Chris Merritt was a unique tenor. His voice had a low, almost baritonal quality, but with ringing top notes, that strangely, seemed to belong to a different voice.
He was the first tenor in our time to sing successfully the roles that Rossini composed for Andrea Nozzari, a legendary tenor that had the same vocal qualities...or peculiarities that Merritt has.
Merritt is one of those singers that people either love or hate. His voice is not traditionally beautiful, but at least I could never describe it as ugly (others certainly did), but he was a musical and expressive singer that understood what Bel Canto is all about.
He, for example, was one of the few tenors to sing the murderous role of Arnold in Rossini´s William Tell in theatres, others like Pavarotti recorded it, but never dared to sing it live.
Merritt now is almost retired, but on occasion sings small roles.
