Category Archives: Tenors

What Makes a Great Tenor

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 11th February 2013
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A66Adiz0pY

Tweet That’s the title of a 2010 BBC program narrated by Rolando Villazon. I don’t know how long it will stay on Youtube, but here it is. It’s almost an hour long and leaves out a lot of great tenors; but it’s worth watching.  


› Read the full entry

Joseph Schmidt Video

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 26th January 2013
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUh20dTP9k0

Tweet Joseph Schmidt (1904 – 1942) was one of the greatest singers of the last century. His story is also among the saddest. In my opinion, in addition to his vocal beauty he possessed the most complete technique of any tenor I’ve ever heard.  I’ve written about him before and you can easily find these…


› Read the full entry

Placido Domingo’s Birthday

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 21st January 2013

Tweet This is a repeat of last year’s observance of Placido Domingo’s birthday To mark the 72nd anniversary of Placido Domingo’s birth (January 21, 1941), here are eleven photographs of the great artist taken by Robert Cahen. There is little to say about Domingo’s career that isn’t self evident. He’s had more roles than Parker House. He’s…


› Read the full entry

Bryan Hymel in Les Troyens at the Met

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 5th January 2013
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cett1tPhdMM

Tweet The Metropolitan Opera presented Berlioz’ gargantuan epic Les Troyens today to its HD audience. Because of another commitment I was unable to attend the performance. I’ll catch the repeat. But I did get to hear the last act. Tenor Marcello Giordani was supposed to the sing the opera’s most challenging role – Aeneas. But he…


› Read the full entry

Piotr Beczala’s Birthday

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 28th December 2012

Tweet Today is the 46th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Polish tenor Piotr Beczala. To mark the occasion here are six photos of the artist taken, as is usual for these events, by the renowned photographer Robert Cahen. Following the photos are three arias sung by Mr Beczala. Kuda Kuda from Eugene Onegin Pourquoi me réveiller from…


› Read the full entry

Luciano Pavarotti’s Birthday

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 12th October 2012

Tweet Today is the 77th anniversary of the great tenor’s birth – born October 12, 1935 in Modena, Italy. To mark the occasion here a few photos of the late tenor take by the renowned photographer Robert Cahen. Finally here is the young Pavarotti singing the first act duet from Lucia Di Lammermoor with Renata Scotto – 1967. Verrano a te


› Read the full entry

Leo Slezak

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 4th June 2012

Tweet The Czech tenor Leo Slezak (1873-1946) was one of the giants of the operatic world of the first quarter of the 20th century. His physical stature was as imposing as his voice. It was this combination of physique and voice that brought him to the Metropolitan Opera. He made his New York debut as…


› Read the full entry

Jonas Kaufmann

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 29th May 2012

Tweet Jonas Kaufmann is a German born (Munich 1969) tenor who has moved to the top of the tenorial list in the last five or six years. He has a dark sound which is allowing him to move into the heavier spinto roles in both the Italian and German repertoire. Yet his vocal technique is so good…


› Read the full entry

All of Jussi Björling’s Commercial Recordings on the Web

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 22nd April 2012

Tweet New posts will resume next month. In the meanwhile visit this site  which contains all of the solo commercial recordings made by the great Swedish tenor. There are a few excerpts with other singers, but most of the material is solo.    


› Read the full entry

Pourquoi Me Réveiller?

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 14th February 2012

Tweet Werther is Massenet’s masterpiece. It’s an ode to self pity. It and Manon are the only operas, out of more than 30 by Massenet, that are firmly in the standard repertory. The opera, based on Goethe’s novel The Sorrows of Young Werther, depicts its protagonist’s unsuccessful and ultimately suicidal love for his friend’s fiance and then wife. If Werther…


› Read the full entry

Categories

©2010 Neil Kurtzman