Jon Vickers 1926-2015 RIP

[CallMePaul]

Having dug out the programme, it contains an advert for Das Lied von der Erde with Vickers and Jessye Norman, conducted by Colin Davis with the LSO. This must have been made about the time of their glorious performance at the RAH which I attended. Does anyone know this recording?

I have the LP of this but have not played it for some time. I must get it out. I also have his first Otello on LP - for me he was the outstanding Otello as well as Tristan and Peter Grimes. It is a pity he refused to sing Siegfried.

[gurnemanz]

(There was once a rather curious CD recording of JV performing Winterreise live. Curious because it would seem impossible for that mighty voice to sing chubert lieder. In fact, there is much to admire in his ability to project cold, loneliness and narrate happy recollections etc)

Really only knowing his Siegmund (Knappertsbusch 1958 and Leinsdorf 1961) I was interested to check this out Winterreise. I've just listened on YouTube - the whole cycle is there. Many liberties are taken with the vocal line but I found it a fascinating and rewarding listen. Strangely, I didn't find his German to be that good for such for a well travelled Wagnerian. YouTube then led me to a very reined-in and rather wonderful - Im wunderschönen Monat Mai

[seabright]

One of the most moving of his performances was the Gerontius with Barbirolli in Rome 1957 ...

What a pity he didn't record it commercially in good sound. Here's a brief sample of his wonderful Rome performance, complete with some vocalising from JB himself ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asxrWBVnfrs

[Gordon]

This tribute from Gramophone with Richard Osborne:

http://mark-allen-group.msgfocus.com/q/1IE1NzQj3jIbQY7oqO3RT/wv

There is an amusing picture of him and Klemperer somewhere during the Fidelio at ROH around 1961, Vickers with his prisoner's garb on trying to frighten old K - fat chance.

[charles t]

Live in Otello, with Tito Gobbi as Iago at the Lyric Opera of Chicago - sometime in the late 60's.

My most unforgettable operatic concert, ever.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I first heard him in the famous 1959 Beecham Messiah. He made the tenor solo part sound quite operatic.

[Orphical]

Jon Vickers

My first Tristan, Grimes, Samson, Florestan all at Covent Garden during the Colin Davis era. Tristan with Jones, Minton and McIntyre, glorious casting. Always patient and polite backstage after performances and always immaculately attired in blue blazer and grey slacks. I remember a R3 broadcast from Tanglewood! Act 1 Die Walkure with Jessye Norman under Ozawa, electric. A one off.

[Nick Armstrong]

Hearing CD Review this morning (considering Karajan's opera recordings) reminded me why I have on my shelf the Walküre from HvK's Ring Cycle, but not the others: Vickers as Siegmund (plus Janowitz and Crespin &c.).

Listened to bits of it today: Vickers is stupendous. Have loaded it onto the car iPod for a long drive tomorrow - a wet and no doubt crowded M1 will feature some big Wagner sounds!