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Antonio Pappano

Mark Cooper

David Jeffcock

Dominic Best

Jose Carreras

Thomas Allen

Juan Diego Florez

Jonas Kaufmann

Pappano's Classical Voices: Episode 2: Tenor

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Tenor

Episode 2

Episode 2: Tenor

Pappano's Classical Voices

BBC Four - Pappano's Classical Voices, Tenor

Antonio Pappano explores the great tenor roles and singers of the last 100 years.

Antonio Pappano explores the great roles and the greatest singers through the prism of the main voice types. He continues with the tenor, opera's glamour boy.

Series in which conductor Sir Antonio Pappano (music director of the Royal Opera House since 2002) explores the great roles and the greatest singers of the last hundred years through the prism of the main classical voice types - soprano, tenor, mezzo-soprano, baritone and bass. Through discussion, demonstrations and workshops, Pappano explores every aspect of the art of great singing. 

The tenor is opera's glamour boy, the king of the high Cs, the leading man. Whether the tragic hero or the young romantic lead, whether dramatic or lyric, the tenor usually gets the girl, even if they rarely live happily ever after. Antonio examines the techniques behind the bravura performances, featuring great tenors such as Enrico Caruso, Luciano Pavarotti, Franco Corelli, Fritz Wunderlich, Jon Vickers, Peter Pears and Mario Lanza. 

With contributions from leading tenors of today - Jonas Kaufmann, Juan Diego Florez and Jose Carreras - and a voice lesson from Thomas Allen, Antonio seeks out the tricks of the trade. How does a tenor 'colour' his voice? Why do his high notes provoke an animal response in audiences? How does he sing from bottom to top of his two-octave range without seeming to change gear? Why did the tenor only come centre stage in the 1830s? Why is Enrico Caruso still regarded as the greatest and most influential tenor ever? And what does it do to your nerves to sing a high C?

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The greatest opera singers seen through the prism of the main classical voice types.

Sir Antonio Pappano explores the great roles and the greatest singers of the last 100 years through the prism of the main classical voice types - soprano, tenor, mezzo-soprano, baritone and bass.

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