Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

Mack Harrell was a renowned American bass-baritone opera singer, born on October 16, 1909, in Harriman, Tennessee. He was the youngest of six children born to a Methodist minister, and his family moved frequently during his childhood. Harrell's love for music began at an early age, and he sang in his church choir as a child. Harrell attended Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee, where he studied music and sang in the college choir. After graduating in 1931, he moved to New York City to pursue a career in music. He studied voice with Frank La Forge and Giuseppe de Luca and made his professional debut in 1933 as a member of the chorus in the Metropolitan Opera's production of "Aida." Harrell's big break came in 1939 when he was cast as the lead in the Metropolitan Opera's production of "Boris Godunov." His performance was a huge success, and he quickly became one of the most sought-after bass-baritones in the world. He went on to perform in many of the world's leading opera houses, including La Scala in Milan, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Paris Opera. One of Harrell's most memorable performances was in the Metropolitan Opera's production of "Don Giovanni" in 1950. He played the role of Leporello, the servant of the title character, and his performance was widely praised for its humor and wit. Harrell also had a successful career as a concert singer, performing with many of the world's leading orchestras and conductors. In addition to his performing career, Harrell was also a respected voice teacher. He taught at the Juilliard School in New York City and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Many of his students went on to have successful careers in opera and concert singing. Harrell received many awards and honors during his career, including the National Medal of Arts in 1985. He was also inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2002, the University of Tennessee established the Mack Harrell Endowed Scholarship in Voice in his honor. Harrell retired from performing in 1964 and spent his later years in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he continued to teach voice. He died on March 31, 1968, at the age of 58. His legacy as one of the greatest bass-baritones of the 20th century lives on through his recordings and the many singers he taught and inspired.

More....