Richard Tucker (aka Rubin Ticker) was born on August 28, 1913 in Brooklyn, New York. He was born to a Jewish family, and stayed a pious Jew throughout his life. Tucker's singing career was started as Cantor in his local synagogues and soon took off. He started singing opera around age 28 and would reach the rank of Primo Tenore at the Metropolitan Opera in his 30's. His career took him to Europe many times, but unlike most tenors, Tucker's training was received in it's entirety here in the States. Tucker's voice was very similar to that of Enrico Caruso's, and he was acclaimed in the papers as " The American Caruso". His career was a lengthy and renowned one, until constant heart problems claimed him on January 8, 1975. Tucker died of a heart attack while backstage waiting for a performance in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is the only person in history whose funeral has been held on stage at The Met. He is my favorite Tenor, and I am deeply saddened his career had been cut short. Had he lived longer I, and many others, believe he would have passed into the ranks of Dramatic Tenor and out of his Lirico-Spinto fach. This is a small list of some of my favorite roles Tucker has Played.
6. Radames in Verdi's Aida
Verdi's Aida is a grand opera in every sense of the word. In the first scene Radames is singing this love song about Aida, a slave girl he has fallen madly in love with. Radames must both sound heroic and still beautiful which makes this a very challenging aria for any tenor to sing. Tucker makes it look easy in this performance in concert.
5. Il Duca Mantova in Verdi's Rigoletto
Perhaps one of the most well known arias La Donna E Mobile occurs in act 4 of Rigoletto. Tucker plays the womanizing Duke as this over-the-top caricature as he was written to be played. My favorite aria of the Duke's is actually the opening of the show Questa o Quella. This aria is difficult not only because it is the first thing the Duke sings, but also it is written fast and you still have to sing it connected.
4. Lionel in Flotow's Martha
Flotow's Martha isn't a very well known opera to outsiders, but the aria "Ach So Fromm" sounds familiar to many because of it's popularity among tenors. When Tucker sang Martha at The Met they had it in English, but he refused to sing the aria in English and instead sang it in the Italian, M'appari tutt'amor
Unfortunately, I could not find any pictures from this performance.
3. Don Jose in Bizet's Carmen
Don Jose is another tenor lost in the throws of love. By the time the famous Flower Song rolls around he has thrown away his job and his prospective fiance to be with Carmen. Still, he carries the flower she gave him. La fleur que tu m'avais jetée is the aria which he sings in prison. In the end Carmen breaks his heart and it has a very tragic end for them as shown here.
2. Rodolfo in Puccini's La Boheme
La Boheme is my favorite opera and for me Tucker is the definitive Rodolfo. He sings the love songs so sweetly and passionately, and in the tragic ending you can really hear the pain in his voice. In the first act Rodolfo and Mimi meet and fall instantly in love. Tucker a poet expresses himself in the aria Che Gelida Manina. This is followed by Mimi's Si Mi Chiamano Mimi. Finally they express their love in the ending aria O Soave Fanciulla. Here is the ending of the first act. 
1. Canio in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci
Canio is a very dramatic role. The famous aria is Vesti La Giubba and has been featured in Spongebob, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, and hey Arnold. In the aria Canio just found out his wife is cheating on him, but must still go on stage and act the part of the clown. Earlier Tucker played Canio very angry, and as he aged he played him more tragically hurt. I prefer his later performance. However, both are very important and considered by many the definitive Canio. Here is the younger performance. Here is the older recorded only a couple months before his untimely demise.
