{"id":94244,"date":"2026-08-28T14:08:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T19:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/?p=94244"},"modified":"2026-08-29T01:11:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T06:11:36","slug":"richard-tucker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/richard-tucker\/","title":{"rendered":"Richard Tucker"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI JOSEPH H. PROUSER<\/p>\n

Richard Tucker, born 113 years ago today, was both a gifted Cantor and, over three decades, the New York Metropolitan Opera Company\u2019s leading American tenor. While starring at the Met, he continued to serve as a Holiday Hazzan.<\/p>\n

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Together with the iconic Maria Callas, Tucker appeared in Aida \u2013 one of the first operatic performances to be broadcast on national television. He also appeared, inter alia<\/em>, in Madama Butterfly, Pagliacci, and (with Franco Corelli) in Cavalleria Rusticana.<\/p>\n

Despite their obvious ethnic and religious differences, Luciano Pavarotti wrote that, \u201cFor me, Richard Tucker was, and always will be an \u2018Italian\u2019 tenor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Richard Tucker died unexpectedly at age 61, while on a concert tour with Robert Merrill. His funeral was held on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House \u2013 the first and only singer to be accorded that honor.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lord put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God. May many see it and stand in awe\u201d (Psalm 40:4).<\/p>\n

Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the editor of \u201cMasorti: The New Journal of Conservative Judaism.\u201d The latest edition of Masorti published in the summer of 2026 and honors the American Sestercentennial. A subscription is $18 per annum. Print copies are available from Ben Yehuda Press and Amazon.<\/em><\/p>\n

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