His real name was William Ewart Noble. He was
trained by Dinh Gilly in London and later in Italy. After the First World War
he sang in English cinemas and was discovered by the conductor Percy Pitt. In
1924 he provided for Noble an engagement for the London Covent Garden, where as
the first role he took over the part of Marullo in ‘’Rigoletto’’. During the next
six years he appeared at Covent Garden in small parts and only in 1930 he had a
huge success as Sharpless in ’’Madama Butterfly’’ and especially in 1931
as Germont-père in ‘’La Traviata’’ opposite Rose Ponselle. In 1937 he sang
there in the premiere of the opera ‘’Don Juan de Mañara’’ of E. Goossens. Till
1938 he was active as the first baritone of the London Covent Garden. In 1947 he
again appeared here. He further sang with the British National Opera Company in
London and with Carl Rose Opera Company, made guest performances at the opera houses
of Cleveland (1935-36) and Cincinnati. At Convent Garden he performed in premieres of
several operas: ‘’Pickwick’’ of A. Coates (1936), ‘’Judith’’ (25. 9. 1929), ‘’Don
Juan de Mañara’’ (24. 6. 1937) by E. Goossens.
Chronology of some appearances
1924 London Covent
Garden Rigoletto (Marullo)
1930 London Covent
Garden Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)
1931 London Covent
Garden La Traviata (Germont-père)
RECORDINGS FOR SALE
Columbia, London 1927
Complete Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) with Mullings, Licette, Williams and Nash
Columbia, 1928-01-24
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Largo al factorum 9556 WAX 3200
Columbia, 1943-12-20
Traviata (Verdi): Ah! Say to thy daughter with Joan Hammond C3387 2ER 734
Traviata (Verdi): Now command me with Joan Hammond C3387 2ER 733
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