Search - Richard Tucker, Verdi :: Sings Verdi

Superb memento

Michel | Montreal, Quebec | 04/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording offers a superb memento of Richard Tucker -
a much underrated and often overlooked tenor - true he was
not the subtlest of singer but he had fine musicianship and
a rock-solid voice and his singing was always heartfelt. In
this Verdi recital he is partnered in a few duos with another
great american singer - Eileen Farrell."

Richard Tucker Sings Verdi--and Illustrates His Power

Steven A. Peterson | Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL) | 02/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One reviewer mentioned that Richard Tucker is a "much underrated and often overlooked tenor. . . ." Indeed, I find it mystifying that so little of his recorded legacy appears to be available on CD today. This is a singer who, as I recall, said in an interview with a major publication in the later 1960s (Time?) something like: "Yes, it is a great responsibility being the world's greatest tenor." In his time, he was one of the world's most renowned tenors. He had certain mannerisms, such as a "cry" in his voice that could be distracting. But there was steel in his voice; he had one of the mightiest sounds among tenors in the 20th century.



Some reflections on a sampling of the cuts on this welcome CD. . . .



"Celeste Aida" from Verdi's opera is classic Tucker. Big voice, little subtlety. The booklet accompanying the CD notes that Tucker sang with "the assurance of a battle-hardened warrior" as opposed to the more common "romantic" version of this aria. He eschewed the piano at the end of this work, but it is a powerful version.



"Ah si, ben mio" (from Verdi's "Il Trovatore") is an interesting version. His "shakes" in this work are actually closer to trills than others such as Mario del Monaco (not a pretty sound!) or even Luciano Pavarotti. There are those Tuckerian mannerisms, such as the little "cry" in his voice here or there. But one either accepts those mannerisms or not, and I see the other strengths of his singing as more than making up for these.



"Di quella pira" is a real classical "hit" in opera. Tucker's power works well with this work. His voice easily rises above the orchestra backing him. While he interpolates the final top C to high B, the effect is still striking. Indeed, I find his version of this classic among the better manifestations.



Other works in his repertoire are included here as well, such as works from Rigoletto, La Forza del Destino, I Vespri Siciliani, and Simon Boccanegra.



I surely hope that more of Tucker's works will see the light of day. He was one of the top tenors of his era, and we would all be better off were more of his body of work available.

"

Great compilation of a great American tenor in his element.

J. Glass | 08/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Richard Tucker was one of the greatest tenors of the 20th century. As others have noted he had some habits that some find annoying (the sob, the over-pronounced consonants, choppiness) but his career as a whole were superb, particularly in Verdi, and this album captures him mostly at his best.



I will not go into the standards such as "Ah si ben mio" and "Di quella pira" "Celeste Aida" etc. Suffice to say there is no poor singing on this album and it even includes the Otello duet with Farrell (a role Tucker never sang.)



My personal favorite tracks are numbers 4 and 10 on the disc. "Non maledirmi o prode" from "I due foscari" combines austerity and dramaticism and it's sung brilliantly. Then "Giorno di pianto" from "Vespri" has Tucker singing two glorious ringing high B naturals in quick succession for the finale.



The sound quality and orchestration are just fine, even very good. All tracks were recorded in the early 1960's with Tucker in his early 50's. How many prime tenors sing this well today (let alone at that age.) A great album, try to get it if you are an opera fan. If you aren't familiar with Tucker this is a fine introduction."