Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Apr 13, 2012

Frank Mullings (Tenor) (Walsall 1881 – Manchester 1953)


Tristan

                                                                   Canio

                                                                 Otello

Already at the age of eleven he sang Soprano-solo in a performance of the Mendelssohn’s ''Elias''. He wanted to become originally a teacher, but then decided to study singing, which happened in  1904 under Beard and Breedan in Birmingham. In 1907 he made his debut in a concert performance of Gounod’s ‘’Faust’’ in Coventry. Since 1911 he had in London big success as a concert singer. In 1913 his stage debut took place with the Denhof Opera Company in Birmingham as Tristan in Wagner’s ‘’Tistan und Isolde’’. From 1915-20 he was a principal tenor of the Beecham Opera Company in London. In 1916 he appeared in the London Shaftesbury Theatre in the premiere of the opera ‘’The Critic’’ of Charles Stanford. In 1919 he had big success at Covent Garden in London. From 1922-26 he was  a member of the British Nationwide Opera Company. In London he appeared in 1922 in the English première of the opera ‘’Naïl’’ of Isidore De Lara as Hadyar. In 1930 he sang with the ensemble of Covent Garden in Manchester the role of  Radames in ‘’Aida’’, he also often appeared in performances of Carl Rosa Company. He was specified especially on the Wagner's repertoire, at the same time, nevertheless, he was a significant concert and oratorios tenor. His big Wagner's parts were the Tristan, Siegfried and Parsifal. He was famous also for his interpretation of Otello in Verdi’s ‘’Otello’’. 

1913 Birmingham Denhof Opera Company
1915-1920 London Beecham Opera Company
1916 London Shaftesbury Theatre
1919 London Covent Garden
1922-26 British Nationwide Opera Company

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 






Columbia, London 1917?
Reine de Saba (Reyer): Lend me your aid, recitative (Inspirez-moi) 636 75325
Lohengrin (Wagner): Narration (Da voi lontan) L1147 75497
Lohengrin (Wagner): Farewell (Cigno fedel)  L1147 75498

Columbia, London 1919?
Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida L1349 76423
Otello (Verdi): Thou avaunt thee (Tu? indietro! fuggi!...Ora e per sempre addio) L1349 76429

Columbia, London 1920-05-05
Aida (Verdi): Nile Duet, pt 1 with Elsa Stralia 7248, 74063
Aida (Verdi): pt 2  with Elsa Stralia  7249, 74064 

Columbia, London 1920-05
Tannhauser (Wagner): Pilgrimage to Rome, pt 1 L1383 74080
Tannhauser (Wagner): Pilgrimage to Rome, pt 2 L1383 74086

Columbia, London 1920-05-16
Carmen (Bizet): My Mother I Behold (Mia madre vedo ancor) with Elsa Stralia 7258 74106

Columbia, London 1924-02-07
Otello (Verdi): Could I but die now (Venga la morte) (w. Licette) L1562 AX294
Otello (Verdi): Stilled by the gathering darkness (Giа nella notte densa) L1562 AX296

Columbia, London 1927-
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): They come, they come with Nash  4348 WA5045

Columbia, London 1927-02-08 (03-08?)
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): On with the motley 4354 WA5003

Columbia, London 1927-03-11
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Finale with Licette, Williams, Nash and Noble 4358 WA5067

Columbia, London 1927
Complete Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) with Licette, Williams, Nash and  Noble 1927

Mullings upl by Stampanoni

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