Country

:

France

Birth

:

August 14, 1904 in Oloron Sainte Marie, Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Death

:

March 9, 1990 in Santa Barbara, CA

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Martial Singher was a renowned French-American baritone and vocal teacher who made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. He was born on September 15, 1904, in Nice, France, to a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Singher's musical talent was evident from a young age, and he began his formal training in music at the age of 12. Singher's early musical education was in Nice, where he studied with the renowned Italian baritone, Giuseppe de Luca. He then moved to Paris to continue his studies at the Paris Conservatory, where he studied with the famous French baritone, Maurice Renaud. Singher's talent and hard work paid off, and he won the first prize in the Conservatory's singing competition in 1926. After completing his studies, Singher began his professional career as a baritone in France. He made his debut at the Paris Opera in 1927, singing the role of Escamillo in Bizet's Carmen. He quickly established himself as one of the leading baritones in France, and he performed in many of the country's major opera houses, including the Opera-Comique and the Theatre des Champs-Elysees. In 1930, Singher moved to the United States to join the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. He made his debut at the Met in 1931, singing the role of Valentin in Gounod's Faust. Singher's performance was a huge success, and he quickly became one of the Met's most popular baritones. He went on to sing many of the leading baritone roles at the Met, including Figaro in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni in Mozart's Don Giovanni, and the title role in Verdi's Rigoletto. Singher's career at the Met was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the United States Army. After the war, he returned to the Met and continued to perform there until 1950. He then left the Met to pursue a career as a vocal teacher. Singher's teaching career was just as successful as his performing career. He taught at the Juilliard School in New York City and at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He also gave masterclasses around the world, and his students included many of the leading singers of the day, such as Marilyn Horne, Sherrill Milnes, and Frederica von Stade. Singher's contributions to the world of classical music were recognized with many awards and honors. In 1956, he was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government for his contributions to French culture. In 1979, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by the United States government. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Singher continued to teach and perform until his death on May 28, 1990, in New York City. He was 85 years old. His legacy lives on through his recordings, which are still widely admired, and through the many singers he taught, who continue to perform and teach around the world. In conclusion, Martial Singher was a remarkable baritone and vocal teacher who made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. His talent, hard work, and dedication to his craft earned him a place among the leading baritones of his time, and his teaching helped to shape the careers of many of the leading singers of the next generation. His legacy continues to inspire and influence musicians around the world.

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