Thomas Allen, baritone

[Derek McGovern]

Does anyone here share my enthusiasm for the great British baritone Thomas Allen? I've always loved his voice. It may not have, say, Robert Merrill's exceptional timbre, but as a sound it's impressive nonetheless: rich lower register, bright top. A very satisfying voice. More than anything else, though, I love what Allen brings to his singing. A very intelligent artist, words are everything to him, and well into his 60s he remains a compelling stage presence (as his Spoleto Gianni Schicchi -- directed by Woody Allen! -- recently revealed).

Here he is at the age of 38 singing the role of Marcello in the memorable 1982 Covent Garden production of La Bohème:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNVQgMHHaDE "O Mimì, Tu Più Non Torni" (with Neil Shicoff)

Six years later, as a suitably dangerous Don Giovanni (along with Billy Budd, one of Allen's signature roles):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q40a23gfxZE&feature=related "La Ci Darem la Mano" (the duet proper starts at 2:06)

And in concert in 2004 singing the hilarious "Where is the Life that Late I Led?" from Kiss Me, Kate. At 60, the voice may be a little frayed in places, but what a performer! I love this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc8EGDsgDCM

Incidentally, Thomas Allen is a big Lanza fan, and has cited him as one of his major influences.

[Derek McGovern]

A post from Shawn (inadvertently deleted when I rewrote the opening post in this thread; sorry, Shawn!):

I was not aware he was a Lanza fan, nice to know. I like him a good deal, just the other day I was watching an episode of a short lived and amusing tv series from 2000, "Aria and pasta," in which a famous opera singer is semi-interviewed, and cooks/partakes of some pasta dish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtyUttOAVMM

Thomas Allen was one of the participants.... very nice fellow. And I do like his singing.

His "Deh vieni alla finestra" from "Don Giovanni" was the first rendition I ever heard of the aria- not this version, but hey- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSTWQkLD3oA

Others have sung it more suavely, but I think he conveys the Don's thinly veiled two-facedness (for lack of a better word) rather well. Nice voice.

[Savage]

Derek,
The voice is rich and warm. It's a case of love at first listen!

David

[Derek McGovern]

Hi David: Glad you enjoyed Allen. Here's another of his recordings that you may like: Sea Fever. This is the famous poem by John Masefield and set to music by John Ireland. I've always felt that Allen excels at British song, and this recording is no exception.

[Derek McGovern]

The following message is from Jan:

What a lovely voice he has and that is an excellent interpretation of Sea Fever.

Jan

PS. I can now see to type again after eye surgery. It's good to be back.

Great to have you back, Jan! I was just thinking about you yesterday, and was hoping that you'd sorted out your eyes :)

By the way, don't forget that when you want to reply to a post, simply click on "Post reply" and then write your message. That's if you're visiting the forum itself. Alternatively, if you're replying by email, just click on "reply". Don't type in the subject heading, though, or you'll create a new discussion. 

Cheers
Derek

[leeann]

Thanks for this reference to Thomas Allen! What a magnficent voice and evocative rendition of the Masefield poem. I am glad Shawn pointed to the Aria and Pasta series on a weekend. I got thoroughly sucked in until the wee hours. YouTube has interviews with Ben Heppner, Derek Lee Ragin, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and more. Even in these brief interviews it was interesting to see how the interviewed persona--and musical intelligence--of each singer is reflected in their singing and stage presence. For example, Heppner's such a great combination of robust heartiness, humor, and depth; Derek Lee Ragin, the countertenor more measured and ordered,  like the Baroque music he is known for. 

But as an aside. In the unlikely event of an invitation to Thomas Allen's home for pasta, I might suggest a restaurant instead.  Best, Lee Ann

[Lou]

Hi Derek: I, too, feel that Tom Allen is at his very best in British song. Comparing forms of singing to track and field athletics, he himself says that British songs are his "natural distance", and that they are where he belongs. It seems that the need to make a living pointed him towards opera although he had no overriding passion to sing it. That doesn't change the fact that he is an outstandingly accomplished operatic singing actor. I find him especially moving in the eponymous role of Billy Budd, Britten's gripping opera of sadism and injustice on
the high seas . Here he is singing "Billy in the Darbies," an almost unbearably poignant monologue from the 1988 English National Opera production, while awaiting his execution at dawn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY1QOYHUE-Y .  At 44, he may be a bit too old and experienced to be the naive and guileless Billy Budd (this is actually his last performance in the role), but with singing like this, who cares?
Cheers,
Lou