Jon Vickers
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Biography
Jon Vickers' sheer physical presence and hugely powerful voice made him a favourite amongst opera music directors looking for an heroic tenor to play leading roles in German and Italian operas.
Vickers was a powerfully-built man, something he attributed to working on his neighbour's farm as a young man. At the age of 24 he was awarded a scholarship to study opera at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto where he studied with George Lambert, the English baritone. He sang professionally in his native Canada until 1957 when he began his international career with an engagement at London's Covent Garden performing Verdi's 'Un Ballo in Maschera'. It was the beginning of a long association between Vickers and the famous London opera venue and he continued to perform there until well into the 1980s.
Vickers made many notable recordings during his career but one of his most highly regarded performances on vinyl is 'Tristan und Isolde', recorded in 1972. During his career he sang at major opera houses around the world appearing in Chicago, San Francisco, Vienna, London and at Milan's famous La Scala before retiring from professional appearances in 1988. Vickers died in 2015 as a result of Alzheimer's disease.
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- Aida, Act III: (Pt. 1) featuring Leontyne Price
- O death, where is thy sting? by Jon Vickers
- Messa da Requiem: Lux aeterna featuring New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Messa da Requiem: Agnus Dei featuring New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Aida: La fatal pietra O terra, addio by Jon Vickers
- Messa da Requiem: Libera me featuring New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Britten: Peter Grimes, Op.33 / Act 2 - "This unrelenting work" featuring Heather Harper
- Otello, Act II: "D'un uom che geme sotto il tuo disdegno... Ora e per sempre" featuring Jon Vickers
- Aida: Pur ti riveggo, mia dolce Aida Di Napata le gole featuring Giorgio Tozzi
- Don Carlos: "E lui!... desso... l'Infante!" by Jon Vickers
- Messa da Requiem: Requiem e Kyrie featuring New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Aida, Act II: (Pt. 2) featuring Leontyne Price
- Don Carlos: "Son, io, mio Carlo" by Jon Vickers
- Otello, Atto Quarto, Seconda scena: Ave Maria, piena di grazia (Desdemona)
- Messa da Requiem, Sequenza:: Mors stupebit featuring New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Messa da Requiem, Sequenza:: Liber scriptus - Dies irae featuring New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Messa da Requiem, Sequenza:: Tuba mirum featuring New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Messa da Requiem, Sequenza:: Rex tremendae featuring New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Messa da Requiem, Sequenza:: Recordare featuring New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Messa da Requiem, Sequenza:: Quid sum miser featuring New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Messa da Requiem: Offertorio featuring New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Messa da Requiem, Sequenza:: Confutatis - Dies irae featuring New Philharmonia Orchestra
- Carmen: Act 4 Scene II: C'est toi! C'est moi!...Tu m'aimes donc plus featuring Jon Vickers
- Carmen: Act 2 Scene IV: Halte là featuring Jon Vickers
