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Richard Versalle

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Vocalist

The Resume

    (December 3, 1932-January 5, 1996)
    Born in Muskegon, Michigan
    Opera tenor
    Best known roles included Florestan in 'Fidelio,' Tristan in 'Tristan und Isolde' and the title roles in 'Otello' and 'Tannhauser'
    Suffered a fatal heart attack on stage at the Metropolitan Opera during a performance of Leos Janacek's 'The Makropolous Case'

Why he might be annoying:

    He is better known for his onstage death than his singing.
    His final line before collapsing was 'Too bad you can only live so long.'
    The next performance of 'Makropolous' had to be cancelled due to a blizzard; in an odd coincidence, a blizzard also hit New York City the night that Leonard Warren died onstage at the Met.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He served in the submarine branch of the US Navy.
    He started as a concert and oratorio singer, switching to opera at age 45.
    Despite the late start, he had a successful international career, including performances at the Bayreuth Festival and the Vienna State Opera.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 19 Votes: 68.42% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 11 Votes: 81.82% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 18 Votes: 77.78% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 95 Votes: 58.95% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 19 Votes: 63.16% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 124 Votes: 71.77% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 101 Votes: 82.18% Annoying