A voice not to be forgotten
James T. Johns | Dallas, TX USA | 08/23/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"For many of us growing up in the 1930s and 1940s, Richard Crooks defined the art of singing. Without the sheer vocal power of a Corelli or a Pavarotti, Crooks mastered the difficult task of communicating truths, ideas and emotions by the matching of heart and voice in a near-perfect blend. No other tenor has equaled the grace of his singing of Le Reve (Manon) or his lyrical way with the songs of Stephen Foster. This CD contains much of his best work. Listen carefully to The Holy City; the heart of Richard Crooks takes over when he sings the music of his personal faith.This is truly a voice not to be forgotten--and a voice to be discovered by a new generation that believes there must have been a day when music was graceful, loving and alive with human dignity. What could Richard Crooks have been, given the technology of today? We can only wonder, and imagine."