THE SOUL OF ITALY - RICHARD TUCKER SINGS NEAPOLITAN SONGS AND OTHER FAVOURITES

THE SOUL OF ITALY - RICHARD TUCKER SINGS NEAPOLITAN SONGS AND OTHER FAVOURITES

THE COLUMBIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
NICOLAS FLAGELLO, CONDUCTOR

ORCHESTRATIONS BY HERSHY KAY

CBS IS A TRADEMARK OF THE COLUMBIA BROADCAST SYSTEM INC. U.S.A.
MONAURAL BR 235140
(ML 6164)

The leading critic of the ' New York Times wrote, "Richard Tucker is an American, but there are many who regard him as the finest Italian tenor in the world". Italians, too, have been inclined to agree. "Even in Naples", the New York Herald Tribune said, "Mr. Tucker is outranked only by San. Gennaro" (San Gennaro is Naples' patron saint). Time magazine has summed up the transatlantic consensus by acclaiming him "the world's greatest tenor". The Brooklyn-born "Italian tenor"  began his career at the age of six as an alto in the Allen Street Synagogue choir on New York's Lower East Side. After
studying with Paul Althouse, the distinguished Wagnerian tenor, Mr. Tucker auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera in 1944, and on January 25 of the following year made his debut as Enzo in La Gioconda. Since then he has remained at the head of the Metropolitan roster of tenors.

Nicolas Flagello was born in New York City. He received a master's degree in music from The Manhattan School of Music in New York and the Diploma of Superior Studies in composition from the Accademia Nazionale di S. Cecilia in Rome. He has studied composition with Vittorio Giannini and Ildebrando Pizzeti and conducting, with Jonel Perlea. Upon graduation from the Manhattan School of Music, he was appointed to its faculty where he teaches composition. and conducting. In 1964 he became head of the composition department at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. In this album, Richard Tucker sings one of Mr. Flagello's many compositions, La Bella Aurora, set to words by Torquato Tasso.