Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Metropolitan Opera (New York, N.Y.)

Description

1. 3.25 linear feet (5 boxes)

Summary

1. The Lawrence Tibbett papers consist primarily of photographs of Lawrence Tibbett, his family, and friends.

Subject

1. Baritones (Singers)
2. Clippings
3. Tibbett, Lawrence, 1896-1960 > Photographs
4. Baritones (Singers) > United States > 20th century
5. Photographs
6. Motion picture actors and actresses > United States

Genre/Form

1. Clippings.
2. Photographs.

Call number

1. JPB 06-66

Biography (note)

1. One of the most well-known American opera singers of his day, baritone Lawrence Mervil Tibbett (1896-1960) developed an international reputation through his many appearances with the Metropolitan Opera, numerous recordings, radio broadcasts, and featured film roles.

Indexes/finding aids (note)

1. Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Author

1. Tibbett, Lawrence, 1896-1960.

Title

1. Lawrence Tibbett papers, 1916-1960.

Biography

1. One of the most well-known American opera singers of his day, baritone Lawrence Mervil Tibbett (1896-1960) developed an international reputation through his many appearances with the Metropolitan Opera, numerous recordings, radio broadcasts, and featured film roles. Born in Bakersfield, California, Tibbett (also spelled Tibbet) began vocal studies with Basil Ruysdael in Los Angeles. By 1921, he was appearing as a concert singer, but by 1923 he had moved to New York City, where Frank La Forge became his coach. Tibbett auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera in 1923 and made his debut on November 24th in the small role of Lovitsky in Boris Godunov. He made steady progress at the Met, but his career took a tremendous upward swing when he first performed Ford in Giuseppe Verdi's Falstaff on January 2, 1925. He was given a fifteen-minute ovation and front-page newspaper coverage the next day. During the next few years the smaller roles were replaced with major ones, including what probably became his most famous characterization, the title role in Verdi's Simon Boccanegra, in which he first appeared in 1932. In addition to succeeding in the established repertoire, Tibbett was involved in the premieres of several American operas, including Deems Taylor's The King's Henchmen (1927), Peter Ibbetson (1931), Louis Gruenberg's Emperor Jones (1933), Howard Hanson's Merry Mount (1934) and John Laurence Seymour's In the Pasha's Garden (1935). At the height of his popularity, Tibbett signed a movie contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and the studio created several vehicles around his talents, including Rogue Song (1930), New Moon (1930), The Southerner/Prodigal Son (1931), and Cuban Love Song (1931). He also had his own radio program, sponsored by the Packard Motor Car Company during the 1930s. In addition to his accomplishments as a performer, Tibbett also was the founding president of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA).

Indexes

1. Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Connect to:

1. Request Access to Music & Recorded Sound Division Special Collections material
2. Finding Aid

Occupation

1. Baritones (Singers)
2. Motion picture actors and actresses.

Added author

1. Metropolitan Opera (New York, N.Y.)

Research call number

1. JPB 06-66