I agree with you. Although I feel that Lanza had a bigger range, cannot comment on Crooks range, because the highest I have heard him do is a short High C, Mario, I have heard monstorous sustained High D. But I too prefer Mr. Crook. A perfect tenor, and that too an American tenor. Should I ever go up somewhere, I will recognize him everywhere.