Eric Tappy
Encyclopedia
Eric Tappy is a Swiss
opera
tic tenor
.
Tappy studied with Fernando Carpi at the Geneva
Conservatory and Ernst Reichert in Salzburg
. He made his concert debut in Strasbourg
in 1959 as the Evangelist in the St. Matthew Passion. He made his American
debut as Don Ottavio at the San Francisco Opera
in 1974. That same year, the tenor first appeared at Covent Garden
, in the name part of La clemenza di Tito.
Among his recordings are L'Orfeo (1968), Pelléas et Mélisande (conducted by Armin Jordan
, 1979), and Die Zauberflöte (opposite Ileana Cotrubaş
as Pamina with Zdzisława Donat as the Queen of Night, conducted by James Levine
, 1980). Tappy was also featured in two films by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
: L'incoronazione di Poppea (conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt
, 1979) and La clemenza di Tito (with Tatiana Troyanos
and Carol Neblett
, 1979).
Tappy was known for his wide range of concert and opera repertoire. He retired in 1982.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tic tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
.
Tappy studied with Fernando Carpi at the Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
Conservatory and Ernst Reichert in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
. He made his concert debut in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
in 1959 as the Evangelist in the St. Matthew Passion. He made his American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
debut as Don Ottavio at the San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
in 1974. That same year, the tenor first appeared at Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
, in the name part of La clemenza di Tito.
Among his recordings are L'Orfeo (1968), Pelléas et Mélisande (conducted by Armin Jordan
Armin Jordan
Armin Jordan , was a Swiss conductor known for his interpretations of French music, Mozart and Wagner.Armin Jordan was born in Lucerne, Switzerland. "Mr...
, 1979), and Die Zauberflöte (opposite Ileana Cotrubaş
Ileana Cotrubas
Ileana Cotrubaş is a Romanian opera soprano whose career spanned from the 1960s to the 1980s. She was much admired for her acting skills and facility for singing opera in many different languages.-Biography:...
as Pamina with Zdzisława Donat as the Queen of Night, conducted by James Levine
James Levine
James Lawrence Levine is an American conductor and pianist. He is currently the music director of the Metropolitan Opera and former music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Levine's first performance conducting the Metropolitan Opera was on June 5, 1971, and as of May 2011 he has...
, 1980). Tappy was also featured in two films by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Jean-Pierre Ponnelle was a noted French opera director.-Biography:Ponnelle was born in Paris. He studied philosophy, art, and history there and, in 1952, began his career in Germany as a theatre designer for Hans Werner Henze's opera Boulevard Solitude...
: L'incoronazione di Poppea (conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Nikolaus Harnoncourt is an Austrian conductor, particularly known for his historically informed performances of music from the Classical era and earlier. Starting out as a classical cellist, he founded his own period instrument ensemble in the 1950s, and became a pioneer of the Early Music movement...
, 1979) and La clemenza di Tito (with Tatiana Troyanos
Tatiana Troyanos
Tatiana Troyanos was an American mezzo-soprano of Greek and German descent.-Early life:...
and Carol Neblett
Carol Neblett
Carol Neblett is an American operatic soprano.-Life and career:Neblett studied at the University of California, Los Angeles, and in 1969, made her operatic debut with the New York City Opera, playing the part of Musetta in Puccini's La bohème...
, 1979).
Tappy was known for his wide range of concert and opera repertoire. He retired in 1982.