Three tenors

[gradus]

The posting on the Current Reading thread about Bjorling reminded me just how much I liked his voice and led me to reflect on my three favourite tenors, not I am afraid any of the famous three, fine though they were.
Out of interest I wondered if others shared my taste for Bjorling, Wunderlich and Vickers or would other tenors take their places?

[Ein Heldenleben]

The posting on the Current Reading thread about Bjorling reminded me just how much I liked his voice and led me to reflect on my three favourite tenors, not I am afraid any of the famous three, fine though they were.
Out of interest I wondered if others shared my taste for Bjorling, Wunderlich and Vickers or would other tenors take their places?

Yes I share your taste. There are so few around that I can’t afford to discriminate!

Corelli, Cossuta , del Monaco, Bergonzi , Melchior , Windgassen , Pavarotti , Lanza . All of them would have even more stellar careers now. There no one who comes close.
Ps Gedda
PPs Caruso

[Lordgeous]

Have loved Bjorling since I first heard Beecham's Boheme. Other favourites include the wonderful Patzak.

[smittims]

Yes, I admire Bjorling, Wunderlich and Vickers, and Julius Patzak.

Others I've especially enjoyed hearing include Anton Dermota, a mainstay of the Vienna Opera in the 1950s, and, in very different repertoire, Ian Partridge.

[Lordgeous]

I was going to mention Ian Partridge too, and, if we're drifting away from opera, Wilfrid Brown, Gerald English and - dare I say it - Peter Pears. Ian Partrige sang the first work I had performed in a public concert - a thrill!

[gradus]

Let's drift!

[Cockney Sparrow]

Yes, I admire Bjorling, Wunderlich and Vickers, and Julius Patzak.
Others I've especially enjoyed hearing include Anton Dermota, a mainstay of the Vienna Opera in the 1950s, and, in very different repertoire, Ian Partridge.

I've not heard Dermota, but otherwise I can subscribe to this list.

......There are so few around that I can’t afford to discriminate!

Corelli, Cossuta , del Monaco, Bergonzi , Melchior , Windgassen , Pavarotti , Lanza . All of them would have even more stellar careers now. There no one who comes close.
Ps Gedda
PPs Caruso

And I wouldn't quibble with that sentiment - most of these are as worthy of consideration. Personally I have a fondness for the artistry of Richard Lewis, but obviously in "his repertory". I found Domingo, live in Otello and Die Walkure (amongst a couple of other performances) an engaging and memorable tenor. More so than the current pin-up heart throb tenor widely publicised and promoted from the Decca stable.

Its just that I find Bjorling an absolute master, and at a time when recording technology could capture his vocal quality. I'd like to confirm this quote attributed to Pavarotti: " my voice comes maybe every 25 years but a voice likes Jussi comes every 100 years "

[ChandlersFord]

Some excellent names mentioned thus far.

If I had to restrict it to three, those chosen would have to reflect my own preferences, so -

Lauritz Melchior - the only authenticated heldentenor and the records (he left us quite a few) prove he had the goods. Jean de Reske had his recordings destroyed, which may (or may not) have been a wise move on his part ....

Jon Vickers - unforgettable as Siegmund and Tristan, and as Radames and Grimes.

James King - musicianly, intelligent, understood his limits and worked within them (how many singers do that?). Lots of superb performances across the Austro-German repertoire and his Sampson gives the lie to the charge that only Francophone singers can sing French opera.