Jerry Hadley & Alan Titus - The Pearl Fishers duet - 1986

This is Jerry Hadley in his prime. Jerry Hadley (June 16, 1952 July 18, 2007) was a student of my teacher from 1978, after getting his masters degree in music from the University of Illinois in 1977. He then started teaching at the University of Connecticut. A 1993 article by Noël Goodwin in Opera magazine stated, "After 15 years Hadley still goes back to this Sicilian American who, he says, gave him confidence and secure knowledge of what he is doing with his voice at any given time, through teaching methods that are direct and physiological." Hadley also stated, "(I was) lucky above all else to have found a teacher in New York without whom I really doubt I could have really built the career I have." Here he displays wonderful balanced vocal registration and release of constriction which are the cornerstones of the technique that he learned and that I teach.

[@SmoofPro]

Hadley in his prime - unbeatable.

[@johnharmon3375]

For real

[@rationalsceptic7634]

A hugely underated Tenor RIP

[@daphnebeloved]

Hadley , such a good voice, thrilling, well modulated, free,good technique, legato, so heartfelt.... he went too young and was so underrated...Alan Titus is so good too.

[@davecoffield7893]

What you do not know, is that Jerry was engaged to a woman in the business, who so undermined his career and utterly defeated him with all manner of manipulation, that he fell into a deep depression and shot himself in the head....thereby ending the expression of a great talent.

[@jackwaddell4146]

Magnifique; Probably The most beautiful Duet ever composed !

[@olgabykhovsky]

Unbelievable performance. What a loss to the world! Jerry Hadley was amazing.

[@Mlbguy]

I cannot listen to this without tears in my eyes.

[@Butchy1]

Jerry hadley, brilliant..

[@debsong10]

OMG! What a voice Jerry Hadley had. So underrated. His timber reminds me a bit of Fritz Wunderlich. Both singers' singers and both died much too young. Absolutely gorgeous!

[@Barbara-dq2fy]

Alan Titus is still alive. He's 77.

[@SilfredoSerrano]

@@Barbara-dq2fyYes. He was referring to Jerry Hadley and Fritz Wunderlich.

[@lucianopavarotti2843]

Utterly beautiful

[@道-p2e]

So Grand, I love Jerry Hadley and Alan Titus, so under appreciated, beautiful voice and artistry, so so smooth.

[@draganvidic2039]

Hadley’s voice here is truly majestic in its delievery and joy of singing.

[@corelli2]

I had forgotten how thrilling Jerry's voice was to listen to. The ring in that top part of his voice absolutely sent goosebumps up and down my spine. Magnificent!

[@jackwaddell4146]

I Agree;Hadley was one of the Greatest; Departed Too Soon! Also one of the most Versatile !

[@aarontenor]

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. While he doesn’t move me as much in the 90’s and beyond, the 80’s version of Jerry Hadley’s voice and style move me so much. His open and visceral, yet still beautifully controlled vocal production is among the most exciting (to me) in the history of tenors. His technical approach here, and mostly on the high notes, remind me also of the great Carreras’s singing in the 70’s, before his voice started to harden too.

[@SilverSingingMethod]

Unfortunately in the 90's he started changing what he was taught originally by my teacher who built his voice. So I agree with you. This recording is when he was trained by my teacher and was coaching with him the music he was singing.

[@aarontenor]

Silver Singing Method I spoke with Jerry once about twenty years ago over email. He was so gracious and I asked him some questions about singing and asked him if he was still singing Rodolfo in La Boheme. He told me, in so many words, he shelved it because he always felt like there was a certain level of imitation he had to use which he was never completely comfortable with in that rep and which was also wearing out his voice. So he switched to lighter rep which he felt allowed him to open up more and be more natural. I have also known tenors who sing professionally but choose lower tessitura material because they feel the higher rep (which they actually sound better in) is too much work. Seems like an attitude thing. Some have the attitude for it and some don’t. Nevertheless, I cherish his early stuff and even some of his crossover. He was a great one for sure!

[@tommieboy1657]

@@aarontenor interesting what you're saying... because he was still (or again?) singing La Bohème in '99 and gradually started adding heavier rep (Janacek, Britten, Strauss...) around the same period. He also talked about having to 'please a teacher' when singing, rather than being able to 'open up', perhaps that also relates to this...

[@alexmz123]

It brought tears to my eyes... Jerry Hadley will be my favourite American tenor of all time. And Alan Titus is so sublime in his delivery. Thank you for making my day with this posting.

[@robertwbecker]

Stunning, exciting singing especially from Hadley,, his production here is flawless!

[@andrewcostello8970]

IMHO, this is the best recording of this duet. WOW!

[@claudettedelphis6476]

They have reached the cosmos 💐 Spectacular, sublime voices of Jerry Hadley and Alan Titus 💕 The world is very sad without him. My absolutely most beloved Tenor of all time 💝💜💚💛💙💗

[@hudsondeal]

This IS one of the best performances of this duet I've ever heard, thank you!

[@alesizzz1]

I agree wholeheartedly - FANTASTIC !!!

[@williamzavlaris4054]

Jerry Hadley is incredible here. He is so missed. Thanks for uploading.

[@marthaanne820]

Thank goodness there is a good recording of Jerry Hadley singing this.

[@memyandmine]

Hadley, we miss you.

[@SilverSingingMethod]

If you watch the youtube video of him singing in LA the Maria di Rohan, which is on my channel, you can read exactly what he said. This is an ongoing problem in opera that the public seems to be unaware of. These conductors and directors do not allow people to develop and sing full voice any longer. That is why the voices are all small. Hadley was also being stifled. They want you to pull off your voice and sing lightly. That is why the art is in decline. No voices like those of the past.

[@angr3819]

Thank you

[@williambondar9195]

This is so wonderful, Jerry is truly missed!

[@hoochikooch]

Love how Jerry puts his arm around Alan for the last verse...they are friends.

[@marthaanne820]

Actually, this putting the hand on the shoulder is always done as a part of the singing of this aria.

[@Chennirei]

Great combination of voices. Beautiful tenor demonstrating perfectly his work with a great teacher.

[@道-p2e]

perfectly tuned,

[@heinz-alexanderbauer814]

DANKESCHÖN, dass beste Perlenfischer-Duet welches ich je hörte.

[@tenorschofield]

So nice and smooth both!!!, this I thougth was a duet for a ligth-tenor, but Hadley does it so wonderfully, that I have to re-made my mind about it,BRAVO!!!

[@bladezone1]

Just excellent! Mr. Hadley was so refreshing and focused on his high notes! Thank you for sharing!

[@corradopampaloni6938]

Such wonderful voices, gosh how royal

[@angr3819]

Thank you. Nothing I can add to what has been already commented, except who couldn't immediately fall in love with this duet. It has a similar effect on me as The Flower Duet.

[@luclafor]

Les pêcheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers) is an opera in three acts by the French composer Georges Bizet, to a libretto by Eugène Cormon and Michel Carré. It was premiered on 30 September 1863 in Paris.

[@sheilatorres9897]

Brilliant…wonderful voices together.

[@SilverSingingMethod]

Yes, he was my teacher's student. My teacher built his voice from the beginning. Now I teach this technique. My teacher passed away 1 year ago. Hadley was in great voice here.

[@bobthebuilder2778]

I remember seeing a clip or 2 on YT about Hadley and his training under LoMonaco What brilliant singers with great techniques. Thanks for sharing this awesome pairing.

[@yaelpalombo4093]

Bellissimo duetto

[@emiliakaplan6888]

Thank you tube for making us happy. Power to the people.

[@AfroPoli]

He sounds much better here than when I heard him live. Very nice rendition.

[@terrietackett8964]

Titus...simply remarkable!!

[@kraftpr]

BRAVISSIMO! Rest in Peace Jerry Hadley. I was privileged to meet you after a service at Emanuel Lutheran Church, Manchester, CT just before you would begin your tenure at NY City Opera. You sang an awesome performance of Malotte's Lord's Prayer that prompted me to really learn how to sing. I found a good teacher at Hartt School of Music and learned an excellent vocal technique. Thank you!

[@louissoviero424]

Hadley special and still missed by so many

[@e-bikeskibum7141]

Hands down. The best ever!!!!!!

[@joelweisberg]

Heavenly rendition. It ranks right up there with the best of all time. IMO!

[@道-p2e]

Even in face of Jussi and Merill's version, this pair is gorgeous and my grandest!!! Bravo,

[@lucasdebevec8581]

Ambas voces maravillosas. De generoso color, brillo, entrega, autenticidad. La voz de Hadley, siempre hermosa, de personalidad distinguida, tan acertado y efectivo en diferentes estilos. Lírica y pura. Canta con aquello que se dice fuego sagrado. Y Titus con esa voz que marca plenitud. Hermosa forma de cantar. Y bellísima la dirección orquestal. Una de las mejores versiones (muy bella la de Hadley con Hampson!). Bravo.

[@jonaswuermeling623]

That is simply awesome!

[@elenaatje3]

the best ,it make 's mé crying .... so beautiful !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ngatihine6072]

This is the best rendition by far both singers so solid but Jerry as a tenor my goodness so hearty ground and full. My idol.

[@barbaradavies3295]

truly beautiful - a magnificent performance

[@carolynpaulin1872]

Possibly the best performance of this ever...with the exception of Jerry with Tom Hampson and the Boston Pops 10 years later!

[@aneamarlivana172]

I'd have to disagree. My favorite is the version by Jussi Bjorling and Robert Merrill. The version with Luciano Pavarotti and Nicolai Ghiaurov is also excellent, notably for the performance by Ghiaurov. There is also a version with Fritz Wunderlich and Hermann Prey that is very good too.

[@js59695]

Anea Marlivana not even close to this... Bjoerling was great but I like the less constricted sound here by Hadley.

[@aneamarlivana172]

yourmomgoestocollege We're all entitled to have different opinions. It would be a pretty boring world if everyone always agreed on everything.

Except Hanson is a joke.

[@expatmartin]

just beautiful, two wonderful artists. Alan sang in Munich regularly and Jerry not that often unfortunately. Such a radiant, rich and beautiful voice.

[@michaelmiller1215]

Jerry Hadley is the gold standard for this duet. No one has ever it better. Alan Titus does nothing for me. Even though he is a bass, I would have liked to have heard Jerry sing this with Jerome Hines.

[@aneamarlivana172]

Hines's voice was way too heavy and dark for this. The only bass I've ever heard sing the baritone part in this duet and sing it well is Nicolai Ghiaurov, in a version with Pavarotti. Pavarotti isn't at his best, but Ghiaurov is wonderful.

[@aneamarlivana172]

There is a version with Terfel. Alas, the tenor is Bocelli and predictably he's terrible. Also, the performance had to be heavily amplified so that Bocelli could be heard. The amplification distorts Terfel's voice badly. I'd love to hear Terfel sing this with an actual operatic tenor.

[@dboyen]

Michael Miller Listen to Léopold Simoneau and Réné Bianco from the early 1950’s.

[@brianlandrytenor]

Anea Marlivana kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoeYq4iXad-ApNk

[@道-p2e]

@Jeff Andersen with Ramey the better version.

[@Bobrogers99]

This is another segment of an unusually fine Pavarotti Plus program with some unusually fine young talent, Jerry Hadley and Alan Titus among them. I have never found a good quality recording of the entire program.

[@LUCIDANNA]

Great, so touching. Thank you for posting.

[@angebrowne1730]

Beautiful.

[@markuswendelin5448]

LG from Austria🇦🇹......i❤Hadley....👏👏👏👏👏

[@mjmacmtenor]

The growth in Titus' voice over the years is very interesting. As you say, he started out as almost a baritenor (in Bernstein's Mass). In the 2000s, he successfully had moved into Wagnerian Heldenbariton roles - Dutchman and Wotan (even at Bayreuth). Quite a change (and done very successfully as well)!

[@mclpcm]

Thank you for posting this. While I cannot recall a bad rendition of this number, this may be the best of them all. I was fortunate to hear them do it live in 1986. Hadley was in his prime well before the nerves struck. I also saw Titus as the Celebrant in Mass that opened the Kennedy Center-very memorable. A flashy but hard part for a young Titus, who did well not to ruin his voice trying to make everyone happy.

[@zs1968]

It s very very very beautiful. Glorious singing.

[@sandymcgee485]

Bravo! Thank you

[@MLewis6270]

Brilliant. Titus might have been better then any of the baritones currently singing at the Met. Hadley, easily one of the greatest American tenors, whose career was tragically shortened by issues in his personal life.

[@Jack-ix9rz]

So sad that Hadley is gone. Boy, did he have some pipes!!!

[@MU-ey3jt]

Fantastique !!!!! ;-)

[@Kings_New_Clothese]

So brilliant!

[@miwdiva]

Exquisite through and through. I am a Jerry Hadley inconditional but I'll say this, I regret Francisco Araiza and Thomas Allen (my two other great favorites!) didn't sing that duet together - unless I'm mistaken. One can dream. ;)

[@ВіталійСоболєв-с4м]

Супер дует !!!!

[@panospeters8195]

Τ he best interpretation of the piece!

[@amielewis1]

magnificent!

My GOD that Bb was otherwordly... gorgeous timbre. R.I.P

[@hilary531]

Thrilling!

[@marismet1276]

wonderful

[@Agorante]

It's hard to write about Hadley - his story is so tragic. So I'll tell a story about Titus. I was born in Washington DC but I wisely got out to come to California. Then I went back for grad school just as the Kennedy center was opening I didn't see Titus in Bernstein's 'Mass' but he was asked back to the opera House to sing Nero in 'LIncoranattione di Popea'. He was young then and in good shape. I know because he appeared mostly nude. All he wore was a gold lame jock strap. My wife and I were in the front row. It was embarrassing.

[@DavidHassell2004]

Alan Titus the best celebrant ever in Bernstein's Mass

[@JamesVaughan]

Jerry Hadley, the American Björling. RIP.

[@Kings_New_Clothese]

Wow!

[@ngatihine6072]

Jerry voice is true no woolly woofy thin weak amplified sound like other famous singers he dominates

[@klfrlTC]

AGREED!

[@paularuiz6154]

No se de ópera pero está aria me super encanta y ellos son increibles😢😢😢

[@tenorschofield]

Dear MrCafiero, that is what I meant.Thank you for the precise comment.Bravo!!!

[@tenorschofield]

Great interpretation of this two wonderful artists. I am always very impressed by the Jerry Hadley emision (as Mrcafiero told me once, he is in all the mask, without stepping too much in any point at all..no aiming point.GREAT!!!). Thanks for sharing this divine duett.BRAVOOOO!!!!

[@despoinagreen9440]

fantastic !!!

[@martincook318]

This Recording is as good as My old Enrico Caruso Record that was Made on Tuesday 24th March 1907 and each singer compliments each other and the Conducter looks like the famous Arturo Toscanini who died in January 1957 just two Month's before his 90th Birthday

[@sopranosd]

What did he mean that he was not allowed to sing with his full voice? That sounds so weird. His voice is so gorgeous here. I just listened to (on youtube) Une Furtiva Lagrima he did in concert and a Che Gelida Manina (youtube as well) and found both of them surprisingly sterile, but he is emoting nicely. So beautiful.

[@miwdiva]

Who were those powers to be and what happened exactly? To block such a talent is almost criminal...

[@davecoffield7893]

Criminal and premeditated. As I noted above, what you do not know, is that Jerry was engaged to a woman in the business, who so undermined his career and utterly defeated him with all manner of manipulation, that he fell into a deep depression and shot himself in the head....thereby ending the expression of a great talent. To think, I used to call her "friend."

[@SilverSingingMethod]

How exactly were his performances inconsistent? He sang from the early 80's into the early 90's on a consistently high level. He did speak of how the powers that be would not allow him to sing with his full voice much of the time. That probably depressed him. To be able to sing so amazingly well and to be blocked is ridiculous. I have no clue what you mean by inconsistent though.

[@sjefhendrickx2257]

Watch this 디아트원, 테너 김민석, 베이스바리톤 길병민 / 비제 Bizet : Les pêcheurs de perles "Au fond du temple saint"

[@arbiterveritatis1063]

Did Hadley ever sing at the Met? And if not, why not? What a fine honest voice. No tricks.

[@calaf_725]

I think he sung at the Met. Beverly Sills recruited him but check Wikipedia for more info.

[@道-p2e]

did many times later, also did at NYC opera.

[@Muttonchop_USA]

He was a huge star at the MET for years.

[@eleanorhoward9464]

Alan Titus was a wonderful Figaro in NY City’s Barber with Beverly Sills in the late 70s, available on You Tube. That production introduced the world to Samuel Ramey, as a devastatingly fabulous Basilio. Not to take anything away from Hadley, here. Just wanted to alert others to Titus & early Ramey

[@meluzyna55]

Wspaniałe głosy!

[@ArushaofDenmark]

Which teacher is he speaking of in the Opera magazine article? Wonderful singing. He just exudes total control and comfort.

[@bigbenhebdomadarius6252]

This is definitely a fine performance of this aria. But "most beautiful"? Take a listen to Björling's and Merrill's duet from 1950 (also posted here on KZbin) before you make up your mind.

[@道-p2e]

yes. agree, Jussi's work is powerful, deeply felt, but this is so clean youthful fine tuned 2 pipes. Equally pure gold...the recording is unfair to be compared either.

[@SilverSingingMethod]

I am working on it Candy. We are trying to start that kind of training again.

[@tdew63]

try jussi bjorling and Robert Merrill the best ever

[@道-p2e]

but this is live recording. Big lover of that Duet done by Jussi and Mr. Merrill. This one is so so special for young singers...

[@alexgomez2]

I only had great memories of Hadley. I watched him singing Bernstein's Candide in 1990 and he was just great. Then I didn't hear much of him until his suicide intent and then his sad death. Now, looking at some of his videos, I notice a decadence in his singing. It's difficult to know if his depression was caused by his lack of success or his lack of success was the result of inconsistent performance due to his depression. Only him and God know, I guess.

[@frankrotella772]

Who is the flute player??? Is it Trudy Kane? Or Tom Nyfenger?

[@tserenity6942]

Very good sonority in the flute. Does anyone know who is playing? I think it might be Trudy Kane. Sounds like Tom Nyfenger. If it was Trudy, great job!

[@AfroPoli]

I believe it was in 1994, L'elisir d'amore.

[@Chaosga]

Holy Voice Box. Both are incredible powerhouses...wish Jerry Hadley would of followed that P on the score though. Good lord, he blew out the whole first row. LOL.

[@js59695]

Chaosga you're trying to fill a house with sound. Those markings are subjective.

[@andreasbettau5951]

For me the real 3 tenors,the really extraordinary voices,are Hadley,Aragall and Shicoff .

[@mclaire12]

magnificent!!!Mclaire12

[@sopranosd]

Wow. That's insane! It's a tragedy for the voice. When you have to squelch your tone you start on the short rode to vocal disaster. So sad! I'll definitely watch the video. Thanks

[@SilverSingingMethod]

What year did you hear him?

[@beritbranch2436]

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