John McCormack (singer)
John McCormack (born June 14, 1884 in Athlone , Ireland , † September 16, 1945 in Dublin ) was an Irish opera singer ( tenor ).
Life
John McCormack received his first training from Vincent O'Brien as a member of the Palestrina -Chor of Dublin Cathedral. In 1902 he won a singing competition in Dublin and sang in 1904 at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition , the world exhibition in St. Louis . After further studies with Vincenzo Sabbatini in Milan , he made his debut in 1906 as an opera singer under the name Giovanni Foli in Savona (Italy) as Fritz in L'Amico Fritz by Pietro Mascagni .
Already in 1907 he made a successful debut at the Royal Opera Covent Garden in London as Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni . At this opera house he celebrated great triumphs in a total of 15 different roles until 1914. He had his first appearance in America in 1909 at the Manhattan Opera House as Alfredo in La Traviata . After that he was also very successful in the United States. He sang for the Chicago-Philadelphia Opera Company in 1910 and made his debut at the New York Metropolitan Opera in the same year , again as Alfredo in Traviata . He then sang at the Metropolitan Opera in the years 1912–1914 and 1917–1918. In 1911 he toured Australia with the world-famous Australian soprano Nellie Melba . From 1912 McCormack completed extensive concert tours, during which he was acclaimed worldwide. Due to the huge successes at his concerts and his lack of acting talent (McCormack described himself as "the worst actor in the world") he withdrew completely from the opera stage in 1923 and only sang in concerts in which he also particularly Irish folk songs presented.
His great popularity made him one of the best-earning classical stars of his time - his numerous recordings were huge sales hits - and also brought him to the sound film ( Song o 'My Heart, 1929). The singer, who came from a poor background, donated large sums to charitable causes and institutions of the Catholic Church. Therefore, McCormack, who had been a US citizen since 1919, was also appointed papal count. In 1938 he gave his farewell concert at London's Royal Albert Hall , but then still appeared occasionally at charity concerts during World War II . From 1938 he lived together with his wife again in his Irish homeland on a country estate near Dublin.
McCormack was buried in Deansgrange Cemetery south of Dublin.
Voice and meaning
His voice was light-timbre with a slightly nasal haze and a sure pitch. In addition to the great Enrico Caruso and later Beniamino Gigli , John McCormack was considered the most important tenor of his time. Caruso held him in high regard and saw McCormack as his greatest rival.
Discography
Very large number of recordings that have been reissued on CD by various record labels . His recording of the aria Il mio tesoro from Don Giovanni is still regarded by experts as a model recording , as can be read in their standard works on the great singers of the 20th century by the recognized singing experts Jürgen Kesting and John Steane .
Awards
In 1933 McCormack received the Laetare Medal .
literature
- Nigel Douglas: More Legendary Voices . Limelight Editions, New York 1995, ISBN 0-87910-193-8 .
- Jürgen Kesting : Il mio tesoro. John McCormack . In: Ders .: The Great Singers, Vol. 1 . Claassen, Düsseldorf 1986, ISBN 3-546-45387-5 , pp. 354-364.
- Gordon T. Ledbetter: The Great Irish Tenor. John McCormack . Town House, Dublin 2003, ISBN 1-86059-178-7 (reprint of the London 1977 edition).
- Lily McCormack: I Hear You Calling Me. The Story of John McCormack . Bruce Publ., Milwaukee 1949.
Web links
- The John McCormack Society
- John McCormack in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | McCormack, John |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Foli, Giovanni |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Irish opera singer (tenor) |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 14, 1884 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Athlone , Ireland |
| DATE OF DEATH | September 16, 1945 |
| Place of death | Dublin |