Description

 FRANK MULLINGS (WALSALL, 10 MAY, 1881 – MANCHESTER, 19 MAY, 1953)

 

 

 

He began his musical journey early, performing as a soprano soloist at the age of eleven in a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elias. Initially intending to become a teacher, he later shifted his focus to singing, beginning formal vocal training in 1904 under Beard and Breedan in Birmingham. His debut came in 1907 when he performed in a concert rendition of Gounod’s Faust in Coventry.

By 1911, he had gained significant recognition in London as a concert singer. His stage debut occurred in 1913 with the Denhof Opera Company in Birmingham, where he sang the demanding role of Tristan in Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. From 1915 to 1920, he was a principal tenor with the Beecham Opera Company in London, earning further acclaim. In 1916, he premiered Charles Stanford’s opera The Critic at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London.

His success continued, particularly with his performances at Covent Garden, where he appeared in 1919, and with the British Nationwide Opera Company from 1922 to 1926. Notably, he took part in the English premiere of Isidore de Lara’s opera Naïl in 1922, singing the role of Hadyar. In 1930, he performed the role of Radames in Verdi’s Aida with the Covent Garden ensemble in Manchester and frequently sang with the Carl Rosa Company.

Specializing in Wagnerian roles, he excelled in parts such as Tristan, Siegfried, and Parsifal. Alongside his opera career, he was also a distinguished concert and oratorio tenor, becoming particularly renowned for his interpretation of Otello in Verdi’s Otello.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1913 Birmingham Denhof Opera Company

1915-1920 London Beecham Opera Company

1916 London Shaftesbury Theatre

1919 London Covent Garden

1922-26 British Nationwide Opera Company

 

TRACKLIST

 

1. Otello (Verdi) Monologue, act 3 L1334 76105 Columbia, London 1918
2. Otello (Verdi) Niun mi tema L1334 76428 Columbia
3. Otello (Verdi) Thou avaunt thee (Tu indietro! fuggi!… Ora e per sempre addio) L1349 76429 Columbia
4. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Finale (w. Licette, Williams, Nash & Noble) 4358 WA5067 Columbia
5. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) No, Punchinello, no more (w. Noble & chorus) 4358 WA5065 Columbia
6. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) On with the motley 4354 WA5003 Columbia
7. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Pour the filter in his wine (w.  Licette, Nash & Williams) 4357 WA5069 Columbia
8. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) They come, they come (w. Nash) 4348 WA5045 Columbia
9. Reine de Saba (Reyer) Lend me your aid, recitative (Inspirez-moi) 636 75325 Columbia
10. Semele (Händel) Where’er you walk 9350 WAX1898 Columbia
11. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Hall of song duet (w. Stralia) 7257 74065 Columbia, London 1920-05-03
12. Tannhauser (Wagner) Pilgrimage to Rome, pt 1, pt 2 Columbia L1383 74080, L1383 74086
13. The two beggars (Lane Wilson) (w. Allin) L1774 WAX1260 Columbia
14. Watchman, what of the night (Sargeant) (w. Allin) L1774 WAX1259 Columbia