Keith WYATT, (1926- 1999) rediscovered archive recordings
www.onceuponatenor.com

It’s only by accident I came across the above mentioned website. I was intrigued , listened to the soundbites and contacted the webmaster for I got interested in the releases. I have received them now and I must say I was mightily impressed. Any self-respecting tenor lover should get at least one of these releases. For biographical info on the tenor the website offers all info necessary. We all know Brian Sullivan, Paul Althouse or Charles Hackett add to these the name of Keith Wyatt who today would be a number one tenor in the States due to the remarkable voice and the stunning looks. If you decide to purchase one CD I would advise to go for volume 2 as this CD contains memo’s of his operatic career in Germany with live performance excerpts from Ballo, Rienzi, Roméo et Juliette, Trovatore and Cavalleria amongst others. There’s so much to admire in Wyatt’s singing. First of all the man did have a remarkable rock-sure technique (he studied with  Margaret Romaine who for 4 seasons sang at the Met). He displays great musicality which doesn’t come as a surprise as he plays the piano very well. The enunciation in whatever language he is singing is splendid whether it is French as in the Reynaldo Hahn songs -sung with Bernac sensitivity- or Raoul’s ‘Plus blanche’ from Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots. His excellent German can be heard in Cavalleria  where every word is understood.
The same goes for his Italian in Trovatore, Luisa Miller, Rigoletto, La Favorita, and Turandot amongst many others; as for his English renditions give ‘Love look away’ a listen on the website. A world gone with the wind. Dorothy Warenskjold –another unjustly forgotten singer of immense talents- often sang with Keith Wyatt and it comes as no surprise she admired his solidness in delivery and the artistry in his phrasing.  Indeed throughout the recordings Wyatt phrases with eloquence and an absence of mannerisms and this in combination with his unfailing musicianship, impeccable technique, a beautiful quality of voice and polished legato singing make these cd’s worthwhile purchasing.