Episode 407. Get to Know Eric Tappy
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Swiss tenor Eric Tappy (19 May 1931 – 11 June 2024) excelled in so many different musical styles, eras, and genres, that when one considers his artistic achievement systematically, as a whole, one is positively stunned at all that he achieved, and that within a relatively short international career that extended barely 20 years. In addition, at the beginning of his career, his voice was that of a light lyric tenor, but gradually he came to sing heavier roles such as Idomeneo and Tito. The episode considers his biography and the trajectory of that career, touching upon his opera and concert work which ranged from early Baroque through contemporary. For the first ten years of his adult life, he worked as a teacher, gradually gaining enough exposure that he was able to fully devote himself to his singing career after he won several international singing competitions. Tappy is heard in the episode in concert work of Bach, Berlioz, Haydn, and contemporary Dutch composer Rudolf Escher; art songs by both Franz Schubert and Lili Boulanger; and operas by Monteverdi, Gounod, Mozart, and Debussy (his Pelléas was as legendary as his Monteverdi and Mozart impersonations). In addition, Tappy is heard in live and radio recordings of work by his fellow Swiss compatriots Arthur Honegger, Frank Martin, Constantin Régamey, and Hermann Suter. Guest singers include Countermelody favorites Ileana Cotrubaș, Rachel Yakar, Hugues Cuénod, Edda Moser, and Gino Quilico; musical collaborators include Ernest Ansermet, Michel Corboz, Nino Sanzogno, John Pritchard, Armin Jordan, Hans Münch (brother of Charles), Colin Davis, Hans Vonk, and Jean Françaix, among others. Prepare to be surprised and delighted by this great singer, who ended his active singing career at the age of only 50 but who continued as a formative and beloved teacher well into his old age.
As promised on the episode, click here for the link to Grands Entretiens: Eric Tappy interviewed by Catherine Unger, first aired 03 April 2003 on RTV [Radio Télévision Suisse].
Also, Eric Tappy’s daughter, Nicola Tappy Mori, has given me permission to share with you a beautiful collage that she produced last year, based on her father’s performance of Tamino in Die Zauberflöte / La Flûte enchantée.
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
Hermann Suter, Francis of Assisi: Altissimo onnipotente, bon Signore [Introduzione] (Le Laudi di San Francesco d’Assisi). Eric Tappy, Hans Münch, Orchester der Basler Orchester-Gesellschaft, Basler Gesangsverein [1968]
Claudio Monteverdi, Alessandro Striggio: Possente spirto (L’Orfeo). Eric Tappy, Michel Corboz, Ensemble Instrumental de Lausanne [1967]
Charles Gounod, Jules Barbier, Michel Carré [after Molière]: Est-on sage dans le bel age? (Le medecin malgré lui). Eric Tappy, Nino Sanzogno, Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma della RAI [Roma 22.VII.61]
Frank Martin: Ha, ha! Jésus, notre adversaire (Pilate). Eric Tappy, Ernest Ansermet, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande [live Genève 02.XI.66]
Johann Sebastian Bach: Deine Güte, dein Erbarmen (Meine Seele rühmt und preist, BWV 189). Eric Tappy, Jean-Jacques Rapin, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne [live Lausanne 05.III.78]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giambattista Varesco [after Antoine Danchet]: Vedrommi intorno (Idomeneo). Eric Tappy, John Pritchard, San Francisco Opera Orchestra [live 23.IX.77]
Claude Debussy, Maurice Maeterlinck: Oui, c’est ici nous y sommes (Pelléas et Mélisande). Eric Tappy, Rachel Yakar, Armin Jordan, Orchestre National de l’Opéra de Monte-Carlo [1981]
Franz Schubert, Wilhelm Müller: Die schöne Müllerin, D.795. Eric Tappy, Ruben Lifschitz. [live Hilversum 14.I.74]. Two excerpts:
- XVI. Die liebe Farbe
- XVII. Die böse Farbe
Lili Boulanger, Francis Jammes: Clairières dans le ciel. Eric Tappy, Jean Françaix [1967]. Two excerpts:
- I. Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie
- XIII. Demain fera un an
Rudolf Escher, Arthur Rimbaud: Univers de Rimbaud. Eric Tappy, Hans Vonk, Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra [live 1977]. Spoken Introduction by Harry Kliphuis and three excerpts:
- I. Le mal
- III. L’étoile a pleuré rose
- V. Ma bohème [Fantaisie]
Hector Berlioz: Le repos de la Sainte Famille (L’Enfance du Christ, Op. 25). Eric Tappy, Colin Davis, London Symphony Orchestra, John Alldis Choir [1977]
Joseph Haydn, Gottfried van Swieten [after James Thomson]: Welch’ ein Glück ist treue Liebe! (Die Jahreszeiten). Eric Tappy, Edda Moser, Armin Jordan, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne [1980]
Arthur Honegger, René Morax: Ne crains rien (Le Roi David). Eric Tappy, Ensemble conducted by Charles Dutoit [1973]
Melchior Gletle: Stella coeli. Eric Tappy, Hugues Cuénod, Ensemble Baroque de Lausanne [Christiane Jacottet, Marçal Cervera] [early 1960s]
Constantin Régamey: Alpha [excerpt]. Eric Tappy, Armin Jordan, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande [1970]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Emanuel Schikaneder: Tamino mein! O welch ein Glück! (Die Zauberflöte). Ileana Cotrubaș, Eric Tappy, Karl Terkal, Helge von Bömches, James Levine, Wiener Philharmoniker [1980]
Claudio Monteverdi, Alessandro Striggio: Saliam cantand’ al cielo (L’Orfeo). Eric Tappy, Gino Quilico, Michel Corboz, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon [1986]
