OP2156. RIGOLETTO, Live Performance, 8 Dec., 1951, w.Erede Cond. Leonard Warren, Richard Tucker, Hilde Güden, Jean Madeira, Alois Pernerstorfer, etc. (E.U.) 2-Myto 00281. Specially priced. - 0801439902817

CRITIC REVIEWS:

“…more than energy governs this afternoon’s music making. Warren so commands the vocal mechanics of his rôle that one can only sit back and relish his mastery, especially when he deploys his ravishing mezza voce at every likely opportunity….He has a daughter worth his tears on this afternoon. Güden’s voice strikes me as a curious but appealing instrument….her Gilda as a whole has unique value….The Duke’s scene (‘Parmi veder le lagrime’) seems tailor-made for the voice and style of Tucker, and his reading is splendid….I mark this as a classic rendering, both for its air of restraint and vocal excellence.”

- Paul Jackson, SIGN-OFF FOR THE OLD MET, pp.57-58



"Leonard Warren emerged as the principal baritone of the Met’s Italian wing in the early 1940s and remained so until his untimely death on the Met’s stage, 4 March, 1960, at the peak of his career. His smooth, velvety, and beautiful voice was powerful and had an unusually large range in its high register. It was easily and evenly produced, whether he sang softly or roared like a lion….Warren acted his roles primarily by vocal coloring, expressivity, and his excellent diction….his singing was unusually consistent….Warren’s legacy should be of interest to all lovers of great singing."

- Kurt Moses, AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE, Nov./Dec., 2006



"[Warren's] remarkable voice had a dramatic intensity which did not come naturally to him. As with everything else in his life, he worked at that until he got it right. Fortunately, his incomparable voice and dramatic power are still available to us on recordings of some of his most famous roles....[He] became one of the most famous and beloved operatic baritones in the world....Warren's flawless technique, seamless flow of sound, and brilliant top voice were his vocal trademarks and these qualities became the standard by which others would be measured, including me."

- Sherrill Milnes, AMERICAN ARIA, pp.76-77



"...for some thirty years, until his sudden death in 1975, Tucker's vocal security, boundless energy, unceasing enthusiasm, and thorough professionalism ensured a level of popularity that necessitated comparisons to some of his greatest predecessors....Tucker sang thrillingly and delivered the goods, communicating his own joy in singing to all who would listen...."

- Marc Mandel, FANFARE, May/June, 1997