However, Richard Tucker, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, and whose 50th yahrzeit was observed this week, is still acclaimed and revered as one of the greatest operatic tenors of the 20th century.

To reach the treacherous high notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the inauguration has engaged an operatic tenor: Mr. Macchio, 46, who studied at the Manhattan School of Music. He has not ...