Theodor Uppman (12 January 1920 â€" 17 March 2005) was an American
operatic baritone. He is best known for his creation of the title role
in Benjamin Britten's opera Billy Budd.Uppman, of Swedish descent, was
born in San Jose, California, and studied voice at the Curtis
Institute of Music in Philadelphia and privately with Beverley Peck
Johnson in New York City. He made his professional debut in 1941 with
the Northern California Symphony Orchestra. His career was sparked by
his 1947 concert performance as Pelléas in Debussy’s Pelléas et
Mélisande, with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under Pierre
Monteux, and Maggie Teyte as Mélisande. He soon reprised the role
with the New York City Opera in 1948 and in his debut with the
Metropolitan Opera on 27 November 1953.Although he quit singing in
1951 to work in the California oil industry, he was persuaded to come
back to opera to perform in the premiere of Billy Budd a short time
later at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Britten originally had
Geraint Evans in mind for the role, but he withdrew because its
tessitura was too high for his voice, and he sang another part. The
composer conducted, there were 17 curtain calls, and Uppman was
acclaimed as a new star.Uppman sang 395 performances in fourteen roles
during a 24-year career with the Metropolitan Opera, most frequently
in Mozart operas: 98 performances as Masetto in Don Giovanni and 60
performances as Papageno in The Magic Flute. He also appeared as
Guglielmo in 24 performances of Così fan tutte. While with the Met he
virtually owned the role of Paquillo in Offenbach’s La Périchole,
singing in every one of its 54 performances, from its Metropolitan
premiere on 21 December 1956, through the performance in Detroit on 27
May 1971. Another frequent role, Sharpless in Puccini’s Madama
Butterfly, he sang 37 times; Sharpless was the role of his farewell
performance with the Met on 8 April 1978. In 1983 he sang the seven
baritone roles in Britten's Death in Venice in Geneva.
operatic baritone. He is best known for his creation of the title role
in Benjamin Britten's opera Billy Budd.Uppman, of Swedish descent, was
born in San Jose, California, and studied voice at the Curtis
Institute of Music in Philadelphia and privately with Beverley Peck
Johnson in New York City. He made his professional debut in 1941 with
the Northern California Symphony Orchestra. His career was sparked by
his 1947 concert performance as Pelléas in Debussy’s Pelléas et
Mélisande, with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under Pierre
Monteux, and Maggie Teyte as Mélisande. He soon reprised the role
with the New York City Opera in 1948 and in his debut with the
Metropolitan Opera on 27 November 1953.Although he quit singing in
1951 to work in the California oil industry, he was persuaded to come
back to opera to perform in the premiere of Billy Budd a short time
later at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Britten originally had
Geraint Evans in mind for the role, but he withdrew because its
tessitura was too high for his voice, and he sang another part. The
composer conducted, there were 17 curtain calls, and Uppman was
acclaimed as a new star.Uppman sang 395 performances in fourteen roles
during a 24-year career with the Metropolitan Opera, most frequently
in Mozart operas: 98 performances as Masetto in Don Giovanni and 60
performances as Papageno in The Magic Flute. He also appeared as
Guglielmo in 24 performances of Così fan tutte. While with the Met he
virtually owned the role of Paquillo in Offenbach’s La Périchole,
singing in every one of its 54 performances, from its Metropolitan
premiere on 21 December 1956, through the performance in Detroit on 27
May 1971. Another frequent role, Sharpless in Puccini’s Madama
Butterfly, he sang 37 times; Sharpless was the role of his farewell
performance with the Met on 8 April 1978. In 1983 he sang the seven
baritone roles in Britten's Death in Venice in Geneva.
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