Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

November 16, 1896 in Bakersfield, CA

Death

:

July 15, 1960 in New York City, NY

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Lawrence Tibbett was an American baritone opera singer and actor who was born on November 16, 1896, in Bakersfield, California. He was the son of a Methodist minister and grew up in Los Angeles, where he began singing in church choirs at a young age. Tibbett's musical talent was evident from an early age, and he began studying voice with a local teacher when he was just 14 years old. After graduating from high school, Tibbett attended the University of Southern California, where he studied voice and performed in various musical productions. He also sang in a local church choir and worked as a clerk in a music store to support himself. In 1917, Tibbett enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a radio operator during World War I. After the war, Tibbett returned to Los Angeles and resumed his studies with a new voice teacher, William Vennard. He also began performing in local opera productions and made his professional debut in 1923 with the Los Angeles Grand Opera Company. Tibbett's powerful voice and commanding stage presence quickly made him a rising star in the opera world, and he was soon invited to perform with some of the most prestigious companies in the country. In 1925, Tibbett made his debut with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, singing the role of Ford in Verdi's "Falstaff." He quickly became a favorite of audiences and critics alike, and over the next two decades, he would perform in more than 600 performances with the Met. Tibbett's repertoire included a wide range of operas, from Mozart's "Don Giovanni" to Puccini's "Tosca" to Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman." One of Tibbett's most famous roles was that of the title character in "The Rogue Song," a 1930 film that was one of the first talkies to feature operatic singing. Tibbett's performance in the film was widely praised, and it helped to bring opera to a wider audience. He also appeared in several other films, including "New Moon" and "The Prodigal." In addition to his opera and film work, Tibbett was also a popular concert performer and recording artist. He made numerous recordings for RCA Victor, including a series of popular duets with soprano Grace Moore. Tibbett's recordings were widely praised for their clarity and power, and he was one of the most popular classical singers of his time. Throughout his career, Tibbett received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of music. In 1935, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the National Institute of Arts and Letters, and in 1950, he was awarded the Handel Medallion by the City of New York. He was also inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1973. Sadly, Tibbett's career was cut short by his untimely death in 1960. He died of a heart attack at the age of 63, just a few months after his final performance with the Metropolitan Opera. Despite his relatively short career, Tibbett left a lasting legacy as one of the greatest baritone opera singers of all time. His powerful voice, commanding stage presence, and charismatic personality made him a beloved figure in the world of music, and his recordings and performances continue to inspire new generations of opera lovers today.

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