Description

LAWRENCE MERVIL TIBBET (BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, NOVEMBER 16, 1896 – NEW YORK CITY, JULY 15, 1960)

 

 

 

 

His father was sheriff of Kern County and was shot and killed while pursuing a gang of outlaws. He spent his youth in Los Angeles, served in the U.S. Navy during World War I, and after the war, trained his voice with Basil Ruysdael in Los Angeles. He began performing as a concert singer in 1921 and continued his studies in 1923 with Frank La Forge in New York.

That same year, he was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York, debuting as Lovitzky in Boris Godunov, with the renowned Fyodor Chaliapin in the title role. Eight days later, he achieved his first major success there as Valentin in Gounod’s Faust. On January 2, 1925, when he sang Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff (with Antonio Scotti in the title role), the audience gave him a thunderous ovation. From then on, he enjoyed a brilliant career at this prestigious American opera house.

He participated in several world premieres at the Met: Deems Taylor’s The King’s Henchman (February 17, 1927), Peter Ibbetson (February 7, 1931), Gruenberg’s Emperor Jones (January 7, 1933), and Howard Hanson’s Merry Mount (February 10, 1934). In 1925, he sang in the American premiere of Ravel’s L’Heure espagnole and was also celebrated as Boris Godunov. In 1932, he achieved great success as the title character in Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra.

He remained a member of the Metropolitan Opera until 1950, performing 50 different roles in 396 performances over 27 seasons, in addition to 163 performances on the company’s annual tours. Following a vocal crisis in 1940 (rumored to have been caused by a dissolute lifestyle), he reduced his performances but still appeared at the Met in the premiere of Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes in 1948 and made a guest appearance at the New Orleans Opera in 1949.

In 1937, he appeared as a guest at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in London as Scarpia in Tosca, Iago in Otello, and Amonasro in Aida, and participated in the world premiere of E. Goossens’ Don Juan de Mañara on June 24, 1937. Concerts and guest appearances took him to major international centers, including Paris (where he appeared as Rigoletto and Iago in 1937), Vienna, and Prague, as well as to Australia and New Zealand. He also performed in Budapest, Stockholm, Bologna, Rome, and at the opera houses of Chicago (1943–46) and San Francisco (1927–49), returning to London in 1947.

In 1956, he appeared on Broadway in the musical Fanny. He had already acted in American sound films since 1930, enjoying great success in productions such as The Rogue Song and The New Moon (with Grace Moore).

He died following a domestic accident in which he suffered a fractured skull. His autobiography was published under the title Glory Road. His family name also appears in the original spelling Tibbet. A baritone of powerful tone and great dramatic expressiveness, he was also gifted with eminent acting talent for the stage.

Literature: A. Farkas: Lawrence Tibbett. Singing Actor (1990); H. Weinstat/B. Wechsler: Daer Rogue (1996).

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Oh that we two were maying (Nevin) 1172 BVE35474-4 Victor, USA 1926-05-24

Thy beaming eyes (MacDowell) 1172 BVE35475-6 Victor, USA 1926-06-07

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Si può? 6587 CVE35481-3 Victor, USA 1926-06-07

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Un nido di memorie 6587 CVE35482-2 Victor, USA 1926-06-07

Drink to me only with thine eyes (Jonson) 1238 BVE37878-1 Victor, USA 1927-03-30

Believe me, if all those endearing young charms (Moore) 1238 BVE37879-3 Victor, USA 1927-03-30

Old black Joe (Foster) (w. Shannon Qt) 1265 BVE37880-3 Victor, USA 1927-03-31

Uncle Ned (Foster) (w. Shannon Qt) 1265 BVE37881-5 Victor, USA 1927-05-31

Calm as the night (Goetz) (w. Bori) 3043 BVE38854-3

Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach): Barcarolle (w. Bori) 3043 BVE38855-3 Victor, USA 1927-06-01

The King’s Henchman (Taylor): Oh, Caesar, great wert thou! (w. chorus) 6845 CVE43613-1 Victor, USA 1928-04-05

The King’s Henchman (Taylor): Nay, Maccus, lay him down (w. chorus) 6845 CVE43614-1 Victor, USA 1928-04-05

Tosca (Puccini): Tre sbirri, una carrozza… Te Deum (w. chorus) 8124 CVE51116-2 Victor, USA 1929-04-03

Carmen (Bizet): Votre toast! (w. chorus) 8124 CVE51117-5 Victor, USA 1929-04-08

Tosca (Puccini): Tre sbirri, una carrozza… Te Deum (w. chorus) 8124 CVE51116-4 Victor, USA 1929-04-10

The Crucifixion (Stainer): And they came to a place called Gethsemane (solo Crooks); Could ye not watch with me one brief hour? (solo Tibbett) 9424 CVE53735-2 Victor, USA 1929-05-27

The Crucifixion (Stainer): And they laid theie hands on Him (w. Crooks & Glenn); Processional to Calvary (organ: Andrews) 9424 CVE53736-1 Victor, USA 1929-05-27

The Crucifixion (Stainer): And when they were come (solo Tibbett); Cross of Jesus (choir); He made Himself no reputation (solo Tibbett) 9426 CVE53739-2 Victor, USA 1929-05-27

The Crucifixion (Stainer): And as Moses lifted up the serpent (solo Tibbett); God so loved the world (choir) 9427 CVE53741-2 Victor, USA 1929-05-28

The Crucifixion (Stainer): Jesus said, “Father forgive them” (solo Crooks); So Thou liftest Thy petition (w. Crooks) 9427 CVE53742-1 Victor, USA 1929-05-28

The Crucifixion (Stainer): Jesus, the crucified (choir); And one of the Malefactors (w. Glenn & Croxton); I adore Thee (choir) 9428 CVE53743-1 Victor, USA 1929-05-28

The Crucifixion (Stainer): When Jesus therefore saw his mother (w. Crooks); Is it nothing to you? (solo Tibbett) 9428 CVE53744-2 Victor, USA 1929-05-28

Rogue Song (Stothart): The Rogue Song 1446 BVE58187-1 Victor, USA 1930-01-13

Rogue Song (Stothart): The Narrative 1446 BVE58188-3 Victor, USA 1930-01-13

Rogue Song (Stothart): When I’m looking at you 1447 BVE58195-2 Victor, USA 1930-01-15

Rogue Song (Lehár, arr Stothart): The white dove 1447 BVE58196-3 Victor, USA 1930-01-15

Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Eri tu 7353 CVE53454-3 Victor, USA 1930-04-15

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Largo al factotum 7353 CVE59753-4 Victor, USA 1930-04-15

Without a song (Youmans) 1507 BVE67492-2 Victor, USA 1931-03-06

Life is a dream (O Straus) 1507 BVE67493-2 Victor, USA 1931-03-06

New Moon (Romberg): Wanting you 1506 BVE67494-1 Victor, USA 1931-03-06

New Moon (Romberg): Lover come back to me 1506 BVE67495-1 Victor, USA 1931-03-06

The Cuban Love Song (McHugh): Tramps at Sea 1550 PBVE68327-3 Victor, Hollywood 1931-10-26

The Cuban Love Song (McHugh): Cuban Love Song (w. piano) 1550 PBVE68328-2 Victor, Hollywood 1931-10-28

Edward (Loewe) 7486 PCVE68333-2 Victor, Hollywood 1931-10-29

De Glory Road (Wolfe) 7486 CVE68331-3 Victor, USA 1931-12-10

Edward (Loewe) 7486 CVE68333-4 Victor, USA 1931-12-10

The Cuban Love Song (McHugh): Cuban love song (w. orch) 1550 BVE69068-3 Victor, USA 1931-12-10

The Cuban Love Song (McHugh): Cuban love song (Tenor part only, no accompaniment) 1550 BVE69071-2 Victor, USA 1931-12-12

Music in the Air (Kern): The song is you 1612 BS74653-2 Victor, USA 1932-12-08

Pilgrim’s Song (Tchaikovsky) 7779 CS74654-1 Victor, USA 1932-12-08

Song of the flea (Moussorgsky) 7779 CS74655-2 Victor, USA 1932-12-08

Music in the Air (Kern): And love was born 1612 BS74653-2 Victor, USA 1932-12-08

Pilgrim’s Song (Tchaikovsky) 7779 CS74654-1 Victor, USA 1932-12-08

Song of the flea (Moussorgsky) 7779 CS74655-2 Victor, USA 1932-12-08

Music in the Air (Kern): And love was born 1612 BS74656-2 Victor, USA 1932-12-08

The Merry Mount (Hanson): Oh, ’tis an earth defiled 7959 CS81086-1,1A Victor, USA 1934-01-19

Emperor Jones (Gruenberg): Oh Lord!… Standin’ in the need of prayer 7959 CS81087-2,2A Victor, USA 1934-01-19

Tannhäuser (Wagner): Wie Todesahnung 8452 CS82330-1,1A Victor, USA 1934-04-20

Faust (Gounod): O sainte medaille… Avant de quitter 8452 CS82331-1,1A Victor, USA 1934-04-20

In a Persian Garden (Lehmann): Myself when young 1706 BS82332-1,1A Victor, USA 1934-04-20

None but the lonely heart (Tchaikovsky) 1706 BS82333-2 Victor, USA 1934-04-20

Walküre (Wagner): Leb’ wohl du kühnes, herrliches Kind! 8543 CS83105-1,1A Victor, USA 1934-04-30

Walküre (Wagner): Denn Einer nur freie die Braut… Der Augen Leuchtendes Paar 8544 CS83106-1,1A Victor, USA 1934-04-30

Walküre (Wagner): Zum letzten Mal letz’ es mich heut’ mit des Lebeswohles 8544 CS83107-1,1A Victor, USA 1934-04-30

Walküre (Wagner): Loge hör’! Lausche hieher! 8545 CS83108-1,1A Victor, USA 1934-04-30

Walküre (Wagner): Wer meines Speeres Spitze fürchtet 8545 CS83109-1,1A Victor, USA 1934-04-30

Last night when we were young (Arlen) 11877 CS95370-1,1A Victor, USA 1935-10-10

On the road to Mandalay (Speaks) 11877 CS95371-1,1A Victor, USA 1935-10-10

Porgy and Bess (Gershwin): Bess, you is my woman now (w. Jepson) 11879 CS95388-1 Victor, USA 1935-10-14

Porgy and Bess (Gershwin): Summertime & Crap Game (w. Jepson); Woman is a sometime thing (solo Tibbett) 11879 CS95387-1 Victor, USA 1935-10-23

Porgy and Bess (Gershwin): The Buzzard Song (w. chorus) 11878 CS95389-3 Victor, USA 1935-10-23

Porgy and Bess (Gershwin): I got plenty o’ nuttin’ 11880 CS95390-2 Victor, USA 1935-10-23

Porgy and Bess (Gershwin): It ain’t necessarily so (w. chorus) 11878 CS95466-1 Victor, USA 1935-10-23

Porgy and Bess (Gershwin): Where is my Bess? 11880 CS95467-1 Victor, USA 1935-10-23

Goin’ Home (Dvořák) 15549 CS02176-1 Victor, USA 1936-10-19

Battle hymn of the Republic (Steffe) 4433 BS036848-1,1A Victor, USA 1939-05-03

Otello (Verdi): Inaffia l’ugola! (w. Massue, Dreeben & chorus) 15801 CS036849-1,1A Victor, USA 1939-05-03

Simon Boccanegra (Verdi): Plebe! Patrizii! Popolo… Piango su voi, sul placido (w. Bampton, Martinelli, Warren, Nicholson & chorus) 15642 CS036850-1,1A Victor, USA 1939-05-03

Otello (Verdi): Vieni; l’aula è deserta… Questo è una ragna (w. Martinelli & Massue) 15805 CS036851-2,2A Victor, USA 1939-05-03

My own United States (Edwards) 4433 BS036852-2,2A Victor, USA 1939-05-03

Simon Boccanegra (Verdi): Dinne… alcun là non vedesti?… Figlia! tal nome palpito (w. Bampton) 15642 CS036853-1,1A Victor, USA 1939-05-03

Otello (Verdi): E qual certezza sognate… Era la notte 15803 CS036854-1,1A Victor, USA 1939-05-03

Otello (Verdi): Vanne! La tua meta… Credo in un Dio crudel 15802 CS036855-2,2A Victor, USA 1939-05-09

Otello (Verdi): Non pensateci più… Tu? Indietro’… Ora e per sempre addio (w. Martinelli) 15803 CS036869-1 Victor, USA 1939-05-09

Otello (Verdi): Oh! mostruosa colpa!… Ah! mille vite… Sì, pel ciel (w. Martinelli) 15804 CS036870-2,2A

Otello (Verdi): Dio! mi potevi scagliar… Cassio è la! (w. Martinelli) 15804 CS036871-1,1A Victor, USA 1939-05-09

Semele (Händel): Where’er you walk 17456 CS046065-2,2A Victor, USA 1940-01-04

Theodora (Händel): Defend her! Heaven 17456 CS046066-2 Victor, USA 1940-01-04

The Bailiff’s Daughter (Old English ballad) 15549 CS046067-1 Victor, USA 1940-01-04

Der Wanderer (Schubert) 15891 CS046069-1,1A Victor, USA 1940-01-04

Die Allmacht (Schubert) 15891 CS046070-2 Victor, USA 1940-01-04