Mr. Vickers is such an inspiration to me, especially in singing this aria. I don't think there is anyone who has captured the torture of losing both sight and faith as well as he does here. Bravo Maestro.
Aucun autre ténor ne peut chanter comme Vickers, car aucun autre ténor n"a cette voix extraordinaire, qui cumule la puissance, la douceur, l'émotion, et ce timbre complètement "pas ténor" comme on l'entend habituellement.
What I have always admired about Jon Vickers is his understanding of his abilities as he aged. This aria,sung with a lyric twist with a tempo that he made fit for his voice and a truly insightful interpretation, was an example of how he understood his foch near the end of the career. His voice was thicker and darker but just as beautiful,with one of the most controlled vibratos of any singer of all time.His interpretation of a role remained paramount. One of the greatest artists of all time.
Agreed, Heard this in Dallas in the early 70's with Maureen Forrester another great Canadian artist. Kiri Te Kanawa before being a Dame sang Let the Bright Seraphim. Glorious performance.
Wow! I have been a lifelong Vickers fan and was lucky to have heard him sing "Wintereise" in Canada near the end of his career. His phrasing is unique and, once heard, other tenors singing the same thing tend to sound like they are mailing it in. I never understood any criticism of his voice - I found it one of the most beautiful I've ever heard.
While many, and I do mean many don't agree with his approach, passed down from Tom Lomonaco, and Tom's well known teacher, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone teaching the true singing technique that produced the huge voices from 1890 to 1970. I've heard his students and in a live setting these are huge beautiful voices
Greatest Canadian tenor ever,and one of the greatest tenors-period! Thank you C for making this gem available to us! Bravo! TY. With Oda,Virginia and Jon-who could ask for anything more. Oops-perhaps Maureen Forrester!
you are right,but in some ways this sounds like a much younger Vickers than the 59 year old singer here.The vibrato control is superb, and the phrasing is sooo intelligent. He usually got his way when deciding how he wanted things done.I'm sure a dedicated Handel conductor might have had a few rough moments with this approach...but you know what-they would be wrong and Vickers would be right.Vickers hated the ornaments so many little tenor acrobats employ, and I love him all the more for it!!!
VinylToVideo-Richard Verreau was up there with the best of the Canadian tenors. There was but one Jon Vickers. He combined a fine voice with the greatest dramatic ability of them all.IMHO,he was the most complete singer of them all-especially in the heavy Verdi operas.
Thanks that makes sense. I am learning this role as I have just recently found my heldentenor Quality in my Baritone voice. I have now made the commitment to change my focus to be Dramatic/Heldentenor.
Samson was staged at Covent Garden and Jon Vickers was wonderful. I know of no other tenor with his power combined with dramatic sensitivity and gentleness. He is one of the very few truly great singers.
In discussing Canadian tenors I miss the name of Leopold Simoneau. I agree Vickers as Othello is superlative. So is Simoneau in the Sanctus of the Berlioz Requiem
Total eclipse! No sun, no moon! All dark amidst the blaze of noon! Oh, glorious light! No cheering ray To glad my eyes with welcome day! Why thus deprived Thy prime decree? Sun, moon, and stars are dark to me! 2 I search God’s Word, and there I see The day will come when signs these be; The moon confounded, sun ashamed, The stars withdrawn, the heav’ns in flame; The oceans roar as nations fight, And clouds and smoke turn day to night. 3 O Lord, You are our strength and stay, Protect us in that awful day; When heav’n departs, a worn out scroll, When islands move from pole to pole; When rocks and mountains cannot save The guilty from the yawning grave. 4 But those who call upon the Lord, His arm will save, will help afford; He is a refuge, covert, tower, Not hell or earth can overpower; For those washed clean in Jesus’ blood, He keeps them safe above the flood.
Promptersbox, you may be more excited to know that you aren't exactly right about your statement. I use to say and believe the same thing until I found Mrcafiero. Look him up. My voice has grown to epic proportions but we are all young singers. Some breaking old habits by bad university teachers
If you've never cared for Vickers than why did you listen to this??? Keep your ignorant comments to yourself and let those of us who can appreciate greatness listen to this artist without having to read your garbage!
Mr. Vickers is such an inspiration to me, especially in singing this aria. I don't think there is anyone who has captured the torture of losing both sight and faith as well as he does here. Bravo Maestro.
Aucun autre ténor ne peut chanter comme Vickers, car aucun autre ténor n"a cette voix extraordinaire, qui cumule la puissance, la douceur, l'émotion, et ce timbre complètement "pas ténor" comme on l'entend habituellement.
What I have always admired about Jon Vickers is his understanding of his abilities as he aged. This aria,sung with a lyric twist with a tempo that he made fit for his voice and a truly insightful interpretation, was an example of how he understood his foch near the end of the career. His voice was thicker and darker but just as beautiful,with one of the most controlled vibratos of any singer of all time.His interpretation of a role remained paramount. One of the greatest artists of all time.
Agreed, Heard this in Dallas in the early 70's with Maureen Forrester another great Canadian artist.
Kiri Te Kanawa before being a Dame sang Let the Bright Seraphim. Glorious performance.
Almost unbelievable he can still master dynamics at 59 years of age after singing heldentenor rep for so many years, he is something else entirely
What wonderful singer. He was so moving when Samson was staged at Covent Garden. I would give up all tenors just to listen to him.
Right!
Wow! I have been a lifelong Vickers fan and was lucky to have heard him sing "Wintereise" in Canada near the end of his career. His phrasing is unique and, once heard, other tenors singing the same thing tend to sound like they are mailing it in. I never understood any criticism of his voice - I found it one of the most beautiful I've ever heard.
A great artist.
While many, and I do mean many don't agree with his approach, passed down from Tom Lomonaco, and Tom's well known teacher, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone teaching the true singing technique that produced the huge voices from 1890 to 1970. I've heard his students and in a live setting these are huge beautiful voices
Greatest Canadian tenor ever,and one of the greatest tenors-period! Thank you C for making this gem available to us! Bravo! TY. With Oda,Virginia and Jon-who could ask for anything more. Oops-perhaps Maureen Forrester!
INCREDIBLE.
Great performance.
A first rate, insightful interpretation.
you are right,but in some ways this sounds like a much younger Vickers than the 59 year old singer here.The vibrato control is superb, and the phrasing is sooo intelligent. He usually got his way when deciding how he wanted things done.I'm sure a dedicated Handel conductor might have had a few rough moments with this approach...but you know what-they would be wrong and Vickers would be right.Vickers hated the ornaments so many little tenor acrobats employ, and I love him all the more for it!!!
Magnificent
VinylToVideo-Richard Verreau was up there with the best of the Canadian tenors. There was but one Jon Vickers. He combined a fine voice with the greatest dramatic ability of them all.IMHO,he was the most complete singer of them all-especially in the heavy Verdi operas.
I saw him as Grimes twice at the Garden and once as Radames with Vashnefskaya . Always magnificent
Thanks that makes sense. I am learning this role
as I have just recently found my heldentenor Quality in my Baritone voice. I have now made the commitment to change my focus to be Dramatic/Heldentenor.
Bravo.
you should stop while you can.Vickers was one of the greatest 20th century singers, and his Otello was masterful-acting and singing.
Samson was staged at Covent Garden and Jon Vickers was wonderful. I know of no other tenor with his power combined with dramatic sensitivity and gentleness. He is one of the very few truly great singers.
I saw it there too. It moved me to my core . He was so intensely human, so resigned to sorrow.
This is performed up a half step? Wow. Its hard enough I wonder why? Period instruments?
Choir voice classifications are different from opera voice classifications.
In discussing Canadian tenors I miss the name of Leopold Simoneau. I agree Vickers as Othello is superlative. So is Simoneau in the Sanctus of the Berlioz Requiem
VinylToVideo-Yes way! Did you perhaps forget about poor Richard Verreau?
Total eclipse! No sun, no moon!
All dark amidst the blaze of noon!
Oh, glorious light! No cheering ray
To glad my eyes with welcome day!
Why thus deprived Thy prime decree?
Sun, moon, and stars are dark to me!
2 I search God’s Word, and there I see
The day will come when signs these be;
The moon confounded, sun ashamed,
The stars withdrawn, the heav’ns in flame;
The oceans roar as nations fight,
And clouds and smoke turn day to night.
3 O Lord, You are our strength and stay,
Protect us in that awful day;
When heav’n departs, a worn out scroll,
When islands move from pole to pole;
When rocks and mountains cannot save
The guilty from the yawning grave.
4 But those who call upon the Lord,
His arm will save, will help afford;
He is a refuge, covert, tower,
Not hell or earth can overpower;
For those washed clean in Jesus’ blood,
He keeps them safe above the flood.
Where do these additional words come from?
Promptersbox, you may be more excited to know that you aren't exactly right about your statement. I use to say and believe the same thing until I found Mrcafiero. Look him up. My voice has grown to epic proportions but we are all young singers. Some breaking old habits by bad university teachers
@promptersbox give it time. I'm still training :)
If you've never cared for Vickers than why did you listen to this??? Keep your ignorant comments to yourself and let those of us who can appreciate greatness listen to this artist without having to read your garbage!
@wattever333 Then perhaps you should have stayed home hypocrite!