Top Songs By George London
More albums from George London
ALBUMMussorgsky: Boris Godunov (Sung in English) [Live Recording 1956]Dimitri Mitropoulos, Martha Lipton, George London, The Metropolitan Opera Chorus, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Mildred Miller, Louis Sgarro, Blanche Thebom, Giorgio Tozzi, Sandra Warfield, Lorenzo Alvary, Charles Anthony, Arthur Budney, Lawrence Davidson, Giulio Gari, Thomas Hayward, Laurel Hurley & Charles Kullman
ALBUMGeorge London: Triumph and Tragedy, Vol. 6Vienna Symphony, George London, Max Schönherr, Jean Morel, Richard Kraus, Rafael Kubelik, Rudolf Moralt, Valerie Bak, Leonie Rysanek, Wiener Rundfunkorchester, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra & Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera
ALBUMVerdi: Requiem - Rossini: Stabat MaterThe Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, George London, Martina Arroyo, Tito del Bianco, Westminster Choir, Lucine Amara, Abraham Kaplan, Camerata Singers, Justino Diaz, Richard Tucker, Beverly Wolff, Thomas Schippers, Maureen Forrester & New York Philharmonic
About George London
Artist Biography
George London was one of the most celebrated singing actors of his generation, with an imposing stage presence. In addition to excelling in a wide range of roles, from Mozart's Don Giovanni to Wotan to Scarpia to Escamillo, he was the first North American singer to appear on the stage of Moscow's Bolshoi Theater, where in 1960 he triumphed in arguably the greatest Russian male role, Boris Godunov.
London began his vocal training after his family moved to Los Angeles, when he was 15. He made his operatic debut as Doctor Grenvil in Verdi's La traviata at the Hollywood Bowl, and for a while sang with Frances Yeend and Mario Lanza in the Bel Canto Trio. In 1949, he decided to make his career in Europe, and after an audition with Karl Böhm, joined the Vienna State Opera, where he made his debut as Amonasro, and was an overnight success. He remained a favorite there throughout his career, and was named a Kammersänger.
He made his Bayreuth Festival debut the year it reopened, 1951, as Amfortas, and he also appeared there in the title role of The Flying Dutchman. In 1962, he sang the complete Ring in Cologne, under the direction of Wieland Wagner.
In 1966, one of his vocal chords became paralyzed, and he retired from singing. However, he remained very active in the musical world. In 1971, he established a foundation for young singers (a list of just the most prominent award recipients includes Renée Fleming, Kathleen Battle, Jerry Hadley, Barbara Hendricks, James Morris, and Dawn Upshaw).
He also served as artistic administrator of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, D.C.) from 1968 to 1971, and executive director of the National Opera Institute from 1971 to 1976, as well as the director of the Washington Opera from 1975 to 1979. In 1975, in Seattle, he staged the first-ever complete Ring Cycle in English.
Hometown
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genre
Classical
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