Richard Leech - Rigoletto - act II cabaletta - 1988

Richard Leech - Rigoletto - act II cabaletta - 1988
To High D or not to high D, that is the question? This cabaletta is often cut from live performance, and it is shame. I find it very pleasing, especially when it is performed by the greatest tenors.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• leech
• opera
• verdi

[Englishtenor2]

Wow, I don't think I've ever heard it sung EXACTLY as written! Great singing too! Keep these videos coming!

[mjmacmtenor]

I know that Richard Leech has "thinning" hair in real life. It appears from this video that his hair may have "migrated south" to his chest. A very good rendition of the cabaletta (and a dashing looking rake of a Duke).

[roselandalvin]

@BravoLucero yes, it must be ...He did not debut at the Met until  1989

[Tenorboy29307]

@bigus I can agree about the biggest chance to be a 2nd Pavarotti. Just lovely at his best.

[Kafkandinsky]

Amazing voice. His only fault is in the legato, where several times you can notice that little fraction of second where the words split, which makes unconfortable to listen at times. Responding to some people, there are tenors who sung it exactly as written: Young Pavarotti did it in an old 1961 recording, Alfredo Kraus also did it several times and Franco Bonisolli too.

[jbrown91287]

I love his voice!

[OperaBaritoneJoe]

I love his voice.

[steakopera]

@bigus Problem with MET and with most of the opera house are they want singers to sing louder and want bigger voice all the time. MET auditions every single principle singers to make sure they still have it. Unfortunately tenors like Leech had to pay the price and part of it is his own ego.

[bigus]

@steakopera i saw him live in tosca in LA opera and he sounded really great that night. however he sobbed alot and blew too much air which i think really contributed to the decline in his voice. that and he had a lazy face so the voice fell in the throat and lost the headiness. very sad because his voice was gorgeous and i agree i think he more than anyone had the chance to be a second pavarotti.

[steakopera]

I had a chance to sing in the same production of "Lucia" with Richard Leech, I believe in 88 or 89 at San Digeo Opera. His high notes were exceptionally gorgeous. We thought he will become a second Pavarotti. He started to take up on heavier roles. Almost with in two years his voice became wobbley. In 2004? not sure exactly but it was Tosca. His voice became full scale spinto. I miss his voice in early days of his career.

[redhead529]

@operaandskates. I saw that production, too. Leech's voice isn't what it was. Such a pity. But I still enjoy him as a performer.

[AleBro83]

ottima interpretazione bravissimo