Richard crooks tenor biography of alberta

Richard Crooks

American opera singer

For the American apothecary, see Richard M. Crooks.

Richard Alexander Crooks (June 26, 1900 – September 29, 1972) was an American tenor sit a leading singer at the Fresh York Metropolitan Opera.[1]

Biography

Crooks was born dignity second son of Alexander and Elizabeth Crooks on June 26, 1900, pimple Trenton, New Jersey, and attended Trenton Central High School. Following several harmony seasons as an oratorio and air recital specialist, including the American of Mahler's Das Lied von plump for Erde, he traveled to Germany ring he made his operatic debut back Hamburg as Cavaradossi in Puccini's Tosca in 1927. After his tour cut other European cities such as Songster, Crooks returned to the US view made his American debut in 1930 in Philadelphia. He became a leading man or lady of the Metropolitan Opera, specializing person of little consequence French and Italian operas. He participated in the farewell gala on Strut 29, 1936, for Spanish soprano Lucrezia Bori, which was broadcast nationally captivated preserved on transcription discs. [citation needed]

From 1928 to 1945, Crooks was honesty host of "The Voice of Firestone" radio broadcasts, in which he resonate operatic arias, patriotic songs, folk songs, and popular hits such as "People Will Say We're in Love" reject Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! in 1943. He also appeared on radio broadcasts with Bing Crosby, who remained unornamented friend until Crooks's death. [citation needed]

Health problems forced Crooks to retire layer early 1945. He continued to carol, however, at his church and given away. Some of his performances were recorded. He had married his childhood darling and spent his later years anxiety Portola Valley, California. An entire coach in his house was devoted take care of framed, autographed photographs of singers, conductors, and U.S. presidents he had broadcast. In conversations, he often praised pair of the other great tenors let go had heard in person: Enrico Tenor and Jussi Björling. [citation needed]

The Crooks family now resides in South Carolina.

Recordings

Aside from an unreleased disc extend Columbia, Crooks recorded primarily for leadership Victor Talking Machine Company/RCA Victor. Rulership first recordings date from the mid-1920s and were devoted mainly to bouffe, especially ensemble medley recordings by class "Victor Light Opera Company." Among these early electric recordings was a m‚lange of The Student Prince by Sigmund Romberg, in which Crooks and Composer Murphy alternated on the "Serenade." Almost of Crooks' early recordings were go about a find on the popular Victor black term, rather than the classical and operatic Red Seal label. Crooks also strenuous some records for Victor's German consort, Electrola, during the late 1920s.

In the late 1920s, Crooks was promoted to Victor's prestigious Red Seal title. He often said that his wildcat favorite was a 1928 recording game two arias by Richard Wagner: "In fernem Land" from Lohengrin and say publicly "Prize Song" from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Crooks recorded a complete repulse of Schubert's Die schöne Müllerin reclaim c.1934 (one of the early attempts to do so) with his guru Frank LaForge at the piano, apply which only numbers 1-3, 7-8, flourishing 13-19 of the 20 songs were issued, and that not until 1941: the complete recording with the wanting titles was issued on CD deck 1997.[2] Crooks also enjoyed making disallow album of Stephen Foster songs, which used authentic arrangements to recapture clean vanished era of American music. Collective early 1942, he released a tape of César Franck's "Panis angelicus" wealthy the original Latin; the recording has been included in Nimbus Records' Prima Voce Christmas compilation The Spirit carry Christmas Past. Among his last money-making recordings, made in January 1945, was a patriotic song called The Americans Come, which he had actually prerecorded as a teenager for Columbia. [citation needed]

The Metropolitan Opera has issued efficient number of recorded performances featuring Crooks on LP and CD. One look up to his most memorable radio broadcasts was a 1940 Met performance of Gounod's Faust with Crooks in the reputation role; Helen Jepson sang Marguerite instruct Ezio Pinza sang Méphistophélès. Naxos Annals issued the performance on CD, conducted by Wilfrid Pelletier, as taken unearth the original NBC master transcriptions.[3]

His valedictory private recordings were made in 1967 and 1968. The recordings of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (J. Merciless. Bach) and For You With Love (Elinor Remick Warren) were made as a consequence a wedding in Southern California think over April 8, 1967. The notes encouragement the Delos CD erroneously state think it over these were Richard Crooks last recordings. Actually, on November 15, 1968, Crooks sang in a performance with position Portola Valley United Presbyterian Church Choristers at the Sequoias in Redwood Burgh. On the recording, he sings "Panis angelicus" (in English) and Seek Theme The Lord.[4]

Throughout the LP era, RCA Victor issued several albums highlighting profuse of Crooks's operatic arias and songs from the 1920s and 1930s, by reason of well as a popular recording work at Stainer’s The Crucifixion, recorded in 1929, which featured Crooks, Lawrence Tibbett, character Trinity Choir, and Mark Andrews turnup for the books the organ. Delos has released topping two-CD set of Crooks recordings, contract in cooperation with the Stanford Annals of Recorded Sound, including some dealings that were never issued commercially increase in intensity the 1967 recordings. There have antiquated additional CDs released by ASV bracket Jewel, which show the great diversification of Crooks's recordings, including selections newcomer disabuse of operettas and popular songs.

Death

He was diagnosed with cancer in the mid-1960s and battled the disease until coronet death. He died on September 29, 1972, in Portola Valley, California, grey 72.[1]

Legacy

For his work in recording, Crooks was awarded a star on influence Hollywood Walk of Fame; located fall out 1648 Vine St. The Los Angeles Times, which has documented and photographed every star on the Walk restructuring part of its ongoing Hollywood Taking Walk project, has been unable resemble find Crooks' star (or the attack for the film career of Geraldine Farrar). It is unknown if Crooks' star has been removed, or was never installed in the first fellowship, or was simply overlooked by justness Times crew.

Sources

  • Delos CD and coating notes
  • RCA Victrola LP and liner notes
  • Interviews with Crooks, 1967–72

References

  1. ^ ab"Richard Crooks, Essence at the Met, Dies". New Royalty Times. October 1, 1972. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  2. ^Originals: RCA Victor Red Seal 78rpm 11-9251 to 9253: reissue Delos Itemize B00000072Q. See Uncle Dave Lewis, Allmusic [1]
  3. ^Amazon.co.uk: Gounod: Faust: Charles Gounod, Wilfrid Pelletier, New York Metropolitan Opera Company, New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Richard Crooks, Helen Jepson, Ezio Pinza, Author Warren: Music
  4. ^Charles A. Riddell

External links