Kenneth Collins: whatever happened to him?
GRNDPADAVE
City Hall, J & R Records. They had a wonderful selection of VOCE Records
featuring original versions of Verdi's operas. I managed to acquire all of
them and they are virtually the only operas I have retained on LP.
Recently I was listening to the 1862 FORZA and I find the tenor, Kenneth
Collins, in outstanding voice. In fact the whole recording is outstanding
except for a sub-par Peter Glossop. Collins' has a heroiic ring and yet a
sweetness. His "O tu che in seno" is among the best I have heard (he's no
sobber).
Another fine tenor in this VOCE series is Andre Turp -- DON CARLOS and the 1867
SIMON BOCCANEGRA. I wonder whatever happened to him?
==G/P Dave
GRNDPADAVE
>1867
>SIMON BOCCANEGRA.
Oops that's the 1857 BOCCANEGRA.
donpaolo
not listened for a while, I recall that he did, indeed, deliver a sound,
solid performance. The voice was true spinto with a nice ring to the top
notes. I have no idea of his current whereabouts or doings.
DonP.
GRNDPADAVE <grndp...@aol.com> wrote in article
<20000326125518...@ng-ba1.aol.com>...
> Many years ago, in my New York days, I used to frequent a record store
near
> City Hall, J & R Records. They had a wonderful selection of VOCE Records
> featuring original versions of Verdi's operas. I managed to acquire all
of
> them and they are virtually the only operas I have retained on LP.
>
> Recently I was listening to the 1862 FORZA and I find the tenor, Kenneth
> Collins, in outstanding voice. In fact the whole recording is
outstanding
> except for a sub-par Peter Glossop. Collins' has a heroiic ring and yet
a
> sweetness. His "O tu che in seno" is among the best I have heard (he's
no
> sobber).
>
> Another fine tenor in this VOCE series is Andre Turp -- DON CARLOS and
the 1867
John Harnedy
GRNDPADAVE's post. Kenneth Collins was indeed a superb spinto tenor and he
was the Manrico in my first ever visit to the opera as a young lad, more
years ago than I care to remember. Despite my having heard all the obvious
greats on record by that time, the thrill of experiencing a voice like this
live was quite overwhelming. I shall never forget hearing his top C hurled
out at the end of 'Di Quella Pira' as he unsheathed his sword and pointed it
straight at the middle of the gallery. I went on to hear him, in Wales, many
times and he will always have a very special place in my memory. Even now,
after years of experiencing much great singing in the flesh, I would still
count him as one of my all time favourite 'live' performers. It will always
be a crying shame that he was not recorded more, but there again, I could go
on about neglect of British singers at some length.
After lengthy 'service' with Welsh National Opera, I believe his career was
focussed in Australia, and should imagine that he has by now retired.
Ian Graham
<donp...@erols.com> writes
>I have somewhere a live FORZA highlight tape with Collins & while I have
>not listened for a while, I recall that he did, indeed, deliver a sound,
>solid performance. The voice was true spinto with a nice ring to the top
>notes. I have no idea of his current whereabouts or doings.
Kenneth Collins was a significant singer in the UK from about the mid
70s to mid 80s. He did some memorable Manricos for ENO, Welsh National
and Scottish Opera. He also enjoyed great success as Chenier for Welsh
National.
I think he went to Australia after his time in the UK.
He was indeed a fine spinto with terrific top notes. He was a much
better Manrico than many big 'names' who I have heard in the part.
IG
--
Ian Graham
GRNDPADAVE
70s to mid 80s. He did some memorable Manricos for ENO, Welsh National
and Scottish Opera. He also enjoyed great success as Chenier for Welsh
National.
I think he went to Australia after his time in the UK.
He was indeed a fine spinto with terrific top notes. He was a much
better Manrico than many big 'names' who I have heard in the part.
IG
--
Ian Graham>>
===============================
Well that is great to hear. Unusual for avoice of this strength there appeared
to be a fine musical brain animating it.
The 1862 FORZA contains one of the rare Verdi-written high C's for tenor.
Collins hits them dead-on.
By the way other British tenors that I fancy -- fairly well known, too -- are
Stuart Burrows (excellent in Mozart) and Richard Lewis (superb in everything).
Nice to know that Collins had a decent career.
Thanks to all who have shared their recollections of an artist who managed to
avoid having a cult following.
==G/P Dave
andre35
We got pipples dere too.
A
donpaolo wrote:
> Any tapes available - oh, oh - the righteous anti-pirate squad is lurking
> & this might very well be my last pos........
>
> See ya in San Quenton!!!!!
>
> DonP.
>
> John Harnedy <Har...@btinternet.com> wrote in article
> <8bm30l$c12$1...@uranium.btinternet.com>...
rkbb
Australia. I gather he is well..I think he sang recently at an Opera
Sustralia function
n 26 Mar 2000 17:55:18 GMT, grndp...@aol.com (GRNDPADAVE) wrote:
>Many years ago, in my New York days, I used to frequent a record store near
>City Hall, J & R Records. They had a wonderful selection of VOCE Records
>featuring original versions of Verdi's operas. I managed to acquire all of
>them and they are virtually the only operas I have retained on LP.
>
>Recently I was listening to the 1862 FORZA and I find the tenor, Kenneth
>Collins, in outstanding voice. In fact the whole recording is outstanding
>except for a sub-par Peter Glossop. Collins' has a heroiic ring and yet a
>sweetness. His "O tu che in seno" is among the best I have heard (he's no
>sobber).
>
>Another fine tenor in this VOCE series is Andre Turp -- DON CARLOS and the 1867
>SIMON BOCCANEGRA. I wonder whatever happened to him?
>
>==G/P Dave
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donpaolo
johno...@my-deja.com
Australia, specialising in some of the heavier tenor roles. I dare say
he would have retired by now.
J
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
David Meadows
>
> Kenneth Collins made a very respectable career for himself in
> Australia, specialising in some of the heavier tenor roles. I dare say
> he would have retired by now.
Nothing has been made official so far as I'm aware, but he's certainly
been actively winding down the career.
His most recent roles (and I'm talking four or five years ago now) have
been new ones to him: Florestan and Otello. I understand that these were
roles he'd always wanted to do, but that he wanted wait until near the
end of his career to attempt them.
I last saw him perform in Melbourne in 1996, as Otello, opposite Malcolm
Donnelly and Joan Carden.
D.M.
If you want to feel superior, watch Jerry Springer.
If you want to *be* superior, read Shakespeare.