Search - Peter Glossop, Ernest Blanc, Walter Berry :: The Very Best of Jon Vickers

A sampling of a great dramatic tenor

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 07/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jon Vickers was indomitable, a tenor cut from larger-than-life materials with a huge, unique voice and rock-solid character. That could make him both demanding and difficult, but EMI caught him in a fantastic period when he matched forces with Karajan. The two drew the best from each other, and for once Vickers totally gave himself over to a great condcutor's guidance. As a result we have overwhelming accounts of Tristan and Otello, his two greatest roles. This double CD offers a generous sampling, but I can't imagine that listeners who don't know these recordings won't rush to buy the complete operas.



The Carmen sample is from an exciting recording with Grace Bumbry under Fruhbeck de Burgos. Here and in Samson and Delilah, Vickers' monumental approach sometimes crushes the delicacy of the music, but his fervent emotions more than carry the day (don't expect perfect French). The only work I am not enthusiastic about is the Winterreise. Vickers was committed to performing it, and the drak emotional range of Schubert's cycle suits his temperament, but his singing is too big-boned and operatic. Give it credit for good intentions. As for the rest, all of it is indispensable."