James McCracken

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James McCracken (December 16, 1926 – April 29, 1988) was an American operatic tenor. At the time of his death The New York Times stated that McCracken was "the most successful dramatic tenor yet produced by the United States and a pillar of the Metropolitan Opera during the 1960s and 1970s. Born in Gary, Indiana, McCracken's earliest musical experiences were singing in his church choir as a child. While he was in the US Navy during World War II, he sang in the Blue Jacket Choir. He studied music at Columbia University and with Elsa Seyfert in Konstanz, Germany, and then with Joyce McLean in New York City until his death. McCracken made his professional opera debut in 1952 with the Central City Opera in Colorado as Rodolfo in Puccini's La bohème. He sang minor roles at the Metropolitan Opera from 1953 to 1957, while he was still a student. In 1957, he moved to Europe and made his debut at the Vienna State Opera. He had great success with the Zürich Opera. Otello was one of his signature roles. Starting in 1963, he became one of the Met's principal dramatic tenors. New productions that starred James McCracken were Otello (1963 and 1972), Carmen (1972), Aida (directed by John Dexter, 1976), Le prophete (1977) and Tannhaeuser (1978, his only leading Wagnerian role). Feeling slighted about being passed over for the September 1978 telecast of Otello, McCracken walked out on the Met, only to return to a rousing ovation in October 1983 for the Centennial Gala, during which he perform

top songs

albums

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Bizet: Carmen

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100 Best Adagio Voices

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Mozart, W.A.: Zauberflote (Die) [Sung in English] [Opera] (Walter) (1956)

Schoenberg: Gurrelieder

Verdi: Otello

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Voices of Opera: Tenors

Verdi - Otello

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The Leonard Bernstein Collection - Volume 1 - Part 3

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Ultimate Opera CD2

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McCracken On Stage

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100 Best Opera Classics [Disc 3]

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puccini favourites

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