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Collection Data
- Description
- The papers of the American baritone singer Lawrence Tibbett consist primarily of photographs; they also include clippings and poems from admirers
- Names
- Tibbett, Lawrence, 1896-1960 (Creator)
- American Music Collection
- Dates / Origin
- Date Created: 1916 - 1960
- Library locations
- Music Division
- Shelf locator: JPB 06-66
- Topics
- Baritones (Singers)
- Motion picture actors and actresses
- Baritones (Singers) -- United States -- 20th century
- Motion picture actors and actresses -- United States
- Genres
- Clippings
- Photographs
- Notes
- Biographical/historical: Lawrence Mervil Tibbett (November 16, 1896 - July 15, 1960) was acknowledged as the greatest American opera singer in his days. Born Tibbet he alternately spelled his last name with two t's at the end, the spelling he approved on his first contract with the Metropolitan Opera. Lawrence Tibbett was born in Bakersfield, California, but was raised in Los Angeles where he first began vocal studies with Basil Ruysdael. By 1921, he was appearing as a concert singer and, in 1923, began coaching with Frank La Forge in New York City. Also in 1923, he auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera. His debut took pace on November 24, 1923 in the small role of Lovitsky in Boris Godunov. Lawrence Tibbett continued to gather experience and grow as an artist during the next few years singing such roles as Marullo (Rigoletto), Fleville (Chenier), Silvio Pagliacci, the Herald (Lohengrin) and Escamillo (Carmen). His career took a tremendous upward swing when he first performed Ford in Verdi's Falstaffon January 2, 1925, and was given a fifteen-minute ovation and front-page newspaper coverage the next day. During the next few years the smaller roles he had been concentrating on were replaced with major roles such as: Tonia (Pagliacci), Alfio (Cavalleria), Telramund (Lohengrin), Amonasro (Aida), the elder Germont (Traviata). His most often performed roles were Jonny (Jonny Spielt Auf), Jack Rance (Fanciulla), and in January of 1932 probably his most famous characterization, Simon Boccanegra. During the 1930s and 1940s, he continued to display his versatility as Falstaff, Iago (Otello), Balstrode (Peter Grimes) and the villains in Hoffmann. Tibbett was also instrumental in the world premieres in a number of operas including Taylor's The King's Henchmen (1927), Peter Ibbettson (1931), Gruenberg's Emperor Jones (1933), Hanson's Merry Mount(1934) and Seymour's In A Pasha's Garden (1935). The 1939 performance of Boccanegra is considered by historians to be one of the finest broadcasts given by the Metropolitan Opera and has been commercially released by the Metropolitan Opera Guild. All these performances show Tibbett's individual style and beautiful timbre, artistic probity and his ability to communicate with the subtlest inflections Although Tibbett based his career at the Metropolitan Opera, he made numerous operatic and concert appearances throughout the world as well as radio broadcasts and recitals. He was the first internationally known artist to appear in full-length motion pictures and was extremely successful in this medium: Rogue Song (MGM 1930), New Moon (MGM 1930), The Southerner/Prodigal Son (MGM 1931), Cuban Love Song (MGM 1931), Metropolitan (20th Century Fox, 1935), and Under Your Spell(MGM, 1936). He had a radio program on which he sang formal music; his sponsor was the Packard Motor Car Company. When the firm wanted to sell even less expensive cars, they had him add popular tunes to his repertoire. Lawrence Tibbett died in 1960 in New York City as the result of a fall in his apartment.
- Content: The Lawrence Tibbett Papers consist of material dating from 1916-1960. They consist primarily of photographs of Lawrence Tibbett, his family and friends. They also include graphic sketches, poems from his fans and clippings. There is no substantial amount of correspondence or materials regarding professional career of Lawrence Tibbett.
- Physical Description
- Extent: 3.25 linear feet (5 boxes)
- Type of Resource
- Text
- Identifiers
- Other local Identifier: JPB 06-66
- NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b16495105
- MSS Unit ID: 20373
- Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 1bc74b90-1ff4-013f-4a1f-0242ac110002
