100 Greatest Singers: RICHARD TUCKER

THIS PROJECT IS RESERVED ONLY FOR THE GREATEST! What do you think of finding Richard Tucker in this list? Please comment!

Richard Tucker, Tenor (1913-1975)

Giuseppe Verdi La Traviata
Lunge da lei´ De´ miei bollenti spiriti
(Recorded 1960)

My personal opinion: When Richard Tucker died 1975, he was in high power of his qualities, 30 years after he started out as a professional singer. His voice was a very expressiv instrument, full of force, strenght and masculine vibrating. With his "grainy" timbré and his technical sovereignty he was a typical "italian" spinto, just like a continuation of Bergonzis lyric.
I prefer Tucker more than other spinto tenors of the same time, because he had style and a warm, full sound. Yes, sometimes he was a little "schmaltzy" with too many sobs, but he never was trivial or vulgar. Just hear his live scenes here on YouTube, especially those with Merrill. Without doubt Americas greatest tenor!

THE COMPLETE OVERVIEW: GO TO "ALL SINGERS IN THIS LIST"

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Richard
• Tucker
• Giuseppe
• Verdi
• Tenor
• Metropolitan
• Opera
• lyrico
• spinto
• Rudolf
• Bing

[halavey]

Brunobrandy-- how about running your opinions of Tucker on a Corelli post-- His fans would enjoy your negative opinions he was king of the lisping tenors. Why do some people waste time flaming singers on their posts so all the fans can see the flamer has no life. For me and many others Tucker was the greatest Spinto of them all.

[Lovelytenor1]

It is so great to hear him whe he was not trying to go "over the top". The voice is clean, clear, precise, musical, artistic, beautiful. I met the man & when he found I was a young tenor he was extremely gracious. He was everything people said of him.

[Yitzhakhazak]

Some tenors are Verdian and surely Tucker was one of them. Singing open vowels, the right phonetuic stress on certain syllables..the whole thing makes it so Italian as Verdi wanted it! Thank you!

[sugarbist]

@zgopify I'm not a big Tucker fan.However he does sound beautiful here&had NOTgood high notes, but GREAT high notes throughout his career.

[zgopify]

@laxjetbear How true, we should listen to ALFREDO, not only searching for a pretty or booming voice, glorious highnotes may not have been Tuckers forte, and noone can describe his voice as the most beautiful, but he sang the OPERA splendid, so much more important to musiclovers!

[lpvcrcd]

@countceprano Yes-- I meant 58 but 60 sounds about right

[countceprano]

@lpvcrcd Tucker was not 68 in 1971. He was 60 when he died.

[RVP57]

THE BEST EVER recording of Traviata. Thanks for posting!

[laxjetbear]

Listen to Tucker's phrasing and diction. The way he puts so much emotion in the piece. He was grossly underrated and is certainly one of the greatest tenors of the 20th century. I was not fond of Pavarotti's voice, personally, but his diction, phrasing, and pure expression and joy at singing can't be matched. He was a marvel. There is more than just "the voice".

[SoulNotes1]

At the age of 15 I heard him for the 1st time - along with Richard Tauber.

To this day he remains one of the most glorious voices - such a smooth glide through notes! Romantic or Drama - he did it with heart and soul!

[lpvcrcd]

@stevevandien Steve Tucker was in the 71 Rigoletto I saw with Merrill also I overlooked that because the sole reason for going that night was to hear Mr Merrill in the tile role.. Merrill did not disappoint and he was about 64 at the time ..Tucker was 68 You wouldn't have guessed it..He tossed off the 2 major arias of the Duke-- Is there still a high level of consistent good singing at the Met?- I lost touch after Luciano and Kiri [and Fleming]- I still enjoy some newer voices

[stevevandien]

@lpvcrcd Bless you for your memories and comments:).  Best always, Steve