Death of international tenor, 93

Death of international tenor, 93

RIP

norman lebrecht

June 14, 2024

We have been notified of the passing on June 11 of the Swiss tenor Eric Tappy.

Born in Lausanne, he sang Tito in Mozart’s Clemenza at Covent Garden in 1974 and Don Ottavio at the San Francisco Opera that same year.

After leaving his mark on several significant recordings and films, Tappy retired in 1982.

photo: Claves Records

Comments

  • Willym says:

    RIP. A wonderful Tamino at Salzburg and a remarkable recitalist.

    • Pedro says:

      Indeed. I heard him there in 78. Gruberova, Cotrubas, Tappy, Boesch, Talvela. Levine conducted. Wonderful production by Ponnelle.

  • Andrew Powell says:

    Troyanos’ breath control here is just wonderful, at the end of a long evening. But Tappy’s work mars hers, I think, for want of style. They are better together in the Levine Clemenza, and Tappy is most effective in the earlier Desarzens Vin herbé.

    • La plus belle voix says:

      How about RIP?

    • Petros Linardos says:

      Come on, this clip is hard to listen to with dry eyes. To me both singers sound deeply musical, even though Troyanos steals the show—in this respect she was a serial offender.

      • Andrew Powell says:

        She was so smart, and so rich of voice, and she doesn’t need Leppard here at all.

        • Antony Beaumont says:

          All this chatter about one clip is irreverent and irrelevant. The world has lost a great artist and a beautiful human being. I had the pleasure of working with Eric Tappy when he was at his prime. He was a great stylist, at home in music as widely spaced across the spectrum as Bach and Chabrier, Handel and Debussy. RIP, Eric Tappy.

          • Jillian Neal says:

            Remembering someone for the wonderful gift they shared and gave to the world is far more decent at this sad time.

    • Joel Kemelhor says:

      Yes, it was in ‘Le Vin Herbe” that I first heard M. Tappy.

  • Ruben Greenberg says:

    A great Mozart singer. rest in peace. Wonderful memories of him in Don Giovanni alongside the likes of Gabriel Bacquier, José Van Damm, Eda Moser and Lisa della Casa.

  • Guus Mostart says:

    I well remember Eric Tappy as a superb Idomeneo for the Netherlands Opera in 1974, with the great Elly Ameling as Ilia, making her operatic debut. Michael Gielen was in the pit and the ravishing production was directed by Filippo Sanjust.

    • Eda says:

      How do you guys remember all these marvellous events? All I can remember about 1974 is studying in Lausanne. Very little money so I missed most of these seriously wonderful artists. At 75 I saw my first Idomeneo last year. Better late than never I suppose.

  • Didier says:

    R.I.P

  • Zenaida says:

    RIP Eric Tappy – unforgettable Tamino in 1980 Zauberflöte with Lucia Popp, Edita Gruberova, Matti Talvela, in the Ponnelle Production at the Salzburger Festspiele with Levine conducting at the Felsenreitschule. Such a fine Mozart singer and gentleman!

  • Charles Lavers says:

    Thank you for the opportunity listening to this duet, and the pleasure of being alive to enjoy this fine recording.

    R.I. P

  • Sanford press says:

    This is so beautiful

  • Sanford press says:

    He looks beautiful here. Omg. I’m So glad a few of you new knew him.

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