|
James Pease (Indianapolis, 9 January 1916 – New York, 26 April 1967)〔“Pease, James” in ''Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Classical Musicians'', ed. Laura Kuhn. Schirmer Books, 1997.〕 was an American bass-baritone, notable for his Wagnerian roles. He was also a distinguished Balstrode in Benjamin Britten’s ''Peter Grimes'', a role which he was first to perform in the US in 1946, and later recorded under the composer’s direction in 1958. ==Life and career== A law graduate of Indiana University in 1939, Pease won a scholarship at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and studied there rather than begin practice as a lawyer. He made his debut with the Philadelphia Opera Company as Mephistopheles in ''Faust'', and sang many other roles with the company both in Philadelphia and in Boston. He also pursued concert, oratorio and radio work on the East Coast of the United States 〔''The Lewiston Daily Sun'', May 5, 1947.〕 He was praised by Serge Koussevitzky as having "An exceptionally beautiful, powerful, expansive voice".〔Haensel & Jones booking ad, 1947: (). Retrieved 11 September 2011.〕 In 1943 he was selected a winner of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the Air, but was immediately called for service as an aviation cadet. He served three years as a pilot in the A.A.F. Training Command, flying some 15,000 miles. He also directed and performed in musical shows at his home base in Texas.〔 On his discharge in 1945, he appeared at the Montreal Festivals and in a series of operas at the New York City Center Theatre, making his debut there as Sparafucile on 9 May 1946 (continuing to sing at that venue until 1953). Also in that year he sang in ''Carmen'' at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, conducted by Leopold Stokowski. He was also a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. and at the Berkshire Festival.〔 In August 1946 Pease took part in the US premiere of ''Peter Grimes'', conducted by Leonard Bernstein at the Berkshire Music Center, Tanglewood: Pease, singing the role of Balstrode, was singled out as giving "()asily the most compelling performance on the stage ... () carried himself well ... and also sang eloquently".〔Irving Kolodin in ''New York Sun'', 7 August 1946: quoted in Britten (2004), p. 210〕 Pease later sang in the US premiere of another Britten opera, ''Albert Herring'', this time as the Vicar, Mr Gedge, in a production staged at Tanglewood on 8 August 1949, conducted by Boris Goldovsky.〔Britten (2004), p. 507〕 Pease sang a wide variety of roles including Leporello and the title role in ''Don Giovanni'',〔"New York City Opera: Handsome young troupe brightens U.S. music scene" in ''Life'', April 11, 1949: pp. 118-122.〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://ctva.biz/US/MusicVariety/NBCOpera.htm )〕 Don Alfonso (''Così fan tutte''),〔 the Music Master (Strauss: ''Ariadne auf Naxos''),〔Thomson, Virgil. ''The Art of Judging Music''. Greenwood Press, 1969: p. 123〕 Colline (''La bohème''), Escamillo (''Carmen'') and various Gilbert and Sullivan roles including the Pirate King and the Mikado of Japan.〔Norton, Richard C. ''A chronology of American musical theater: 1952 - 2001, Vol. 3. Oxford University Press, 2002: p. 100〕 In London's Royal Opera House he sang in various productions conducted by Rafael Kubelík, including as Hans Sachs in Wagner's ''Die Meistersinger'' with Geraint Evans and Joan Sutherland in 1957, as King Mark in ''Tristan und Isolde'' with Birgit Nilsson in 1958, and in the same year as Balstrode in ''Peter Grimes'',〔D'opéras.xls - vagne.free.fr/kubelik/operas.xls〕 later recording the role under the composer’s direction for Decca. He returned to the New York City Opera in 1959-60, and again in 1967.〔 Pease died of a heart attack at the Lincoln Square Motor Inn. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「James Pease」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|