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. Little mother of mine (Burleigh) 10208 14030 Brunswick, New York 1924-10-27
2. Lord Randall (Cyril Scott) 15858 CS030515 Victor, New York 1938-11-30
3. Mah Lindy Lou (Strickland) 1544 BRC70273 Victor, New York 1931-10-07
4. My dream girl (Young-Herbert) 10157 14486 Brunswick, New York 1924-12-15
5. O del mio amato ben (Donaudy) 15857 PCS036424 Victor, Hollywood 1939-08-17
6. Otello (Verdi) Credo in un Dio crudel 17639 PCS036446 Victor, Hollywood 1939-08-23
7. Pinafore (Sullivan) When I was a lad 18223 CS066738 Victor, New York 1941-08-08
8. Sailormen (J Wolf) 1655 BS81979 Victor, New York 1934-03-26
9. Showboat (Kern) Ol’ man river 1571 BSHQ72807 Victor, New York 1932-05-19
10. Smilin’ through (Penn) 10151 13938 Brunswick, New York 1924-10-14
11. Sylvia (Speaks) 1571 BSHQ72806 Victor, New York 1932-05-19
12. Tannhäuser (Wagner) O du mein holder Abendstern 7605 CRC71822 Victor, New York 1932-02-06
13. The green eyed dragon (Charles) 1655 BS78581 Victor, New York 1933-11-23
14. The last time I saw Paris (Hammerstein-Kern) 2160 BS062581 Victor, New York 1941-03-19
15. The Lord’s prayer (Malotte) 1736 BS95689 Victor, New York 1934-10-31
16. The lost chord (Sullivan) 10218 15638 Brunswick, New York 1925-04-23
17. Traviata (Verdi) Di Provenza 7605 CSHQ71825 Victor, New York 1932-05-19
18. Trees (Rasbach) 1525 BRC69654 Victor, New York 1931-05-26
19. Zazà (Leoncavallo) Zazà piccola zingara 15859 PCS036427 Victor, Hollywood 1939-08-17
20. Zigeunerbaron (Strauss) Open road 16184 PCS036453 Victor, Hollywood 1939-08-24