Richard Tucker live at the Met in 1970 - "Cielo e mar"

Richard Tucker sings a fantastic "Cielo e mar" (from Ponchielli's "La Gioconda"). This is from the Metropolitan Opera Gala of April 11, 1970 which celebrated Tucker's 25 years with the company. Along with Act II of "Gioconda," Act I of "La traviata" and Act III of "Aida" were also performed. The "Gioconda" cast included Renata Tebaldi (La Gioconda), Richard Tucker (Enzo), Rosalind Elias (Laura), Cornell MacNeil (Barnaba), Robert Schmorr (Isepo), Nicola Barbusci (Steersman) with Kurt Adler conducting, the "Traviata" cast included Joan Sutherland (Violetta), Richard Tucker (Alfredo), Jean Kraft (Flora), Leo Goeke (Gastone), Robert Goodloe (Baron Douphol), Gene Boucher (Marquis D'Obigny), and Louis Sgarro (Grenvil) with Richard Bonynge conducting, and the "Aida" cast included Leontyne Price (Aida), Richard Tucker (Radames), Joann Grillo (Amneris), Robert Merrill (Amonasro), Louis Sgarro (Ramfis), and Carlotta Ordassy (Priestess) with Francesco Molinari-Pradelli conducting. Tucker was allowed to choose his cast mates for this gala. This was not a broadcast but the sound is good. The applause is so loud I'm assuming it was recorded from the audience.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Richard
• Tucker
• Cielo
• mar
• Ponchielli
• La
• Gioconda
• Metropolitan
• Opera
• House
• 1970
• Gala
• Kurt
• Adler
• yt:quality=high

[metropolitan1966]

Bravo!!! I have always love his renditions of this aria. So suave, lyrical, moving and powerful. Tucker was indeed "The American Caruso." I could listen to this all day!

[FAUSTORICCARDO]

I agree, He was a Greatest american tenore. Eccezionale questa sua "cielo e mar".

Grazie

[iraterecords]

My father (Barbusci) was the Steersman) do you have that section where he sings ?. Me & my sister would love to be able to hear that. 

[assindiastignani]

@premiereopera1 I'm so envious. Were you there? I could not beg, borrow or steal a ticket for that night. I waited outside the house for hours, hoping someone would give back a ticket or leave early...anything!

[SHICOFF1]

@doktorlustig Be sure to listen to his 1959 version at the met also-- as posted by vinytovideo or german opera singer, forget which one posted it, just amazing!

[premiereopera1]

Tucker is magnificent here, singing the aria that he had sung at his Met debut 25 years earlier. The preservation of his voice, and the great sheen on that voice was a miracle to behold and to listen to. I was at this 25th anniversay gala, in which Tucker sang, staged, the complete Act 1 of Traviata w. Sutherland, complete Act 2 of Gioconda w. Tebaldi, MacNeil, Elias, and the complete Act 3 of Aida, w. Price, Merrill. What a great night for great singing. One act lyric, one spinto, one dramatic!

[doktorlustig]

I have never heard a better "Cielo e mar" from Tucker. And he was 56 here!

[ballaratboy]

Magnificient!

[jmccracken1963]

Thank you VERY much for sharing this snippet with us. GREAT singing by a 57-year-old Tucker. WOW!!!!!!

[ShawDAMAN]

That's interesting if the Bb is interpolated. I've never heard this aria sung without it.