Richard Tucker- E lucevan le stelle

http://premiereopera.com

The American tenor, Richard Tucker, gives a lesson in how to sing Italian opera. This great rendention of "E lucevan le stelle" from Puccini's Tosca is as moving as it is beautiful. One for the ages!!

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  Music

[sugarbist]

You can go and listen to Lanza sing it Prince Charming. Lanza has an outstanding beauty to his voice which is very forgiving of mistakes, However I prefer him in the so-called American songs as appose to the Italian repertoire.Try to enjoy the rest of your day.

[babystinky]

yeah, his voice didn't crack at 1:36, I don't think this guy ever cracked. probably the most reliable singer of all time.

[SuperMagren]

Dear shicoff,

thanks for answer.youtube, in any case, is a wonderful forum to talk with others about their knowledge, experience and memories.

youtube has extented my old and deep love to the human voice in the fascinating state of singing --- this orphic way to express our "condition humaine", may I say so. Thanks again and please continue to write your knowledge, experience, memories about singers.Best wishes !!!

[SHICOFF1]

THANK YOU--In any dramatic role MDM was the greatest dramatic tenor in my time. I heard and saw him in 1959' as Otello in Milan Italy and still remember it fondly. No one tenor is the best at everything. RT was and is a great favorite of mine. He was more a lyric tenor early who sang Mozart's Cosi and Flute so well and later a pure Spinto who was fantastic in many roles like Forza, Chenier and as Canio.

[SuperMagren]

dear Shicoff,

thanks for your words, specially about del Monaco.Mario was one of my first opera-singers and though I have now more knowledge in voices than thirty years ago, I have an old love to his voice. I say again : great tenor, great artist, great actor.Best wishes !

[Richard Tucker]

This is me in my former life. ;-)

[sugarbist]

I really try to stay away from arguing about which tenor is better unless I really get suckered in.I saw Del Monaco early 1960's in concert form Otello.He was really remarkable.He sounded like he swallowed a megaphone.I do think that the above mention Forza duet with Tebaldi is very close to what MDM sounded like live,but I'm going from memory.I read that Del Monaco had much respect for Tucker&did consult with him.You were very fortunate to know Lanza&Tucker& to be in their company

[sugarbist]

Yes, Corelli was fantastic in certain roles.I never really enjoyed him in Forza.I thought he did a great Chenier&if I had a wish,I would like to hear him sing the Celeste Aida&Del Monaco sing the rest of the opera sighting Callas MDM1951 Messico.Perhaps the best Aida I ever heard.I don't think Corelli ever sang Manon.Tucker did do an excellent Manon&Forza&Chenier but the siren in my ear does draw me to Del Monaco&Tebaldi1953 Florence for Forza&I also think MDM's Manon was excellent.Continue

[SHICOFF1]

Yes ML had quality of voice with the best of them. The rest is just what moves you the most. In the opera world we had several great tenors but everyone hears things differently. I'm not a Corelli fan but in certain roles he is fantastic. Say as Calaf or in Aida. But in Forza, Chenier and Lescaut for me Tucker was #1. I always preferred him I saw MDM as Otello in 1959 at La Scala. He was amazing in the house as a dramatic tenor. His studio recordings don't capture the true sound of his voice.

[SHICOFF1]

Yes, probably done in one take. I had years ago a rehearsal of a coke show he was recording for radio and all singers do sometimes do several takes and he did on a couple of songs. They where the most interesting because he made comments between takes about what he thought. One comment was about mother in laws! As far as operatic / recital polish I would guess a tenor like Jussi was high on that list. I liked the Caruso film more then Because your mine myself and so did Lanza Himself.

[sugarbist]

The singers you mention were all fine artists but somehow did not have the the same charisma that Lanza carried.I agree with your national anthem statement. It could also be said that ML is really in a class by himself.No matter what derogatory staments people say about him, there is one thing for sure,Mario Lanza did have a beautiful tenor voice.Enjoy