Anna Moffo & Richard Tucker sing La Bohème (vaimusic.com) 

stunatox Haha yes he is still one of the all time greats.

Richard Tucker the great Verdian tenor in history.

Agreed, the great Spinto tenor.

Why are the gays so angry. Who made fun of who? As for Tucker here in this vid. He was horridly flat on his last note. Moffo of course was perfection.

Have no idea why they are dressing like millionaires when they are supposed to impoverished.

@@virgilhowarth7394: Even in Caruso's era the garret apartment seemed unusually well-kept.

Tucker was a great tenor, thank you.

His birth name was Rubin (not Reuben” nor “Reuven”) Tucker. His father, born Shmul Tikker but known as “Sam,” had the family name changed to “Tucker” before Rubin, the youngest of his children, was born.

@@jimdrake-writer Correct. The last name originally wasn't spelled Tinker, you of course are correct and wrote the excellent Tucker biography and the two books of Rosa Ponselle I enjoy also. It already was "Tucker" when Richard was born as you said.

@@jimdrake-writer Correct, one false remark here said Tucker was horribly flat on the high B, well that is of course an exaggeration and a remark that deserves an answer, .he hit the note flat on the way up and when he got to the B he quickly did correct it being aware of it, of course the comment is not only exaggerated but the same people won't look at his live also and on TV also singing the same duet with Soprano Lisa Della Casa in 1958 on you tube, same high B and well sung by Tucker, it's terrific, or his live 1957 complete performance Brdcst. at the Met. with Kirsten and Bastianini, he was a great tenor who sang more performances of Boheme then any other opera he did at the Met. (except for Carmen as Don Jose) and never was flat, I'm sorry poster "Gay Tenor" died, he'd tell those who find one poor performance by Tucker (and it wasn't all that bad) and flame him on one note, partly flat one time how really ignorant they are.

….except for the fact Anna Moffo was exactly on pitch that made it all the more painful.

Calanti sono Bergonzi e quella nullita' di Bocelli, non certo Tucker eccellente tenore Verdiano.

Tucker sicuramente il piu' importante tenore nella storia degli stati uniti, tenore verdiano come pochi, altro che Bergonzi.

A half tone tone is acceptable and Tucker did not ''always'' transpose. Domingo was notorious for transposing, but the bash about Domingo is not so much the transposing of arias but more so squeeeeezing in the passaggio and higher

@@sugarbist Tucker sang the high C in "Che Gelida" on his recording with Moffo for RCA , he also sang this duet with swiss Soprano Lisa Della Casa on TV in 1958 just 3 years before this in 1958, with a glorious high B at the ending, you can see it on you tube also, but this was only flat on the attack going up, he quickly corrected it and sustained a fine B, anyhow he also sang the complete Boheme in1 957 at the Met with Kirrsten, it is on you tube but these folks flaming him don't bother with it because he is singing too well to attack him, as the late, (now passed away) Gay Tenor has said (and he had commented here also) they won't watch the many dozens of great Tucker posts of live singing, but hit the one performance on one note, part of it flat, but his haters leave the great stuff go, not talked about but by a very few of these folks. Tucker sang this role more often then any at the Met., except in Carmen and NEVER was flat except here in part of the note, so let them watch his good ones, but no, they would rather flame him.

@Sugarbist Tucker sang live high C' s in ballo, lescaut, and turandot, and in Feb. 1966 on a Met.radio brdcst of Aida with Price and Merrill he sang an interpolated 5 second solo fine high C after the triumphal scene. He was not a high c tenor but even at age 60 in a 1974 Turandot live he had it and sang it, all on you tube and if anyone denies it they are making up bullshit. He was a very great tenor for 30 years and a real gentleman. RIP.

@@shicoff1398 Gay Tenor was right and so are you.

I agree... some comments are totally unnecessary. But Moffo is fabulous... so let's excuse the rascals.

Dalek Supreme not only that but his is infinitely larger than hers. So, we really can’t hear her equally. I think Mirella Freni would have been a better match for his voice size-wise.

Please post your personal photo so we can see if you look like a cartoon character. Don’t forget to post your singing voice along with your photo

Yes David, Based on your remark, I'm sure your wife or girl friend could do better as well

What is wrong with you? Did your nose job change your timber?

Yes, he was flat as he went up and hit the B, but corrected it on the B , this was the only time I've ever heard him sing flat, ( see "gay tenors" comment) he was a singer who stayed on pitch more then the average, but I think he was obviously having a bad day, unusual for him, however there is a live Met. opera 1957 Boheme radio Brdcst . complete on you tube with Tucker, the late great baritone Bastianini and sop. Dorothy Kirsten, and has this ending act one duet of course, it's excellent live from all the singers and he sings his far better, and in his RCA Boheme recording with Moffo complete on RCA, also in 1961, he sings the Che Gelida aria with the high C and in live performances complete I have in Ballo, Lescaut, and Turandot he did manage high C' s ( on youtube also) live in the duets in those opera's, even though not a high C tenor, I heard him about 20 or more times in the house as far back as 1961 and he was always on pitch. He sang over 700 times at the Met. and hundreds more in other world leading opera houses, here, though he did correct his flat note, this was the only time I've heard him singing flat, this obviously was not pre recorded as the Firestone TV show is live, still here at age 48, he was a fantastic powerful spinto tenor who died at age 61 in 1975. RIP.

@@shicoff1398 Unfortunately, the negative posters here, won't be interested in listening to the Tucker Bastianini and Kirsten Boheme from 1957. The bashing of a great tenor is what they are truly interested in. They will ignore everything else.

@@sugarbist Yes, that is true, total ignorance about him of course, he sang for many years after this and in some great performances live and on recording both, including the famous 1962 Butterfly with Price on RCA and a 1964 Forza also on RCA with her and Merrill, 11 years later, in March, 1973 a live London Juive (on you tube) and a 1974 hilite recording of it was praised, by English critic Henry Pleasants, his singing here in 1962 with Moffo was at the time of a serious heart attack he had, but he did not cancel this TV show, that heart condition took his life later at age 61, so after hundreds of good performances one poor one is flamed .

Did she have a nose surgery???

Did you hear Pavarotti and Freni sing it live as well?

Is Pavarotti your favorite in Carmen, Forza, Manon Lescaut, Tales of Hoffmann, Don Carlo, Fanciulla, Cavalleria, Gioconda, Marta, and Samson?

@@sugarbist VAI Posted this and has posted some good opera clips doing a good job, including other and better Tucker live singing.

One note does not define a singer's career. I'm sure your favorite tenor never muffed a HIGH note.

@@sugarbist Where in the comment you are responding to did he say anything about Tucker's career?

@@garygreen3102 Dear Gary, I do not conform to a specific format when answering a poster's comment, but include my opinion as well and sometimes pertinent information or facts. My goal is more so to share information rather than to win an argument. In 15 years, I don't recall Mr. Shimel ever commenting on a Tucker up load, other than this one. Here's a piece of information for you that wasn't asked. Upon hearing Tucker in the house for the first time, Rosa Ponselle stated that anyone who bought Tucker's records should return them to the store and get their money back. Because he sounded much better in the theater and nothing like what he sounded like on his recordings. Enjoy

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? All voices are trained before they appear on stage. The singer relies on his technique and 2 vocal cords. Tucker sang over 740 performances at the Met, with only 2 cancellations in 30 years. That's training

And you're shorter than Jerome Hines

@@sugarbist The dope, she was a couple of inches taller, plus maybe heels and high hair and she was also taller then Bjoerling and Bergonzi, and most of all Labo , she sang with all of them, I saw her with Bjoerling singing in Rigoletto.

@@sugarbist One dumb remark is that Tucker's Italian is bad, the guy is wrong, you are Italian and speak the language, so you tell me how is his Italian? Cond. Bruno Bartoletti told me it was excellent for a foreigner, very good.

JP, You may be shallow, but we love you too.

@@sugarbist Ha! Ha! they don't say that about five foot two Labo who also was slightly cross eyed, that's because he was a famous Italian tenor and he deserved his fame as a great singer, which he was, but Tucker was American and remarks have been made about that, as some pick that or his hair rug to attack him, who cares, anyhow, he had a big rich spinto voice, that was all that matters.

@@shicoff1398 Gigli and Tagliavini were short as well

@@sugarbist So was Mario Lanza, five seven or eight at most, he wore shoes with lifts often but was not taller then Tucker or MDM. Corelli and Domingo where taller, Pav. was just under 6 feet, about 5 10'' I stood next to him and Tucker several times. Tucker and MDM where Five seven, Peerce, Gigli and Tagliavini shorter and Labo only about five two, but a great voice.

@@shicoff1398 I think Gigli, Tagliavini and De Muro were short as well.

One note does NOT define a tenor's career and Tucker's voice remained youthful until his passing

@@sugarbist I understand your loyalties. His voice is fantastic in many recordings, but this is not his best, by a considerable way sadly 😎

@@pianoboyo Gigli once muffed a high note at the end of a big aria. He snapped his fingers and the audience gave him a huge ovation. I'm sure your favorite tenor must have missed a high note some time in his career

@@sugarbist Again! This comment said nothing about Tucker's career!

bigus, As usual? Who's your favorite tenor? Did he sing over 740 operas at the Met alone to mostly fine reviews? Was he revered at the La Scala and Verona? Did your favorite tenor only cancel twice in a 30 year career?

@@sugarbist wow! Good comment .