JON VICKERS PASADENA 1988 PART ONE

The legendary Jon Vickers in recital. At the end of his career we find him in spectacular voice.

[@fredsmith6310]

The Callas of tenors - in a solar system of his own! How grateful I am to have seen him in Grimes, Tristan, Otello and Pagliacci...and years later to have interviewed him.

[@our2howdy]

UNREAL!! 62 years old and still singing with such mastery and power. You'd think after a career of singing the most demanding roles written for the most demading type of vocal music, his voice wouldn't be so supple and beautiful at this age. Incredible. Such a master.

[@clarice1001nights]

Age should not be a consideration for the most dramatic roles. They are not pretty-boy roles. Health and robustness are more important, One of my teachers was a man by the name of Ken Neate. He sang for years in Europe, despite being Australian by birth. His Tristan debut at the Bayerische Staatsoper Munich was at the age of 64, Actually, a number of singers sing rings around many recording stars but are not as pretty, and failing the recording company backing, are not pushed.

[@wirklichkeitsblind7587]

00:49 Whats that?

[@wirklichkeitsblind7587]

Unreal!

[@deutschefach]

He did not quit because of his voice or health. He wanted to take care of his wife who was sick. A career is of no use if you loose that which has given you sustenance. When his wife died in 91 they had been married 38 years. That is knowing what is important. His singing is wonderfully sentimental. He finds the sentiment in each phase that he can express within the range of expression he has. He is always very masculine.

[@bmaree5389]

Most certainly true, I can attest to this of him and his family.

[@josephdiluzio6719]

Jon Vickers, the magnificence and uniqueness of that voice Allied to an uncanny artistry and musical intelligence well it's all in evidence here. And his commentary Beyond its cogency is so candid at times funny but oh so relevant to our horrible political correctness and millennial multiculturalism of today

[@MrGawies]

Truly exceptionally unique, "one of a kind" almost appropriately describes the artistry of Jon Vickers. Who in the world could ever perform the roles of Samson, Tristan, Peter Grimes, Parsifal, Aeneas, Florestan, Don Jose, Riccardo, Radames, Siegmund [Walkure] Andrea Chenier, Parsifal, Canio, Don Carlos, and countless more with such brilliant mastery! On the stage he was the 9th wonder of nature!

[@shuaizhang9566]

And Otello!

[@vickersman]

reminds me of all the music that maestro Vickers did not record. I can think of dozens of art songs and rarely performed pieces that would have been wonderful to have had. Still we have this wonderful Pasadena recital and I thank you very much for it.

[@leonardevans8691]

In my younger years of listening to opera I gravitated toward the mediteranean voices-Pavarotti/Domingo, etc. But I have come to appreciate the uniqueness of JV voice which is in my ears truely beautiful. A friend of mine, who was an arts critic, would often hear him at Covent Garden and later tell me his performances were overwhelming. I can only imagine!

[@hildegerdhaugen7864]

Obsessed with Maestro Vickers voice.

[@katekiss1747]

RIP Jon Vickers!

[@dunrob36]

I was lucky enough to hear and see Vickers in Othello at the Met and will never forget the last notes and the gesture of a hand falling off the steps that lead to Desdemona's bed. The most extraordinary tenor of the century. His Tristan seen in 1967 was unforgettable.

[@Mariejeanne-c1k]

Très grand ténor ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@urherman1]

beautiful Handel Vickers is a very great singer and artist

[@wepopalot]

This is what you get when you mix incredible talent with impeccable technique! Bravo Mr. Vickers!

[@aforwood1]

Sounds fantastic. RIP dear Heldentenor.

[@jgesselberty]

Quite simply the best tenor voice that history has produced.

[@MrDonaldmaddog]

At last! I managed to find Part 1. Vickers' voice is one of the glories of the age. And...the POWER and purity is still there at an age when most singers have faded and retired. Personally I am thrilled to hear this wonderful artist. There are not enough videos out there with him. Too bad.

[@ezequielstepanenko3229]

Not just the best tenor also the best opera singer ever

[@DR-tx9mr]

I can never hear another version of this song. They simply do not compare.

[@MicahandModesta]

A wonderful recital to study for anyone who wants to learn about presenting pieces outside of operas.

[@omairagamboa7821]

Ha de estar en la Gloria de Dios, gracias por deleitarnos con tu voz de Heldertenor Maestro Vickens

[@lawrenceallen6508]

Absolutely so Majestic and beautiful.

[@jussi2100]

Thank you for a great post of a legendary artist.

[@hwh1946]

Saw him at the Met in Troyens, Billy Budd, Otellp, Don Carlo, Fidelio and Walkure. Thanks man for a great ride!

[@Labienus]

+Harry Haff I understand about the great ride, I heard him in some of those roles and more-but you couldn't have seen him at the Met (or anywhere else I think) in Billy Budd, or Don Carlo!?

[@hwh1946]

+Labienus It was Peter Grimes. Sorry

[@Labienus]

+Harry Haff Right, Grimes. I'm not 100% sure-but I don't think he did Don Carlo

[@kymanthony4319]

Labienus One of the great productions of Don C-at Coventry Garden in about 1957. I have a live recording of that performance.fantastic.

[@sgnmath1234]

@@Labienus Yes he did. In the late 50's and early 60s. And some very strange single occurrence in Vienna in1975.

[@draganatanasov2503]

It's what happens when you sing the way you speak, and what I mean by that is that he is someone that observed the text, meaning and emotion first and always trusted that those aspects will carry the voice forward, which it does and also which makes him the male equivalent of Maria Callas.

[@inhisworld8]

thicker than baritone and poweful but still artistic. One of kind tenor for sure, and hard working man I respect.....

[@wirklichkeitsblind7587]

Sooooo schön 🙏😇🙏

[@tenorschofield]

MARVELOUS!!!!

[@aguacun]

Magnitfico!

[@soavemusica]

Lyrical singing, most appealing.

[@Amenabar65]

grandissimo Jon!!!

[@hwh1946]

Man. sounds like 1960!

[@our2howdy]

Excellent posting... where did you find this? Also, very interesting to hear the delicate tamber he uses with his speaking voice. Much higher than I imagined it being.

[@clarice1001nights]

What most people miss is he is at his best with a flowing, and not overly adducted sound. He also sings with his whole voice at all times. When he over-adducts there is a noise component. This is what makes a voice sound old sometimes.

[@gerardmignon700]

Non , Jon tu n'es pas mort Jon.

[@jkera100]

@nornsnornsnorns 1988 not 2008.

[@DLJ2890]

**********

[@lucapostorini7598]

He still has plenty of power but his voice has become coarse with age.

[@gerardmignon700]

et avec les oreilles tu fais quoi?

[@mateodedios4507]

Wtf?