European tenors: the great tenors of Europe and the Italian school of bel canto
The great European tenors were born in Madrid and Barcelona, in Stockholm and Munich, in Copenhagen, Vienna and Dublin. They spoke different languages, but almost all of them shared one: the Italian of opera. Rodolfo, Cavaradossi, the Duke of Mantua, Radamès, Calaf: the roles that made Europe's tenors famous were written by Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti and Bellini, and the technique they sang them with is that of Italian bel canto.
This page tells the story of the European tenors who made opera history, country by country, and of the school they come from. For the tenors born in Italy, from Caruso to Pavarotti, there is a dedicated page on Italian tenors.
The Italian school, the common language of Europe's tenors
Opera was born in Italy at the beginning of the 17th century and from here it spread to every court and theatre in Europe. For two centuries, singing opera meant, almost everywhere, singing in Italian and studying with Italian teachers. Conservatories all over the world still teach Italian arias as the foundation of the tenor repertoire, and the words of music, legato, piano, forte, crescendo, are Italian.
The great European tenors
Spain
- Plácido Domingo (Madrid, 1941): one of the most versatile tenors in history, with a repertoire of more than 150 roles, from Verdi and Puccini to Wagner. One of the Three Tenors together with Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras.
- José Carreras (Barcelona, 1946): a lyric voice of great warmth, celebrated in Puccini and Verdi. After overcoming leukaemia in the late 1980s he returned to the stage and created a foundation for research against the disease.
- Alfredo Kraus (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 1927 - Madrid, 1999): a model of elegance and vocal longevity, unrivalled in Werther, Lucia di Lammermoor and La traviata.
France
- Roberto Alagna (Clichy-sous-Bois, 1963): French, of a Sicilian family, one of the best-known tenors of his generation, loved in French and Italian opera alike.
Germany and Austria
- Richard Tauber (Linz, 1891 - London, 1948): the great tenor of operetta, closely linked to Franz Lehár, and a refined Mozart singer.
- Fritz Wunderlich (Kusel, 1930 - 1966): a crystal-clear voice, still a benchmark for Mozart and for Lieder, despite a career cut short at just 35.
- Jonas Kaufmann (Munich, 1969): a dark, baritonal voice, one of the most sought-after tenors of our time, from Wagner to Puccini and Verdi.
The Nordic countries
- Jussi Björling (Sweden, 1911 - 1960): called "the Swedish Caruso", one of the best-loved tenors of the 20th century in Puccini and Verdi.
- Nicolai Gedda (Stockholm, 1925 - 2017): a master of languages and styles, able to sing opera in a great many languages with flawless diction.
- Lauritz Melchior (Copenhagen, 1890 - 1973): the most famous Heldentenor, the heroic tenor of Wagner's great roles.
Ireland, Poland and Malta
- John McCormack (Athlone, 1884 - 1945): an Irish tenor, a recording star of the early 20th century, much loved in folk songs too.
- Piotr Beczała (Poland, 1966): one of the most admired lyric tenors in the international opera houses, from Verdi to French opera.
- Joseph Calleja (Malta, 1978): a voice with an old-world colour, often compared to the great tenors of the past, just a few miles from Sicily.
The Italian tenors, the cradle
Alongside these names are those who gave the world the model of the tenor: Enrico Caruso, Beniamino Gigli, Tito Schipa, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Mario Del Monaco, Franco Corelli, Carlo Bergonzi, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli. Their stories, and those of the Sicilian tenors, are told on the page about Italian tenors.
What kind of tenor? The voices of Europe
- Light lyric tenor (tenore di grazia): agile and bright, for Rossini, Donizetti and Mozart. Examples: Alfredo Kraus, Fritz Wunderlich.
- Lyric tenor: full and singing, for Puccini and Verdi. Examples: José Carreras, Jussi Björling, Piotr Beczała.
- Spinto and dramatic tenor: more powerful, for roles such as Otello. Examples: Plácido Domingo, Jonas Kaufmann.
- Heldentenor: the heroic tenor of the German tradition, for Wagner. Example: Lauritz Melchior.
An Italian tenor to hear live: Corrado Ilarion Tuccitto
Hearing a tenor at the opera house is one thing; hearing him up close, in a church, a historic villa or at a gala dinner, is a different emotion. Corrado Ilarion Tuccitto, known as Ilarion, is a Sicilian lyric tenor and composer trained at the Conservatory of Caltanissetta, whom those who have heard him live call "the Bocelli of the South".
- Repertoire: opera arias, Italian song, Neapolitan classics, serenades and Sicilian music, sacred music and his own original compositions.
- Languages: he sings in Italian, English, Spanish and Greek, for an international audience.
- Abroad too: he travels to sing live at weddings, gala dinners, concerts and events: Italian tenor for events in Europe.
- Composer: he writes original music on commission, with meetings that can also take place remotely, from any country, and custom wedding songs.
For those coming to Italy from all over Europe for a wedding, a luxury event or a trip, there is a page for couples getting married in Italy from abroad and one for wedding planners and event managers.
Tell Ilarion about your event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the most famous European tenors?
Among the best known: the Spaniards Plácido Domingo, José Carreras and Alfredo Kraus, the Swede Jussi Björling, Nicolai Gedda, the Dane Lauritz Melchior, the Germans Fritz Wunderlich and Jonas Kaufmann, the Austrian Richard Tauber, the Frenchman Roberto Alagna, the Pole Piotr Beczała and the Maltese Joseph Calleja. And, of course, the great Italian tenors, from Caruso to Pavarotti.
Why do tenors all over Europe sing in Italian?
Because opera was born in Italy and for two centuries it was sung almost everywhere in Italian. The great tenor roles were written mainly by Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti and Bellini, and the reference technique is that of Italian bel canto.
Who were the Three Tenors?
Luciano Pavarotti, from Italy, and the Spaniards Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. Their first concert together was held at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome in 1990.
Who was called "the Swedish Caruso"?
Jussi Björling (1911-1960), one of the best-loved tenors of the 20th century, celebrated above all in Puccini and Verdi.
What is a Heldentenor?
It is the "heroic tenor" of the German tradition: a powerful, enduring voice suited to Wagner's great roles. The most famous was the Dane Lauritz Melchior.
Are there European tenors of Sicilian origin?
Yes: the French tenor Roberto Alagna comes from a Sicilian family, and Salvatore Licitra, also from a Sicilian family, was born in Switzerland. The Sicilian tenors are covered on the page about Italian tenors.
Where can I hear an Italian tenor live?
Corrado Ilarion Tuccitto, known as Ilarion, a Sicilian tenor and composer, sings live in Sicily, in Calabria, on the Amalfi Coast, on Lake Como, in Tuscany and in Venice: weddings, gala dinners, concerts and corporate events. He sings in Italian, English, Spanish and Greek.
Can I commission a piece from Ilarion from another European country?
Yes: meetings can also take place remotely, so a piece can be commissioned from any country. Ilarion writes the lyrics in Italian or English and delivers the recording and, on request, the sheet music.