Jan Peerce - "Lenski's Aria" (He's 78 Years Old Here)

American tenor Jan Peerce sings "Lenski's Aria" from Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in this video from 1982 when he was 78 years old. The orchestra is the Beersheba Chamber Orchestra and the conductor is Mendi Rodan.

[@lsmart]

Just incredible! How many of today's tenors could sing this aria so well at age 48, let alone at 78?

[@Michaelbos]

Amazing and rare ,to have such a great tenor voice to last so long and with great quality. Peerce was one of a kind.

[@Michaelbos]

Outstanding, amazing. No tenor ever, kept they’re full voice this late in life. But Jan did, only silence by death.

[@iankaye1180]

JAN PEERCE VOICE AND TALENT ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGED FROM HIS YOUNGER PERFORMANCES. HIS VOICE WAS MORE LYRICAL, AND HIS STAMINA WAS GREATER AS TO BE EXPECTED WITH 78 VS 40. HE WAS A VERY INTELLIGENT SINGER. HE WAS THE TENOR WHO ADVISED OTHERS TO SING ON YOUR INTEREST NOT ON YOUR PRINCIPLE . MAKING AN ANALOGY TO FINANCIAL SECURITY AND LONGEVITY. HE ALWAYS SANG FULL VOICE BUT NEVER PUSHED TO THE LIMIT. REMARKABLE SUCCESS ARTIST , CONSIDERING HE WAS VERY NEAR SIGHTED, THICK LENSES. HIS HARD WORK AND STUDIES, PAYD OFF BIG TIME. IAN KAYE

[@VinylToVideo]

I think this was probably in September 1980, the same time Peerce recorded his final operatic album in Isreal with Mendi Rodan the conductor. This documentary also shows them in the studio recording a "Rigoletto" aria which also appears on the album. By 1982 he was in failing health and if I'm not mistaking fell into a coma that year from which he never recovered.

[@AulicExclusiva]

Remarckable.

[@BaronEmpain]

All I can think is: I just watched a bit of "Andrea Bocelli in Central Park" and he was right on top of the mic and didn't produce as much volume as Mr. Peerce did a good six feet away...at age 78. I do believe it is true that they don't make singers the way they used to. A lovely lovely performance by a great artist.

[@tamolyn5141]

The mic was there for Mr. Peerce for recording purposes. Bocelli not only does not have an opera quality voice, but can hardly be heard without a mic and huge sound system. Bocelli belongs firmly in the pop opera category. Jan Peerce was a truly great real opera singer.

[@apweb]

@VinylToVideo True - it was 1980. I was the 1st bassoon player at the orchestra. It was a very special production. Do you know how can I obtain the full Vinyl or CD of this production?

[@jackhousman6637]

Note: Not a trace of wobble, too-wide-slow-vibrato, or shortness of breath. My voice teacher of many years ago, Mildred Ellor May, knew Peerce as a friend, and referred to him always, as Pinky Perelmuth.

[@1brewski2]

@BaronEmpain Of course you're right. But is Bocelli the standard for tenors? I hope not, but you see a lot of him. He barely has an operatic voice as far as I'm concerned. 78 years old. Wow.

[@tamolyn5141]

I assume someone tried to insist that Bocelli is the greatest tenor in the world? Apparently he realized his error and removed his comments. The pop opera fans are all over KZbin, and just don't get the difference between non-opera quality tenors like Bocelli and someone like Peerce who was one of the greatest operatic tenors ever. Simply amazing to hear Peerce here at age 78...and I don't toss around words like "amazing" lightly.

[@ettoredipugnar6990]

No tenor alive at that time could sing this aria like Pinky !!!!!!

[@rickos1915]

It's called technique. Peerce had it to burn.

[@egrosz]

The Jewish American tenor sings in Beer Sheva the most important town in South Israel.