Richard Leech (tenor)

Richard Leech (born March 26, 1957) is an American operatic tenor, recipient of the Richard Tucker Award in 1988, and particularly associated with lyric roles of the Italian and French repertories.

Raised and educated in Binghamton, New York, he began his career in the early 1980s, and made his debut at the New York City Opera, as Rodolfo in La bohème, in 1984.

He quickly established himself in lyric roles such as Edgardo, Duke of Mantua, Alfredo, Faust, Roméo, Hoffmann, des Grieux, Werther, Pinkerton, etc. He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1989, as Rodolfo. He also appeared at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles, and Houston.

For San Diego Opera, where he appeared in twelve seasons between 1988 and 2008, his roles included his first Don José (Carmen), Werther (Werther) and Turridu (Cavalleria rusticana).

On the international scene, he made a sensational debut in Berlin, as Raoul in Les Huguenots, in 1987, and has since appeared at the Paris Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, La Scala in Milan, etc.

In recent years, he has expanded his repertory to more dramatic roles such at Riccardo in Un ballo in maschera, Cavaradossi in Tosca, etc.

Possessing a beautiful clear voice with a thrilling upper register, he has been compared to Jussi Björling and Luciano Pavarotti by critics, and continues to pursue a brilliant career both in America and Europe.

Sources

• Le guide de l'opéra, Mancini & Rouveroux, (Fayard, 1996), ISBN 2-213-59567-4