I had the great pleasure of meeting and talking with Mr. Thomas in San Francisco at a performance of Lohengrin in the 80's. He had sung a number of times with my good friend Soprano Klara Barlow. He later sent me several autographed photos in various roles, and I was on his and his wife Violeta's Christmas mailing list until his unexpected death some years later.
Bravo!!!!, Jess Thomas was one of the best ever american heldentenors!!!. I tend to specially remember him in th german repertorie, but now with this interview learned he sanged (probably in his beginings) a lot of italian lyrical roles as well as Mozart's and Strauss (Forza, Carmen, Cavalleria, Aida, etc, where more in his ground). One of my favprite tenors, Bravo!!!!
Wonderful! I remember meeting Mr. Thomas at a cocktail reception in the Foyer of the San Francisco Opera House. It was in the early 80s. We were both wearing velvet suits and he laughed and told me how much he loved my suit.
Wonderful to listen to this excellent interview. The great Jess Thomas spoke about his contract in Karlsruhe and how he jumped in for the scheduled Australian tenor and sang several rehearsals including the orchestral Sitzprobe and then performed the 2nd performance of Lohengrin in the 1958. The Australian tenor was Ken Neate (1914-1997) who sang the premiere and many other performances in Karlsruhe with great success. Ken Neate was my teacher and friend. see www.operafolks.com/Cooke/articlesindex.html for the story of his fine career and life.
WHAT A GREAT INTERVIEW. WHAT AN AMAZING GENTLEMAN
Thomas has a helden tenor's SPEAKING voice. His laugh rings like a bell!
I had the great pleasure of meeting and talking with Mr. Thomas in San Francisco at a performance of Lohengrin in the 80's. He had sung a number of times with my good friend Soprano Klara Barlow. He later sent me several autographed photos in various roles, and I was on his and his wife Violeta's Christmas mailing list until his unexpected death some years later.
Bravo!!!!, Jess Thomas was one of the best ever american heldentenors!!!. I tend to specially remember him in th german repertorie, but now with this interview learned he sanged (probably in his beginings) a lot of italian lyrical roles as well as Mozart's and Strauss (Forza, Carmen, Cavalleria, Aida, etc, where more in his ground). One of my favprite tenors, Bravo!!!!
✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️💜💜💜
Wonderful! I remember meeting Mr. Thomas at a cocktail reception in the Foyer of the San Francisco Opera House. It was in the early 80s. We were both wearing velvet suits and he laughed and told me how much he loved my suit.
Wonderful to listen to this excellent interview. The great Jess Thomas spoke about his contract in Karlsruhe and how he jumped in for the scheduled Australian tenor and sang several rehearsals including the orchestral Sitzprobe and then performed the 2nd performance of Lohengrin in the 1958. The Australian tenor was Ken Neate (1914-1997) who sang the premiere and many other performances in Karlsruhe with great success. Ken Neate was my teacher and friend. see www.operafolks.com/Cooke/articlesindex.html for the story of his fine career and life.
Jess Thomas Ode to Joy is the Best.
I was obsessed with him after I saw him sing for Karajan