Clarence Eugene Whitehill was a leading American bass-baritone who sang at the Metropolitan Opera from 1915 to 1932.
13 Facts About Clarence Whitehill
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Clarence Whitehill sang on both sides of the Atlantic and is remembered for his association with the music dramas of Richard Wagner, and for his recordings of well-known music hall ballads such as "I'll take you home again, Kathleen".
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Clarence Whitehill was born on November 5,1871, in Marengo, Iowa.
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Clarence Whitehill sang Nilakhanta at the Opera-Comique the next year, becoming the first ever American singer to perform in that theatre.
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Clarence Whitehill appeared on stage in several German cities, while studying the Wagnerian baritone and bass-baritone roles.
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Clarence Whitehill went on to appear with considerable success at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, in the first Ring Cycle sung in the English.
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Clarence Whitehill decided that the time had come for him to leave Europe and return to America, and he made his Metropolitan Opera debut.
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Clarence Whitehill would enjoy a long and praiseworthy career at the Met despite a throat ailment which periodically affected one of his vocal cords.
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Clarence Whitehill was especially acclaimed in such taxing Wagnerian parts as Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg, but he appeared in the Met premiere of the French operas Louise and Pelleas et Melisande, and in the North American premiere of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's one-act opera Violanta.
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Clarence Whitehill was to remain on the Met's roster of singers until May 14,1932, when he retired in a dispute.
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Clarence Whitehill died on December 19,1932, in Manhattan, New York City.
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Clarence Whitehill was notable for the tonal beauty of his large voice, the nobility of his singing style and the dignity of his stage demeanour.
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Fortunately, Clarence Whitehill made a number of gramophone records prior to World War I which display something of his greatness as a Wagnerian singer.