William Chapman (April , â€" April , ) was an American operatic
baritone and stage actor. He appeared in several Broadway productions
and was notably a leading performer at the New York City Opera from
through .Born in Los Angeles, Chapman graduated from the University of
Southern California and pursued vocal training with William De Mille,
Edward Lippi, and Leon Cepparo in his native city. He moved to New
York City in and began studying with Raymond Smolov. He starred
Off-Broadway in Carmen Lombardo and John Jacob Loeb's musical Arabian
Nights at the Jones Beach Marine Theatre opposite Lauritz Melchior and
Helena Scott. In December he made his Broadway debut in the original
production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide as Ferone and the
Lawyer.Chapman made his first opera appearance as Barone Douphol in
the NBC Opera Theatre's April television broadcast of Giuseppe
Verdi's La traviata with Elaine Malbin as Violetta, Igor Gorin as
Germont, and John Alexander as Alfredo. He made his first appearance
on the live opera stage in July at the Cleveland Musicarnival as
Scarpia in Giacomo Puccini's Tosca with Beverly Sills as the title
heroine and John Gutman directing. He joined the roster of principal
artists at the New York City Opera later that year, making his first
appearance with the company in the title role of Verdi's Macbeth on
October , with Irene Jordan as Lady Macbeth, Norman Treigle as
Banquo, Giuseppe Gismondo as Macduff, Ernest McChesney as Malcolm, and
Helen Baisley as the Lady-in-waiting. The following month he appeared
at the NYCO as Sharpless in Puccini's Madama Butterfly with Mary
Hensley as Cio-Cio-San. After the production closed he played Jigger
in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel at the West Palm Beach
Musicarnival with Stephen Douglass as Billy in Januaryâ€"February .On
April , Chapman portrayed Tracy Gates opposite Patricia Neway as
Laura Gates in the first professional production of Mark Bucci's Tale
for a Deaf Ear at the NYCO under the baton of Arnold Gamson. He next
portrayed Olin Blitch in Carlisle Floyd's Susannah with Phyllis Curtin
in the title role and Robert Moulson as Sam Polk in May . The
following June he sang Macbeth opposite Shakeh Vartenissian as Lady
Macbeth for the opening of the very first Festival dei Due Mondi under
the baton of Thomas Schippers and the Trieste Philharmonic Orchestra.
baritone and stage actor. He appeared in several Broadway productions
and was notably a leading performer at the New York City Opera from
through .Born in Los Angeles, Chapman graduated from the University of
Southern California and pursued vocal training with William De Mille,
Edward Lippi, and Leon Cepparo in his native city. He moved to New
York City in and began studying with Raymond Smolov. He starred
Off-Broadway in Carmen Lombardo and John Jacob Loeb's musical Arabian
Nights at the Jones Beach Marine Theatre opposite Lauritz Melchior and
Helena Scott. In December he made his Broadway debut in the original
production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide as Ferone and the
Lawyer.Chapman made his first opera appearance as Barone Douphol in
the NBC Opera Theatre's April television broadcast of Giuseppe
Verdi's La traviata with Elaine Malbin as Violetta, Igor Gorin as
Germont, and John Alexander as Alfredo. He made his first appearance
on the live opera stage in July at the Cleveland Musicarnival as
Scarpia in Giacomo Puccini's Tosca with Beverly Sills as the title
heroine and John Gutman directing. He joined the roster of principal
artists at the New York City Opera later that year, making his first
appearance with the company in the title role of Verdi's Macbeth on
October , with Irene Jordan as Lady Macbeth, Norman Treigle as
Banquo, Giuseppe Gismondo as Macduff, Ernest McChesney as Malcolm, and
Helen Baisley as the Lady-in-waiting. The following month he appeared
at the NYCO as Sharpless in Puccini's Madama Butterfly with Mary
Hensley as Cio-Cio-San. After the production closed he played Jigger
in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel at the West Palm Beach
Musicarnival with Stephen Douglass as Billy in Januaryâ€"February .On
April , Chapman portrayed Tracy Gates opposite Patricia Neway as
Laura Gates in the first professional production of Mark Bucci's Tale
for a Deaf Ear at the NYCO under the baton of Arnold Gamson. He next
portrayed Olin Blitch in Carlisle Floyd's Susannah with Phyllis Curtin
in the title role and Robert Moulson as Sam Polk in May . The
following June he sang Macbeth opposite Shakeh Vartenissian as Lady
Macbeth for the opening of the very first Festival dei Due Mondi under
the baton of Thomas Schippers and the Trieste Philharmonic Orchestra.
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