Description

EUGENE CONLEY (TENOR) (LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARCH 12, 1908 – DENTON, TEXAS, DECEMBER 18, 1981)

 

 

 

 

He studied singing with Harriet E. Barrows and Ettore Verna. He caused a stir early in his career in America, performing in concerts with the NBC Radio Orchestra. He made his stage debut in 1940 at the Academy of Music New York as Duke in ”Rigoletto”. Then he sang with the San Carlo Opera Company. In 1942 he made guest appearances with the San Carlo Opera Company. He was a member of this opera company until 1947. In 1947 he had a huge success at the New York City Opera as Werther. In the 1943-1946 seasons he appeared as a guest at the Mexico City Opera. In 1947 he came to Europe and had guest performances at the Opéra-Comique in Paris (1947 as Alfredo in ”La Traviata” and as Rodolfo in ”La Bohème”), at the Covent Garden Opera in London (1949 as Duke in ”Rigoletto”), great successes in Stockholm, Florence, Turin and Genoa. In 1950 he performed at the Arena di Verona and in 1949 sang the role of Arturo in V. Bellini’s ”I Puritani” at La Scala in Milan, as well as in 1950 and 1951 the role of Arrigo in G. Verdi’s ”Vespri Siciliani”. In 1952 he made a guest appearance at the Maggio musicale Fiorentino as Arturo in Bellini’s ”I Puritani”. In 1950 he was engaged by the New York Metropolitan Opera, where he appeared with great success (first role: title hero in C. Gounod’s ”Faust”). He appeared at the Metropolitan Opera for seven seasons until 1962. In 1950 he made a guest appearance at the San Francisco Opera as Count Almaviva in ”Barbiere di Siviglia”. In 1957 he sang the role of Edgardo in ”Lucia di Lammermoor” at the Holland Festival. Married to contralto Winifred Heidt since 1948. He taught at Texas State University (1960-1978).

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1940 New York Academy of Music

1943-1946 Mexico City Opera

1947 New York City Opera

1947 Paris Opéra-Comique

1949 London Covent Garden

1949-1951 Milan La Scala

1950 Verona Arena

1950 San Francisco Opera

1950-1962 New York Metropolitan Opera

1952 Fiorentino Maggio musicale

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Africaine (Meyerbeer) O paradiso unpubl. as a 78 (LP) AR15376-1 Decca, London 1950-09-11
2. Because (d’Hardelot) F9297 DR13628-1 Decca, London 1949-05-18
3. Beloved (Conley) F9299 DR13625-1 Decca, London 1949-05-18
4. Bohème (Puccini) Che gelida manina X402 AR13693-1 Decca, London 1949-05-27
5. Carmen (Bizet) La fleur K2326 AR13694-1 Decca, London 1949-05-31
6. Danny Boy (Weatherley) unpubl as a 78 DR13673-1 Decca, London 1949-05-24
7. Faust (Gounod) Salut! demeure chaste et pure K2326 AR13710-1 Decca, London 1949-05-31
8. Favorita (Donizetti) Spirto gentil X433 AR13651-1 Decca, London 1949-05-20
9. Forgotten (Cowles) F9297 DR13627-1 Decca, London 1949-05-18
10. Gioconda (Ponchielli) Cielo e mar unpubl as a 78 (LP) AR15373-1 Decca, London 1950-09-11
11. I hear you calling me (Marshall) unpubl as a 78 (LP) DR13672-1 Decca, London 1949-05-24
12. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Tombe degli’avi miei… Fra poco a me ricovero unpubl as a 78 (LP) AR15380-1, AR15381-1 Decca, London 1950-09-13
13. Martha (Flotow) M’appari tutt’amor X433 AR13649-1 Decca, London 1949-05-20
14. Naughty Marietta (Herbert) Ah! Sweet mystery of life F9299 DR13626-1 Decca, London 1949-05-18
15. Puritani (Bellini) A te, o cara unpubl as a 78 (LP) AR15375-1 Decca, London 1950-09-11
16. Puritani (Bellini) Vieni, fra queste braccia unpubl. as a 78 (LP) AR15379-1 Decca, London 1950-09-13
17. Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna è mobile F9298 DR13652-1 Decca, London 1949-05-20
18. Rigoletto (Verdi) Questa o quella F9298 DR13650-1 Decca, London 1949-05-20
19. Thine alone (Herbert) unpubl as a 78 DR13670-1 Decca, London 1949-05-24
20. Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle M656 DR13692-1 Decca, London 1949-05-27
21. Tosca (Puccini) Recondita armonia M656 DR13691-1 Decca, London 1949-05-27
22. Turandot (Puccini) Non piangere, Liù X402 AR13709-1 Decca, London 1949-05-31