An American tenor in Paris dies, aged 77
RIPWe have been notified of the death of Howard Crook, a lyric tenor from Rutherford, New Jersey, who became a staple of the early-music scene in Paris.
He appeared in operas by Lully, Rameau, Haydn and Mozart and recorded with such conductors as John Eliot Gardiner, Trevor Pinnock, Roger Norrington, William Christie and Marc Minkowski.
Amazing recordings of 15th century repertoire with Alexander Blachly, on the Nonesuch label. Beautiful voice.
Lovely performance on the Hyperion recording of Boyce’s Solomon.
Saddened to read this. He made a great contribution to two Virgin Classics recordings with the Collegium Vocale and Philippe Herreweghe in the late 80s, a Christmas Oratorio and a B Minor Mass
Howard was my first cousin and will be so missed. We grew up together as kids in New Jersey.
I’m sorry for your loss.
I listened again to the first two parts of the Christmas Oratorio recording this morning. As the Administrator of VCL I co-ordinated the sessions for a very large number of cds, and I can honestly say that this is among my top five favourites. As the tenor, your cousin had the all-important part of the evangelist.
He also sang with great distinction in a slightly earlier recording made by the Collegium Vocale, Bach’s St John Passion, for Harmonia Mundi (recorded 1987).
Sorry to learn about this. A wonderful singer.
I was saddened to read of the passing of Howard. We were students together in the studio of William Miller at the University of Illlinois. Our lives diverged when he moved to the Netherlands, but I was so pleased to read of his extended success. He possessed a naturally beautiful voice early on that reflected the beautiful person he was.
I did not know that he had also been a student of Mr. Miller…
Goodbye brother, sorry we lost contact for the last 30 years.
Howard Crook had an extraordinary, natural and such a beautiful voice. I can exactly remember when I heard him singing for the first time: in a radio live broadcasted performance of the St Matthew Passion of Bach – Good Friday 1985 under direction of Philippe Herreweghe. As member of Westerkerkkoor Amsterdam I had the pleasure to perform with Howard Crook a few times: in 1990 in the Christmas Oratorio and in 2003 in the St John Passion of Bach under direction of Jan Pasveer.
A singer with great performance skills, diction and timing. Above all, a man which a sympathetic appearance. May Howard Crook rest in peace.
Remko Bos – Haarlem
The Netherlands
A small comment in addition: tonight I remembered the first time I heard Howard Crook singing: it was not in 1985 (although also an extraordinary radio experience) but still earlier: in 1983 or 1984 in the St Matthew Passion of Bach by the Nederlandse Bachvereniging in Aardenburg – The Netherlands, two weeks before Easter. He was singing right from the pulpit in his role as Evangelist!