Search - Richard [Classical] Wagner, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Giuseppe Verdi :: Lebendige Vergangenheit: Jacques Urlus

Proof there was tenor life before Melchior

Klingsor Tristan | Suffolk | 08/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jacques Urlus was one of the great Heldentenors of the last century, proof if proof was needed that there were great Wagnerian tenors before Melchior burst on the scene.



This recital shows his range at various stages of his career (in the first half of the last century) There are samples of his lyrical Lohengrin, his trumpet-toned Rienzi, a thrilling Siegmund and a Siegfried alive to text as well as tone in his narration to the hunting party. There are also fine examples of Urlus's Verdi singing (Aida and Otello), naturally enough a similar non-Wagnerian repertoire to his Danish successor. But here, too, is some fine Mozart singing (Tamino's aria from Die Zauberflote), something Melchior never attempted on disc.



This great Dutch tenor has been sadly underrated (and under-represented on CD), standing in the large shadow cast by Melchior. Anyone with an interest in Wagner singing should explore this Preiser disc.

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