Richard Tucker
Richard Tucker (actually Ruvn Scores; born August 28, 1913 in Brooklyn, New York City; † January 8, 1975 in Kalamazoo ) was an American tenor.
Life
Tucker grew up as the son of a Jewish family in Brooklyn. His musical talent was discovered early, even as a boy alto, he sang in the synagogue. Later, he became a cantor at the Brooklyn Jewish Center, before 1940, with no fewer than 27 years already, inspired by visits to the Metropolitan Opera, vocal studies began to become an opera singer. His ambition was spurred by the incipient career of his brother- January Peerce.
His teacher, the heroic tenor Paul Althouse, taught him above all, not to strain his voice. This was a prerequisite for his - despite its late start - very long career.
After several unsuccessful participation in the MET auditions the general manager of the house, Edward Johnson heard him in the synagogue and offered him a contract. On January 25, 1945, the singer, who now called himself Richard Tucker as Enzo in La Gioconda at the Opera House, the ensemble he should belong to his death, and on which he sang 30 roles in 715 performances debuted.
1949 Arturo Toscanini chose the little-known tenor for the role of Radames in his famous recording of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida. In 1950, when Sir Rudolf Bing took over the management of the Met, Tucker was the first tenor, whose contract he extended - Jussi Björling before, Lauritz Melchior and Giuseppe Di Stefano.
Nevertheless, Tucker remained cautious in his choice of roles, first sang lighter roles as Alfredo in La Traviata. His most famous roles, in La forza del the Alvaro destino he sang for the first time in 1952 - it was something like his trademark, in particular together with baritone Robert Merrill. He played this role in 1954 on the side of Maria Callas in the first complete recording of the opera under Tullio Serafin.
New York and the Met remained throughout his career his strong artistic base, from which he made only a few guest performances, including to London ( Royal Opera House Covent Garden) and Vienna ( Vienna State Opera ). At La Scala he gave in 1969 his highly acclaimed debut.
Throughout his career, he appeared to continue on high holidays such as Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur in the synagogue. His wife Sarah Perelmuth accompanied him to every performance.
Richard Tucker died in 1975 while preparing for a concert that he wanted to give together with Robert Merrill in Kalamazoo, Michigan, of a heart attack.
He is the only person whose funeral has ever taken place on the stage of the Met. According to him, the Richard Tucker Square is across from Lincoln Center, which also houses the Metropolitan Opera is named.
Clips
- Richard Tucker in Fanciulla del West La (MP3, 6.7 MB)
- Renata Tebaldi and Richard Tucker in a scene from Puccini's " Manon Lescaut " (MP3, 5.1 MB)
- Richard Tucker Sings Operetta (MP3, 6.1 MB)
Quotes
"If the author of the equally insufferable as inevitable question should be asked, who is the " largest was " Italian tenor after the war, the decision would not fall for del Monaco, not for di Stefano, not for Corelli, not for Pavarotti, not for Domingo, but for the Americans, who grew up in the lower New York's East Side and had begun as a cantor ... " ( Jürgen Kesting )
" Tucker would have protruded from each era because of its constant brilliance. " (Sir Rudolf Bing)
"I can take right never how fantastic he received his vocal powers, as they seemed to grow even. " ( Leontyne Price )