tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post7887364582326238507..comments2024-03-28T12:59:05.739-07:00Comments on Iron Tongue of Midnight: Jerry HadleyLisa Hirschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-7269028104457463722019-02-12T18:19:55.189-08:002019-02-12T18:19:55.189-08:00My take away is...this is indeed a harsh world at ...My take away is...this is indeed a harsh world at times. None of us have it easy. Jerry shared his gift and love and we are all blessed to have witnessed it. May his beautiful energy glow forever.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06792455011866873933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-44033124046741169432016-10-31T02:43:21.014-07:002016-10-31T02:43:21.014-07:00Thank you for your kind words! And thank you for p...Thank you for your kind words! And thank you for posting all these lovely comments on Jerry Hadley - reading them through gives comfort too. <br />With my very best wishes, SabiSabihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07774398929108903304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-25911637668979654342016-10-30T08:54:36.780-07:002016-10-30T08:54:36.780-07:00I'm very sorry to hear about your tough times;...I'm very sorry to hear about your tough times; I hope that better times arrive for you soon. Glad you've got sources of comfort during the hard times.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-5375369981355134072016-10-30T03:14:42.053-07:002016-10-30T03:14:42.053-07:00I had to go through some tough times in my life re...I had to go through some tough times in my life recently and listening to music, especially to my treasured recordings of Jerry Hadley, helped me to get out of the dark. So I feel I have to post this and thank Jerry for all the joy he gave to other people. <br />He was such a great and talented artist with such a beautiful voice. The way he sang was honest and true I feel. And so it goes straight to your heart and touches you. <br />Unfortunately I never had the chance to see him perform live on stage or meet him in person. But his recordings show his diverse body of work from Broadway to Viennese Operetta, from Mozart to Weill. <br />I’ve read peoples lovely personal comments on Jerry which make me feel that he was an inspiring, kind and modest, highly intelligent, thoughtful, genuine and lovely human being. I wish I would have had the chance to talk to him only once in my life. And right now I just want to thank him for all the comfort he gave to me by his singing during the last few months. <br /><br />Jerry, it’s been more than 9 years now and I still miss you and become deeply sad when I think of what happened to you. You are always in my mind somehow; not only as the phenomenal singer and performer but also as an inspiration.<br />Jerry, thank you for everything you gave to the world. Wherever you are now - people around the world keep thinking of you and listening to your recordings. And you continue to make us happy. <br />Thank you, Jerry, thank you with all of my heart!<br />Good night, sweet prince!<br />A devoted fanSabihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07774398929108903304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-41958579091917012392013-08-20T21:22:15.672-07:002013-08-20T21:22:15.672-07:00My pleasure! He is truly a treasure and it's a...My pleasure! He is truly a treasure and it's amazing how just these reminiscence's brought such joy to the faces of those who remember him with fondness. <br /><br />Also figured I'd drop this off for any stopping by, Jerry Hadley performing "I have dreamed" from the King and I. Additionally, aside from being a remarkable operatic tenor, I would go as far as to say his musical theater portrayals in roles from show boat, west side story, and king and I are the greatest out of any on record (in concert settings, sure, but still vocally few who have performed these roles can come close). Besides, Bernstein doesn't pick you as his Tony for nothing haha.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEOkHmxXCaY<br /><br />Also great stuff on this blog in general!A lifelong fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-76161225371580700392013-08-18T14:43:09.319-07:002013-08-18T14:43:09.319-07:00Thank you so much for your comments and reminiscen...Thank you so much for your comments and reminiscences of Jerry Hadley; greatly appreciated.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-86266769180197593532013-08-18T14:32:04.144-07:002013-08-18T14:32:04.144-07:00Very late to this post as I sit here rather sick o...Very late to this post as I sit here rather sick on this Sunday afternoon, but I figured I'd post my thoughts on Jerry Hadley after seeing many inspiring personal accounts of the man.<br /><br />I began my own journey into classical singing not to long back in highschool and met a teacher of whom I worked with for a year before University. He had worked with Jerry Hadley (actually in his last MET performance, "The Great Gatsby") and often referenced him as an image of beautiful technique. Even as I am myself a Baritone, his middle was rich, unforced, warm, and full of expression and heart. I couldn't get enough of not just listening to the man, but watching him perform on all the youtube videos I could.<br /><br />I would move on to a University where my choral teacher spoke of a time at CCM (where he received his Doctorate) where Hadley had come to sing the tenor solo for an Oratorio or Mass, can't remember what exactly. It was a night performance but my choir teacher reminisced about how funny, charming, and kind he was to everyone (even playfully flirting with some girls, haha!). My favorite part was when said choir teachers friend invited him to his dorm room that night as a joke, saying there was going to be a party. Jerry laughed, jokingly asking for directions and writing them down. Sure enough though, Jerry showed up, and stayed there til about 6am, talking and conversing with everyone, even though he had to sing at 11am that day. I felt this story alone showed a lot about Jerry, Arguably good or bad. (Also he allegedly "Sung brilliantly" that morning at 11 according to my teacher, talk about a vocal freak of nature!).<br /><br />It is such a shame to always come back to the fact that a man so kind, gentle, and insanely talented in a business so brutal and cut throat would take his own life. Though I was too late to the game to ever meet him or thank him for all the beautiful music he created and how many people he touched, I just want to personally thank you Jerry for all the beauty you gave this world, and your performances bring a tear to my eyes even to this day. Bravo, Jerry! And may flights of angels continue to sing you to your rest. A lifelong fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-37116572453990489242010-08-05T15:27:22.087-07:002010-08-05T15:27:22.087-07:00Chrome IS the better browser.Chrome IS the better browser.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-9225269944724040102010-08-05T14:53:52.659-07:002010-08-05T14:53:52.659-07:00No, it was just because my Firefox browser was cra...No, it was just because my Firefox browser was crashing when posting my thoughts. I've tried it twice with firefox and after that I got fed up with it and I posted it with Google Chrome :-)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08332857978894545669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-30106087571151735302010-08-05T14:49:44.012-07:002010-08-05T14:49:44.012-07:00(P. S. If you tried to post more than once because...(P. S. If you tried to post more than once because your comments didn't appear immediately - all comments are moderated, so it took me a few minutes to read and approve your comment.)Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-5657838789021307802010-08-05T14:47:51.132-07:002010-08-05T14:47:51.132-07:00Thanks, Tom, I appreciate those thoughts. At his b...Thanks, Tom, I appreciate those thoughts. At his best, he was a terrific singer. Anyone subscribed to comments from this posting will see what you wrote.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-60926825253085010732010-08-05T14:45:41.383-07:002010-08-05T14:45:41.383-07:00I don't know if anyone is still reading this b...I don't know if anyone is still reading this blog, but I want to say something about Jerry Hadley. My English isn't that good (I'm Belgian) but I'm gonna give it a try :)<br />I learnt about Jerry Hadley and his sad story by watching some youtube videos of "the Messiah", in which he also participated. I was stunned of what I heard! I participated in a performance of the Messiah myself (in the choir of course) and I didn't like the tenor role (or the way it was sung). But when I looked to the videos featuring Jerry and heard his voice and looked at his way of singing, my interest in the tenor role became bigger and bigger, he was amusing himself with singing that role, something I hadn't seen before. I looked for more videos on Youtube (a magnificent website, by the way) and saw a lot of his recordings (e.g. as candide, with the great Bernstein, in West Side Story, the videos where he performs Mozart's requiem, again with bernstein but also the videos of the Liverpool Oratorio and a lot of other things – it is just too much :-) ) by writing this, I see what a versatile artist he was – and still is, through the recordings he made.<br />And with every recording I looked at, I became more and more impressed by his voice and by his singing<br />I’ve seen a lot of footage, but there’s still a lot to see.<br />By watching those videos, I became more and more interested in the story of his life, not only in the musical way, but also in the human way. I’ve seen some footage of him behind the scenes, and what I remark is, that he is just “a man who likes to sing” and not an opera diva, like a lot of opera singers. That’s what I like about him, he was so humane, and you can see it by his singing too… He tries to touch you, and he often succeeds in it. I really admire him; there isn’t a single day that I don’t think about him. Whether it is musically or emotionally, he is always in my mind, somewhere. I’m really, really, really deeply saddened that I haven’t had the chance of talking to him and of course, by what happened to him. He had such problems; it is such a harsh world, the world of opera… It’s more as three years ago now, and I’m still very quiet when I think of him... I really hope he is in a better place now, and I keep on cherishing his recordings.<br />He must have been such a great person to meet and to talk with… It’s just so sad…Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08332857978894545669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-58227244913529040812010-08-05T14:42:20.225-07:002010-08-05T14:42:20.225-07:00I don't know if anyone is still reading this b...I don't know if anyone is still reading this blog, but I want to say something about Jerry Hadley. My English isn't that good (I'm Belgian) but I'm gonna give it a try :)<br />I learnt about Jerry Hadley and his sad story by watching some youtube videos of "the Messiah", in which he also participated. I was stunned of what I heard! I participated in a performance of the Messiah myself (in the choir of course) and I didn't like the tenor role (or the way it was sung). But when I looked to the videos featuring Jerry and heard his voice and looked at his way of singing, my interest in the tenor role became bigger and bigger, he was amusing himself with singing that role, something I hadn't seen before. I looked for more videos on Youtube (a magnificent website, by the way) and saw a lot of his recordings (e.g. as candide, with the great Bernstein, in West Side Story, the videos where he performs Mozart's requiem, again with bernstein but also the videos of the Liverpool Oratorio and a lot of other things – it is just too much :-) ) by writing this, I see what a versatile artist he was – and still is, through the recordings he made.<br />And with every recording I looked at, I became more and more impressed by his voice and by his singing<br />I’ve seen a lot of footage, but there’s still a lot to see.<br />By watching those videos, I became more and more interested in the story of his life, not only in the musical way, but also in the human way. I’ve seen some footage of him behind the scenes, and what I remark is, that he is just “a man who likes to sing” and not an opera diva, like a lot of opera singers. That’s what I like about him, he was so humane, and you can see it by his singing too… He tries to touch you, and he often succeeds in it. I really admire him; there isn’t a single day that I don’t think about him. Whether it is musically or emotionally, he is always in my mind, somewhere. I’m really, really, really deeply saddened that I haven’t had the chance of talking to him and of course, by what happened to him. He had such problems; it is such a harsh world, the world of opera… It’s more as three years ago now, and I’m still very quiet when I think of him... I really hope he is in a better place now, and I keep on cherishing his recordings.<br />He must have been such a great person to meet and to talk with… It’s just so sad…Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08332857978894545669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-37632421893302802822009-08-02T22:50:24.407-07:002009-08-02T22:50:24.407-07:00Thanks for your comments. You might search this bl...Thanks for your comments. You might search this blog for Hadley and take a look at the relating postings.<br /><br />I will add one thing: it creeps me out that of the hundreds of postings I've written in nearly five years of blogging, the ones that've gotten the most hits are about Jerry Hadley and his death. There was a huge spike in the week or ten days after he shot himself, and to this day, two years later, the search term "jerry hadley" is at the top of the blog's analytics.<br /><br />I believe this shows a continuing prurient interest that far outweighs my mentioning his vocal ups and downs.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-27606782513184788562009-08-02T20:27:41.925-07:002009-08-02T20:27:41.925-07:00I heard about the death of Jerry Hadley the day th...I heard about the death of Jerry Hadley the day that it happened. I just never knew what caused his death. I just found out what the cause was. It makes it all the more painful. If someone commits suicide the first thing that crosses my mind is: What could have been done to prevent it? Certainly the loss of so many family members would cause one to become depressed. It is definitely not a time to comment about his missing a note. It can happen. I have been to a performance where a singer missed one note, the rest of the performance was spectacular. <br />As far as Jerry Hadley is concerned, I will have to content my self with the recordings that I have. I have never seen him in person. All I can say that they are all very good. I have one of Mr. Hadley singing German Operetta, which in my estimation, is very hard for a non German to do. It is sad that he died at such a young age. I will miss his enthusiasm for the role that he performed in the opera that he sang. It showed every time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-10659081702638607332008-03-28T21:44:00.000-07:002008-03-28T21:44:00.000-07:00I'm sorry, Kevin. What you say about him fits in w...I'm sorry, Kevin. What you say about him fits in well with what many said about him - that he was a real mensch.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-7005375510186118552008-03-28T21:34:00.000-07:002008-03-28T21:34:00.000-07:00I'm having a very difficult time with this right n...I'm having a very difficult time with this right now. It's 3/28/08. I can't belive I didn't know about this. I didn't care much for my 20's, but I remember watching "A Night of Sondheim" and hearing him for the first time. It was a very uplifting moment. It gave me happiness and put a smile on my heart. I even wrote him an email thanking him for sharing his gift and his talent. I never imagined he'd write back, but he did ... I wish he was still with us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-13548146957783075322007-07-20T23:06:00.000-07:002007-07-20T23:06:00.000-07:00Oh, one more thing - the article with the original...Oh, one more thing - the article with the original bad headline and the article "Tenor is gravely injured," etc. appear to be different articles with different URLs, both still accessible on the Times Web site. I think I will email the public editor about that thoughtless first headline.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-78008328014959468052007-07-20T22:48:00.000-07:002007-07-20T22:48:00.000-07:00A few comments on various comments here.- A new po...A few comments on various comments here.<BR/><BR/>- A new posting is largely about the sadness of what's happened. My sympathies to all who knew and loved Mr. Hadley, whether family, friends, colleagues, or fans.<BR/><BR/>- auracle, thank you for the apology. If you want to see the kind of listener I generally am, take a look at any of my SFCV reviews. There are links in the left-hand column of this blog; several are reviews of opera productions. Regarding <I>Louise</I>, I am going to put up a different sort of posting momentarily.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-57139293871263987652007-07-20T05:36:00.000-07:002007-07-20T05:36:00.000-07:00I fell in love with Jerry Hadley and his voice dur...I fell in love with Jerry Hadley and his voice during a performance of Cosi fan tutti at Opera Theatre of St. Louis -- quite the show stopper. I feel very sad that his life ended as it did, and I am thankful that his voice will live on in recordings. So sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-33361181543391954162007-07-19T05:48:00.000-07:002007-07-19T05:48:00.000-07:00As others have said before me in this blog, it is ...As others have said before me in this blog, it is a sad day and a sad time for Opera, but it is also a sad day for Jerry's family. I am Jerry's cousin and our love for him was unmeasureable. I saw him not only as a spectacular performer on stage, but as someone who has been performing his whole life and loved to please an audience. Our family had the pleasure of Jerry and Ann's company at our family reunion in Illinois last summer and he and my other cousin sang Karaoke together. They were fantastic and the life of the party. It is memories like these that will keep my head up and know that Jerry is still performing -- just in a different venue.<BR/> He has had much sorrow in his life of late. He has lost 3 uncles, an aunt and his father in the last 2 years. It does make an impact on your life. Please remember him as the wonderful singer, the practical joker, the good friend and the fun-loving person that he was. That is the legacy that he leaves behind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-25789976682169973302007-07-18T22:23:00.000-07:002007-07-18T22:23:00.000-07:00It is a very sad day - and a very sad time for Ope...It is a very sad day - and a very sad time for Opera. Mr. Hadley was a delight to work with and when I last performed with him - he was Tom Rakewell in Rake's Progress - it was stunning!<BR/><BR/>Perhaps this is a horrible and sad reflection on the state of the Opera business in the US. It has become a factory system quickly using up young lithe singers and the treasures that made opera what it is today are ingored and driven to the edge. Something to think about.<BR/><BR/>Rest in peace Jerry - and my thoughts and prayers are with your remaining loved ones.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-39701815084759976862007-07-18T17:19:00.000-07:002007-07-18T17:19:00.000-07:00This is pathetic. All this discussion of a singing...This is pathetic. All this discussion of a singing method when all that matters is a very important man, who contributed greatly to American and world culture, has killed himself. But the, you can see how hard it is to be a singer...even when you kill yourself, all people can think of is rude comments about your vocal technique. It is a wonder that anyone survives in this business.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-42636088784238524232007-07-18T14:39:00.000-07:002007-07-18T14:39:00.000-07:00Rest in peace, Jerry Hadley! You're in a much bet...Rest in peace, Jerry Hadley! You're in a much better place now. As mentioned above, you'll be with your friend Ms. Sills, along with Mme. Crespin and the many others who have gone before.<BR/>No more sadness and suffering, but a new place of rest, joy, and the indescribably lovely music of heaven, which you will help to make now!Marie Lambhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03250636563835711514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957911.post-64156571132522904312007-07-18T11:00:00.000-07:002007-07-18T11:00:00.000-07:00Rest in Peace Mr. Hadley. Ms. Sills will be waiti...Rest in Peace Mr. Hadley. Ms. Sills will be waiting at the gates to lead you to the rehearsal room. Your voice will be strong and clear in every performance from now on and the demons will never harm you. Bravo...A brilliant career cut too short..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com