Stefan Zucker
Encyclopedia
Stefan Zucker is an American
singer, expert on Italian opera and self-described "opera fanatic." He was listed in the 1980 Guinness Book of Records as the "world's highest tenor" for having hit and sustained an A above high C for 3.8 seconds at The Town Hall
in New York City on September 12, 1972.
from the 1970s to 1995. In Jan Schmidt-Garre
's 1998 documentary film of the same name, Zucker travels around Italy interviewing opera diva
s from the 1950s. His interview style and deportment in the film has been much criticized, although his radio show is remembered fondly for its in-depth discussions, diva dishing and many famous singers interviewed, including Franco Corelli
, Grace Bumbry
, Alfredo Kraus
and Jerome Hines
. Zucker has contributed to the International Dictionary of Opera, Opera News, American Record Guide
, Opera Quarterly, Professione Musica and Globe & Mail, among others.
After Columbia University
, which is the owner of WKCR-FM radio, dropped Zucker as the host of "Opera Fanatic" in 1994, he turned his efforts to preserving early opera recordings and films through his nonprofit Bel Canto Society. He talks and sings in Jan Schmidt-Garre's film series "The Tenors of the 78 Era" and has lectured at The Mannes College of Music
in New York City. Zucker has written a number of articles about singing and singers, four of which are collected as The Origins of Modern Tenor Singing, a 16-page booklet consisting of four articles that were originally published in Opera News from 1981 to 1986. The articles focus on Gioachino Rossini, castrato
s and florid singing; the David family of tenors plus Andrea Nozzari
; Giovanni Battista Rubini
; Gilbert Duprez
and the high C "from the chest." These articles trace the development, as understood by Zucker, of tenor singing from the 1770s through the mid-19th century to Enrico Caruso.
Zucker and his mother, soprano Rosina Wolf, claim to be the last in a line of singers using the method of singing style taught by Giovanni Battista Rubini. Many people have criticized Zucker's singing, which has a pronounced "bleat" sound. The critic Donal Henahan wrote in The New York Times
, reviewing Zucker in a performance of Bellini
's opera Adelson e Salvini
, that his high notes were like "the scratching of a fingernail on a blackboard." Zucker and his mother produced the first performance of the 1829 final version of that opera.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, expert on Italian opera and self-described "opera fanatic." He was listed in the 1980 Guinness Book of Records as the "world's highest tenor" for having hit and sustained an A above high C for 3.8 seconds at The Town Hall
The Town Hall
The Town Hall is a performance space, located at 123 West 43rd Street, between Sixth Avenue and Broadway, in New York City. It seats approximately 1,500 people.-History:...
in New York City on September 12, 1972.
Life and career
Zucker was the editor of Opera Fanatic magazine and hosted the radio interview program of the same name on WKCR-FM radio in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from the 1970s to 1995. In Jan Schmidt-Garre
Jan Schmidt-Garre
-Biography:Jan Schmidt-Garre studied philosophy at the Hochschule für Philosophie der Jesuiten in Munich from 1982 to 1986...
's 1998 documentary film of the same name, Zucker travels around Italy interviewing opera diva
Diva
A diva is a celebrated female singer. The term is used to describe a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, and, by extension, in theatre, cinema and popular music. The meaning of diva is closely related to that of "prima donna"....
s from the 1950s. His interview style and deportment in the film has been much criticized, although his radio show is remembered fondly for its in-depth discussions, diva dishing and many famous singers interviewed, including Franco Corelli
Franco Corelli
Franco Corelli was a famous Italian tenor who had a major international opera career between 1951 and 1976. Associated in particular with the spinto and dramatic tenor roles of the Italian repertory, he was celebrated universally for his powerhouse voice, electrifying top notes, clear timbre, a...
, Grace Bumbry
Grace Bumbry
Grace Bumbry , an American opera singer, is considered one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation, as well as a major soprano for many years...
, Alfredo Kraus
Alfredo Kraus
Alfredo Kraus Trujillo was a distinguished Spanish tenor of partly Austrian descent, particularly known for the artistry he brought to opera's bel canto roles...
and Jerome Hines
Jerome Hines
The American Jerome A. Hines was a basso opera singer who performed at the Metropolitan Opera from 1946 to 1987...
. Zucker has contributed to the International Dictionary of Opera, Opera News, American Record Guide
American Record Guide
The American Record Guide is a classical music magazine. It has reviewed classical music recordings since 1935.Since 1992, with the incorporation of the Musical America editorial functions into ARG, it started covering concerts, musicians, ensembles and orchestras in the US.The magazine prides...
, Opera Quarterly, Professione Musica and Globe & Mail, among others.
After Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, which is the owner of WKCR-FM radio, dropped Zucker as the host of "Opera Fanatic" in 1994, he turned his efforts to preserving early opera recordings and films through his nonprofit Bel Canto Society. He talks and sings in Jan Schmidt-Garre's film series "The Tenors of the 78 Era" and has lectured at The Mannes College of Music
Mannes College of Music
Mannes College The New School for Music is The New School university's music conservatory. While the university's main campus is located in Greenwich Village, New York City, Mannes maintains its main academic building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan....
in New York City. Zucker has written a number of articles about singing and singers, four of which are collected as The Origins of Modern Tenor Singing, a 16-page booklet consisting of four articles that were originally published in Opera News from 1981 to 1986. The articles focus on Gioachino Rossini, castrato
Castrato
A castrato is a man with a singing voice equivalent to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto voice produced either by castration of the singer before puberty or one who, because of an endocrinological condition, never reaches sexual maturity.Castration before puberty prevents a boy's...
s and florid singing; the David family of tenors plus Andrea Nozzari
Andrea Nozzari
Andrea Nozzari was an Italian tenor.Nozzari was born in Vertova and studied in Bergamo and Rome. He is notable for the principal roles written for him by Gioachino Rossini and mostly premiered in Domenico Barbaia's theatres in Naples...
; Giovanni Battista Rubini
Giovanni Battista Rubini
Giovanni Battista Rubini was an Italian tenor, as famous in his time as Enrico Caruso in a later day. His ringing and expressive coloratura dexterity in the highest register of his voice, the tenorino, inspired the writing of operatic roles which today are almost impossible to cast...
; Gilbert Duprez
Gilbert Duprez
Gilbert Duprez was a French tenor, singing teacher and minor composer who famously pioneered the delivery of the operatic high C from the chest. He also created the role of Edgardo in the popular bel canto-era opera Lucia di Lammermoor in 1835.-Biography:Gilbert-Louis Duprez, to give his full...
and the high C "from the chest." These articles trace the development, as understood by Zucker, of tenor singing from the 1770s through the mid-19th century to Enrico Caruso.
Zucker and his mother, soprano Rosina Wolf, claim to be the last in a line of singers using the method of singing style taught by Giovanni Battista Rubini. Many people have criticized Zucker's singing, which has a pronounced "bleat" sound. The critic Donal Henahan wrote in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, reviewing Zucker in a performance of Bellini
Vincenzo Bellini
Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini was an Italian opera composer. His greatest works are I Capuleti ed i Montecchi , La sonnambula , Norma , Beatrice di Tenda , and I puritani...
's opera Adelson e Salvini
Adelson e Salvini
Adelson e Salvini is a three act opera semiseria composed by Vincenzo Bellini from a libretto by Andrea Leone Tottola. The opera was based on the 1772 novel Épreuves du Sentiment by François-Thomas-Marie de Baculard d'Arnaud, and it draws on a previously performed play by Prospère...
, that his high notes were like "the scratching of a fingernail on a blackboard." Zucker and his mother produced the first performance of the 1829 final version of that opera.