Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

September 9, 1958 in Martinsville, VA

Death

:

May 19, 2016 in Salem, VA

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Symphony

 

James King was an American tenor who was widely regarded as one of the greatest operatic singers of the 20th century. Born on May 22, 1925, in Dodge City, Kansas, King grew up in a musical family and began singing in church at a young age. He attended college at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, where he studied music and sang in the choir. After college, King served in the United States Navy during World War II. Upon his return, he continued his music studies at the University of Michigan, where he earned a master's degree in vocal performance. He then moved to New York City to pursue a career in opera. King made his professional debut in 1954 with the Central City Opera in Colorado, where he sang the role of the Duke in Verdi's "Rigoletto." He quickly gained recognition for his powerful voice and dramatic stage presence, and he soon began performing with major opera companies around the world. One of King's most notable performances was in the title role of Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" at the Bayreuth Festival in Germany in 1966. His performance was widely praised for its emotional intensity and vocal brilliance, and it cemented his reputation as one of the greatest Wagnerian tenors of his time. King also had a successful career in the United States, performing with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, among others. He was known for his performances in the operas of Verdi, Puccini, and Wagner, as well as for his interpretations of contemporary works by composers such as Benjamin Britten and Samuel Barber. Throughout his career, King received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. He was a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor given to artists by the United States government, and he was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 1995. King retired from performing in 1993, but he continued to teach and mentor young singers until his death on March 20, 2005, at the age of 79. He left behind a legacy as one of the greatest tenors of his generation, and his recordings and performances continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.

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