Hugues Cuenod, the oldest singer ever to debut at the Metropolitan Opera, celebrates his 105th birthday today in Geneva with a message to his younger colleagues: Don't shout.
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Cuenod, until recently the world's oldest active opera performer, was known throughout his seven-decade career for his acting and a light, natural tenor that he applied to everything from Monteverdi to Puccini. But his chords were still strong enough at 84 to project across the Met as the emperor in Turandot. He performed other roles elsewhere into his 90s.