Description

TUDOR DAVIES (CYMMER, NEAR PORTH, SOUTH WALES, 12, NOVEMBER, 1892 – LONDON, ENGLAND 2, APRIL, 1958)

He studied in Cardiff and at the Royal College of Music in London. During World War I, he served as an engineer in the Royal Navy. After the war, he toured the United States, Canada, and Australia, sharing the stage with Maggie Teyte. He then returned to Britain, where he performed with the British National Opera Company, Sadler’s Wells Opera, and the Carl Rosa Opera Company.

In 1922 at Covent Garden, he sang Rodolfo opposite Dame Nellie Melba’s Mimi in La bohème. His repertoire included leading tenor roles from the Italian, French, and German operas, such as Lohengrin, Tamino, Florestan, Faust, Don José, and the Duke of Mantua. He also appeared in English operas, including Dame Ethel Smyth’s Fête Galante and Arthur Benjamin’s The Devil Take Her.

He created the title role in Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Hugh the Drover in 1924, and performed in the opera’s United States premiere with the Washington National Opera in 1928. He also created the role of Prince Hal in Gustav Holst’s At the Boar’s Head in 1925.

In 1938, he sang the title role in Giuseppe Verdi’s Don Carlos at its first performance in England and appeared in the first Sadler’s Wells performance of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden. Later in his career, he focused mainly on concert singing and teaching in Cardiff.

Chronology of some appearances

1922 London Covent Garden

1924 His Majesty’s Theatre

TRACKLIST 

1. Siegfried (Wagner) The Goddess Maiden yields to Siegfried’s pleading (w. Austral) D702 (3-0856) HMV, London 1922-12-19
2. Stabat Mater (Rossini) Lord vouchsafe Thy loving kindness (Cujus animam) D972 (2-02082) HMV, London 1924-05-05
3. Sweet is the hour of twilight Coliseum 1469 Scala, London 1921-06
4. The Magic Flute (Mozart) Oh, Lovliness beyond compare E401 6-2295 HMV, London 1925-08-26 (el)
5. The river (Edward Elgar) D1098 (2-02154) HMV, London 1925-12-14
6. The rosary (Nevin) Coliseum 1458 Scala, London 1922-02
7. Thou art risen, my beloved (Coleridge Taylor) E414 (6-2440) HMV, London 1925-12-16
8. Tosca (Puccini) Strange harmony of contrasts (Recondita armonia) E389 (6-2188) HMV, London 1923-12-10
9. Tosca (Puccini) When the stars were brightly shining D707 (02994) HMV, London 1923-03-12
10. Tristan and Isolde (Wagner): Love duet, pt 2 (w. Austral) (w. Austral) D736 (3-0863) HMV, London 1923-05-11
11. Tristan and Isolde (Wagner): Love duet, pt 2 (w. Austral) D736 (3-0864) HMV, London 1923-05-11
12. Tristan and Isolde (Wagner): Love duet, pt 3 (w. Austral) D737 (3-0865) HMV, London 1923-05-11
13. Tristan and Isolde (Wagner) Love duet, pt 4 (w. Austral) D737 (3-0866) HMV, London 1923-05-11
14. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) They drink the love potion (w. Austral & chorus Mummery, Halland & Hubbard) HMV D912 (4-0571)
15. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) Tristan! Isolde! (w. Austral & chorus Trenton, Mummery, Halland & Hubbard) HMV D912 (4-0572)
16. Walküre (Wagner) A sword my father foretold me HMV D678 (3-0777) HMV, London 1922-09-18
17. Walküre (Wagner) Siegmund draws out the sword HMV D679 (3-0778) HMV, London 1922-09-18
18. Walküre (Wagner) Spring song HMV D679 (3-0818) HMV, London 1923-01-25
19. Walküre (Wagner) Siegmund is told by Brunnhilde of his approaching death (w. Austral) D681 (3-0821) HMV, London 1922-12-18
20. Zauberflöte (Mozart) O lovliness beyond compare E401 (6-2295) HMV, London 1925-08-26 (el)