Vinson Cole Could Have Been A Contender Says Carol Vaness

At home with the tenor Vinson Cole
(Photo: Jim Marcus/Kansas City Star)

"...native Kansas Citian Vinson Cole, is better known by opera fans in Europe (and mid-to-large American cities) than in his home town. In his 30-year career, Cole has never performed at the Lyric Opera but has sung leading roles at La Scala in Milan, Royal Opera House in London and other legendary Old World venues, as well as their New World counterparts, including the Sydney Opera House and the Met. 'Kansas City is not aware of what level of artist that he is,' said Ward Holmquist, artistic director and conductor of the Lyric Opera. 'Vinson had a long period of singing with the greatest conductors in the world at the greatest opera houses, singing all these operas in original languages.' Noted soprano Carol Vaness has sung opposite Cole in Tosca and other big productions. She says the only thing separating Cole from the popular Three Tenors (Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras) — and she has sung with all of them — is Cole’s lack of interest in self-promotion. 'I think if he had wanted to be as popular as those three he could have been,' Vaness said. 'If you ask anyone in the business, they will tell you he has an international tenor voice that is instantly recognizable. His voice is rich and is just as beautiful when he’s singing big as when he’s singing soft.' [Source] Watch a video of Vinson Cole in his prime singing a Mozart concert aria after the jump.