Description

DAVID BISPHAM (PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, 5 JANUARY, 1857 – MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, 2 OCTOBER, 1921)

He first sang as an amateur in church choruses in Philadelphia. In 1886 he went to Italy, where he studied with Vannuccini in Florence and Francesco Lamperti in Milan; later studied in London with Shakespeare and Randegger. He made his operatic debut as Longueville in Messager’s ”La Basoche” (English Opera House, London, Nov. 3, 1891), in which his comic acting ability, as well as his singing, won praise. He made his first appearance in serious opera as Kurwenal in ”Tristan und Isolde” (Drury Lane, June 25, 1892). He was particularly effective in the Wagnerian baritone roles; made his American debut with the Metropolitan Opera in N.Y. as Beckmesser (Nov. 18, 1896), and was on the Metropolitan roster 1896-97, 1898-99, and 1900-03. He was a strong advocate of opera in English. A Soc. of American Singers was organized under his guidance, presenting light operas in the English language. He publ. an autobiography, A Quaker Singer’s Recollections (N.Y., 1920). A Bispham Memorial Medal Award was established by the Opera Soc. of America in 1921 for an opera in English by an American composer.

Chronology of some appearances

Friedrich von Telramund 12/25/191900, Alberich 1/24/191901, 1/31/191901, Kurwenal 12/26/191901, Sixtus Beckmesser 1/9/191902, Urok 2/18/191902, Friedrich von Telramund 12/11/191902, Wolfram von Eschenbach 12/23/191902, Alberich 1/27/191903, 2/3/191903, 2/5/191903, Sixtus Beckmesser 3/17/191903 (in Filadelfia).

TRACKLIST

1. Messiah (Händel) Why do the nations Columbia A5332 30545
2. My love Nell (arr Fox) G&T 2-2689 1998b
3. O that we two were maying (Gounod) 02046 268c G&T, London 1903-08-20
4. Oft in the Stilly Night (Stevenson) Columbia 30792 384
5. Paulus (Mendelssohn) O God have mercy Columbia A5258 30546
6. Pirate song (Gilbert) 30026 M-648 Columbia, New York 1906-03
7. Rock’d in the cradle of the deep (Gooch) Columbia 30766 385
8. Samson (Händel) Honor and arms Columbia A5332 30544
9. Semele (Händel) Where’er you walk 30219 A5099 Columbia, New York 1909-02-24
10. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Als du in kühnem Sange 042050 266c G&T, London 1903-08-20
11. The Arrow and the Song (Balfe) Columbia 36473 384
12. The Banks of Allan Water (Horne) Columbia A5377 30791
13. The Palms (Faure) A5161 30331 Columbia, New York 1910-01-12
14. The Pauper’s Drive (Homer) A5166 30333 Columbia, New York 1910-01-11
15. The pretty Creature (Storace) Columbia 30220 A5121
16. The Yeoman’s Wedding Song (Poniatowski) A5362 30793 Columbia, New York 1911-06-23
17. Tommy lad (Margetson) 27003 E66166 Pathé, New York 1917
18. Trovatore (Verdi) Il balen Columbia A5137 30286
19. Vicar of Bray A5492 36474 Columbia, New York 1912-10-23
20. Who is Sylvia (Schubert) Columbia 30020