So lucky he did "big parts in small places"... I was in the chorus of the Eugene Opera where he sang a tremendous Prince in Rossini's Cenerentola (Oct 85). I have his voice engraved in my memory from this time on....
I took part in the 1986 American premiere of Rossini's Il Viaggio a Rheims in St Louis, and Richard played one of the two tenor leads. I believe it was his first professional engagement. He was very quiet and soft-spoken, and blew us all away with his virtuosity. The next season he returned as the Prince in Cenerentola and was magnificent. Always loved his voice and musicality.
My old voice teacher from UNT, this guy is such a badass. One of the greatest tenors I have ever heard. Completely changed my singing, very happy of his success.