Description

ARTHUR MIDDLETON (LOGAN, IOWA, NOVEMBER 28, 1880 – CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, FEBRUARY 16, 1929)

 

 

 

 

At the age of 16, he began singing and studied under Alexander Emslie and Charles R. Adams in Boston. He then had a successful career as an oratorio and concert singer. During a concert, his voice was discovered by soprano Frances Alda, who secured an engagement for him at the New York Metropolitan Opera. He made his debut there in 1914 in Lohengrin. He remained a member of the Metropolitan Opera until 1917, performing roles such as the King in Euryanthe by Weber, Donner in Das Rheingold, and the Minister in Fidelio.

In the 1917-1918 season, he was engaged by the Chicago Opera, where he appeared on December 26, 1917, in the premiere of the opera Azora by Henry Hadley. Afterward, he retired from the stage and became one of the most popular American oratorio singers, reportedly performing Messiah over 200 times and Mendelssohn’s Elijah 150 times. He later worked in Chicago as a vocal pedagogue.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1914-1917 New York Metropolitan Opera

1917-1918 Chicago Opera

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Falstaff (Verdi) Quand’ero paggio; Don Giovanni (Mozart) Deh vieni alla finestra 82241 4473-C Edison, New York 1916-02
2. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Sestetto (w. Verlet, Alcock, Baroni, Ciccolini & Scott) 82266 5787-C Edison, New York 1917-09-14
3. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Chi mi frena (w. Zenatello, Rappold, Matzenauer, Chalmers & Baroni) 82266 5224-C Edison, New York 1916-12-20
4. Attila (Verdi) Praise Ye (w. Rappold & Jörn) 83046 4563-C Edison, New York 1916-03-06/09
5. Messiah (Händel) The trumpet shall sound 83042 4438-C Edison, New York 1916-01
6. Pescatori di perle (Bizet) Del tempio al limitar (w. Ciccolini) 82203-R 5332-C Edison, New York 1917-01-31
7. Son and Stranger (Mendelssohn) I am a roamer 83045 4209-C Edison, New York 1915-10-18/21
8. The Chase – Hunting song (Mattei) 82257 6840-C Edison, New York 1919-06
9. Bedouin Love Song (Pinsuti) 82532 3669-C Edison, New York 1915-03-2x
10. The American’s come! (Foster) 82151 6418-H Edison, New York 1918-10-10/23
11. Danny Deever (Damrosch) 82191 4737-C Edison, New York 1916-05-11/24
12. Evening brings rest and you (Bishop) (as Edw Allen) 80454 6462-C Edison, New York 1918-11-12/27
13. Father O’Flynn (Stanford) 82562 4770-C Edison, New York 1916-06-05/06
14. Freedom for all forever (Hilliam) (w. chorus) 82145 6239-C Edison, New York 1918-06-17/20
15. Gloria – Easter Hymn (Buzzi-Peccia) 83065 5176-C Edison, New York 1916-11-23/27
16. Gypsy trail (Galloway) (also as Edward Allen) 82158 5886-C Edison, New York 1917-11
17. Hearts of the world (-) (as Edw Allen) 80415 6235-C Edison, New York 1918-06-17/20
18. I’ll come back to you when it’s all over (Mills) (w. chorus) 50475 5993-C Edison, New York 1918-02-01/05
19. It’s a mighty good world after all (O’hara) 82148 5980-A Edison, New York 1918-01-23/24
20. Monsieur Beaucaire (Messager) Red rose 80532 7098-A Edison, New York 1920-01-03/15