Description

JOHN CHARLES THOMAS (MEYERSDALE, PENNSYLVANIA, SEPTEMBER 6, 1891 – APPLE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, DECEMBER 13, 1960)

 

 

 

 

Education: Studied singing at the Peabody Conservatory in Boston and with Adelin Fermin in New York. Further studies in Paris under Jean de Reszke.

Career Highlights:

• Early Career: Active from 1915 as an operetta singer on Broadway, achieving popularity with the musical Apple Blossoms.
• Concert Debut: New York Aeolian Hall (1918).
• European Career: Sang at the Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels (1925-1928), where he notably performed in the premiere of Darius Milhaud’s Les malheurs d’Orphée (1926).
• Return to America: Guest appearances at opera houses in Philadelphia, San Francisco (1930, as Jochanaan in Salome), and Chicago (1930-1942, debuting as Tonio in Pagliacci).
• Metropolitan Opera: Engaged from 1934 to 1943, debuting as Germont-père in La Traviata. Notable roles included Rigoletto, Germont-père, Amonasro in Aida, Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Athanaël in Thaïs (1939, opposite Helen Jepson).

International Reputation: Known for guest performances and concerts across North America, England, Germany, France, and Italy. Undertook a tour of Australia in 1950.

Post-Retirement: Taught singing in Los Angeles, managed a radio station in Apple Valley, and continued to appear in operettas and films.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

Rigoletto 3/14/1929, Tonio 12/9/1929, Rigoletto 2/20/1930, Renato 4/10/1930, Amonasro 4/24/1930, Tonio 10/30/1930, Giorgio Germont 12/4/1930, Athanaël 12/11/1930, Rigoletto 2/5/1931, Zurga 3/26/1931, Escamillo 4/9/1931, Wolfram von Eschenbach 4/16/1931, 10/22/1931, Il barone Scarpia 1/7/1932, Athanaël 1/14/1932, Rigoletto 1/28/1932, Zurga 2/4/1932, Tonio 3/10/1932, Il barone Scarpia 12/17/1935, Giorgio Germont 12/14/1937, Figaro 2/28/1939, Giorgio Germont 2/2/1943 (Filadelfia).

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Andrea Chénier (Giordano) Nemico della patria 17639 PCS036432 Victor, Hollywood 1939-08-19
2. Annie Laurie (Scott) 1977 PBS019289 Victor, Hollywood 1938-05-26
3. Au pays (Holmès) 15184 PCS019309 Victor, Hollywood 1938-06-02
4. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Largo al factotum 15860 PCS036434 Victor, Hollywood 1939-08-19
5. Bendemeer’s stream (Gatty) 15858 PCS036452 Victor, Hollywood 1939-08-24
6. Calling me back to you (Seaver) 10276 E21391 Brunswick, New York 1927-01-31
7. Chanson triste (Duparc) 11-8568 PCS036425 Victor, Hollywood 1939-08-17
8. Curly locks (Benham) 10-1119 PBS68695 Victor, Hollywood 1934-01-12
9. Daddy (Behrend) 10208 15593 Brunswick, New York 1925-04-18
10. Duna (McGill) 15167 E24753 Brunswick, New York 1927-10-15
11. Falling in love with you (Meyer) 10276 E21389 Brunswick, New York 1927-01-31
12. Gwine to Hebb’in (Wood-Wolfe) 1554 BRC70274 Victor, New York 1931-10-07
13. Hamlet (Thomas) O vin dissipe la tristesse 1639 PBS68698 Victor, Hollywood 1934-01-14
14. Hérodiade (Massenet) C’en est fait… Salome demande 15859 PCS036430 Victor, Hollywood 1939-08-18
15. Hérodiade (Massenet) Vision fugitive 1639 PBS68697 Victor, Hollywood 1934-01-14
16. Home on the range (Guion) 1525 BRC69655 Victor, New York 1931-05-26
17. I love life (Zucca) 1986 PBS019290 Victor, Hollywood 1938-05-26
18. In questa tomba oscura (Beethoven) 15857 PCS036426 Victor, Hollywood 1939-08-18
19. In the gloaming (Harrison) 10167 14185 Brunswick, New York 1924-11-11
20. Just for today (Seaver) 1736 BS95686 Victor, New York 1934-10-31