How, exactly, does one know that he is a “light lyric tenor,” or a “Spinto tenor,” or a “dramatic tenor”? Is there like, a Tenor Task Team? Two members of the Texas Tenors – JC Fisher and John Hagen – teach the types of tenor to us. We also learn about “classical crossover” music and why it is a gateway drug, turning innocent classical music newbies into addicts by the thousands.

By the way, if you like this episode, check out the Texas Tenors on Houston Public Media TV 8 Monday August 7, 2017 (local PBS show times here).

Music in this episode:

• “La donna è mobile”, by The Three Tenors, from the Three Tenors in Concert, Los Angeles (1994)
• “Celeste Aida”, by Giuseppe Verdi, performed by Giuseppe Giacomini
• Tosca, by Giacomo Puccini, performed by Luciano Pavarotti (James Levine on piano)
• Otello, by Giuseppe Verdi, performed by Placido Domingo
• “Principe più non se” from La Cenerentola by Gioachino Rossini, performed by Juan Diego Florez with Los Angeles Philharmonic
• “Vesti la Giubba” from Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo, performed by Luciano Pavarotti
• La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini, performed Andrea Bocelli
• “Nessun Dorma” from Turandot by Giacomo Puccini, performed by Franco Corelli
• “Nessun Dorma” from Turandot by Giacomo Puccini, performed by the Texas Tenors

Audio production by Todd “Tenortastic” Hulslander with scads of squillo from Dacia Clay.