Famous voices of the past - George London: Opera and Songs
Artist | George London |
Title | Famous voices of the past - George London: Opera and Songs |
Release Date | Monday, August 17, 2009 |
Genre | Classical > Aria |
Composers | Giuseppe Verdi, Modest Mussorgsky, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Jules Massenet, Richard Wagner, Gruenberg |
Songwriter | Diverse |
Copyright | © Preiser Records |
Country | AUSTRIA |
Promotion Text
George London
Er debütierte 1942 in Hollywood als Arzt in "La Traviata", setzte dann sein Gesangsstudium in New York fort und hatte zunächst im Unterhaltungssektor Erfolge (u.a. zusammen mit Mario Lanza). 1949 wurde er von Karl Böhm entdeckt und als Amonasro in “Aida” an die Wiener Staatsoper geholt. 1951 sang er zum ersten Mal an der Metropolitan Opera in New York. Seine größten Erfolge feierte er zwischen 1951 und 1964 in Bayreuth. Weitere Glanzpartien waren Boris Godunow, Don Giovanni und Scarpia (Tosca) bis in den Sechziger Jahren eine Stimmbandlähmung seine Karriere beendete. 1977 erlitt er einen Herzstillstand und war in der Folge für den Rest seines Lebens paralysiert. Er starb 1985 an einem Herzinfarkt. He was born George Burnstein to Russian parents in Montreal. In 1947 he was engaged to tour with Mario Lanza and Frances Yeend as a member of the “Belcanto Trio.” Growing success enhanced his ambition to change to a more “serious” repertory and he went to Europe. In 1949 Karl Böhm engaged him to appear at the Vienna State Opera (debut as Amonasro). Subsequently, he appeared as Galitzki, Escamillo, the four villains in the Tales of Hoffmann and as Boris. He was appointed “Kammersänger” of the Vienna State Opera. In 1951 he made his German debut in Bayreuth and sang every year until 1964 (Amfortas and Holländer). In 1951 he joined the Met. In 1961 George London suffered paralysis of his vocal chords. His life between 1965 until his death was overshadowed by severe illness.