McCracken, James Eugene, 1926–88, American dramatic tenor, b. Gary, Ind. He was noted for his robust voice, his intense singing style, and his prominent vibrato. McCracken made his debut (1952) at the Central City Opera, Colorado, as Rodolfo in La Boheme. He sang minor roles at New York's Metropolitan Opera (1953–57) then moved to Europe, where he debuted at the Vienna State Opera and later starred in Bonn and Zürich. In 1963 he returned to the Met as a principal, specializing in Italian roles such as the clown in Pagliacci, Calaf in Turandot, and Otello and other Verdi leads.
See his A Star in the Family (1971, with his wife, S. Warfield).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Music: History, Composers, and Performers: Biographies
