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Jon Vickers

Legends of Lyric Tenor

Bio

Jon Vickers

The Canadian tenor Jon Vickers (1926 – 2015) riveted audiences with the blazing intensity of his portrayals. He was memorable in every performance he gave at Lyric in 10 roles during 13 seasons. Nearly all of them were among the most formidable roles in the repertoire and were signature roles for Vickers, from Otello and Tristan to Samson and Peter Grimes. His voluminous sound and his consuming involvement in his characterizations made him a unique, enormously sought-after artist worldwide.

Listen to George Preston’s tribute to Jon Vickers:

Jon Vickers's Roles at Lyric

1960

Siegmund
Die Walküre
Richard Wagner
Nov. 21

1961

Andrea Chénier
Andrea Chenier
Umberto Giordano
Oct. 20, 25, 28

Florestan
Fidelio
Ludwig von Beethoven
Nov. 13, 17, 22

1963

Riccardo
Un ballo in maschera
Giuseppe Verdi
Oct. 18

Florestan
Fidelio
Ludwig von Beethoven
Oct. 23, 26; Nov. 1

Otello
Otello
Giuseppe Verdi
Nov. 2, 8, 13

1965

Samson
Samson et Dalila
Camille Saint-Saëns
Nov. 3, 5, 8, 13

1966

Otello
Otello
Giuseppe Verdi
Oct. 10, 14, 19, 22

Soloist
Callas: An International Celebration
Dec. 11

1974

Peter Grimes
Peter Grimes
Benjamin Britten
Sept. 30; Oct. 4, 7, 10, 12, 15

1975

Florestan
Fidelio
Ludwig van Beethoven
Oct. 29; Nov. 1, 4, 7, 10, 14

1977

Peter Grimes
Peter Grimes
Benjamin Britten
Oct. 15, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31; Nov. 3 (matinee), 5

Singer
Maria Callas Tribute
Concert
Nov. 1

1979

Tristan
Tristan und Isolde
Richard Wagner
Nov. 15, 20, 26; Dec. 1, 5, 10, 14

1981

Florestan
Fidelio
Ludwig von Beethoven
Nov. 7, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 28; Dec. 1

1982

Tristan
Tristan und Isolde
Richard Wagner
Sept. 20, 25, 29; Oct. 4, 8, 12, 15

Canio
I pagliacci
Ruggiero Leoncavallo
Nov. 3, 6, 9, 13, 16, 19, 22
Chicago presentation by Mrs. Norman R. Hanson.