Last Thursday was the 50th anniversary of Leonard Warren's tragic death on the stage of the Old Met. With no offense to Merrill fans, I cannot help but feel that Warren was the greatest American baritone of all time. His production had a ring and color that usually one had to travel to Europe to hear. His high notes were the envy of many tenors, yet his voice had a purely baritone timbre. A "baritenor" or "tenortone" he clearly was not. He was positively unique, and positively supreme. Here he is in Rossini's immortal Largo al factotum:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYameVeiRWQ
Photo by Robert Castagna (2008)
About Me
- Leonardo Ciampa
- Boston/Natick, MA, United States
- LEONARDO CIAMPA is an organist, pianist, composer, author, and vocal coach/accompanist and is highly thought of in each of those areas. Ciampa's compositions (which have been called “Neoromantic”) include orchestral, choral, chamber, and solo compositions. As an organ recitalist, Ciampa has made numerous tours of Italy, Austria, and Germany. Currently he is Artistic Director of the MIT Chapel Organ Concerts and Music Director of Christ Lutheran Church in Natick, MA. As a piano recitalist, Ciampa is known for his warm sound and colorful style reminiscent of the Golden Age of Pianists (pre-World War I). He is especially noted for his interpretations of Chopin, whose 200th birthday he commemorated with a series of six recitals in Boston (fall, 2010). Mr. Ciampa's compositions are published exclusively by CIC (http://cicmusica.com).