THOMAS (TOM) BURKE (LANCASHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, 2
MARCH, 1890 – CARSHALTON, UNITED KINGDOM, 13 SEPTEMBER, 1969)
He began his musical journey singing in the church choir of
his hometown. He studied singing under Amy Sherwin in London and then trained
with Ernesto Colli and Fernando de Lucia in Italy. He made his debut in 1917 at
the Teatro Lirico in Milan, performing the role of the Duke in Rigoletto.
During World War I, he continued to perform in Italian opera
houses, particularly in Naples and Palermo. In 1919, he was engaged by Covent
Garden in London, where he sang the lyrical Italian repertoire. Notably, he
participated in the English premieres of Puccini’s Il Tabarro and Gianni
Schicchi in 1920. He also performed in an important 1919 performance of
Borodin’s Prince Igor.
He made a guest appearance during a North American tour at
the Chicago Opera in 1925. He remained with Covent Garden until 1928, and also
performed with various smaller English opera companies. In 1928, he appeared at
the Opera House of Monte Carlo as Rodolfo in La Bohème and at the Opéra-Comique
in Paris (using the stage name Tom Burke) as Cavaradossi in Tosca. After
retiring from the stage, he settled back in his hometown of Leigh.
Chronology of some appearances
1917 Milan Teatro Lirico Rigoletto
1919 London Covent Garden Prince Igor
1920 London Covent Garden Il Tabarro
1920 London Covent Garden Gianni Schicchi
1928 Monte Carlo Opera House
1928 Paris Opéra-Comique
TRACKLIST
A little love, a little kiss (Silesu) 4012 6570 Broadcast
Twelve, London
Aida (Verdi) Celeste Aida 7347 76547 Columbia 1920/1921
Boheme (Puccini) Che gelida manina 7347 76599 Columbia 1920/1921
Cast thy burdens (Hamblen) B23 1529-2 Dominion, London 1930/1931
Come out, Vienna (Strauss) 3312 1339-2 Broadcast Twelve,
London
Dance, pretty Lady (Strauss) 3312 1338-2 Broadcast Twelve,
London
Dear old pal of mine (Rice) 7233 Columbia, London 1920/1921
Desert Song (Romberg) One alone Z136 189-2 Imperial, London
1932 – 1934 (all 12”)
Diane (Rapee-Pollack) (as Pat Nolan) 1020 M.31-2 ()
Metropole, London
Don't say goodbye (Stolz) 3287 Broadcast Twelve, London
Don't wait too long (Berlin) 520-D W141182-7 Columbia, New
York 1925-11-30
Dorothy (Cellier) Queen of my heart Z121 173 Imperial, London
1932 – 1934 (all 12”)
Elégie (Massenet) Z131 182-2 Imperial, London 1932 – 1934
(all 12”)
Esmerelda (Goring-Thomas) O vision entrancing L1951 AX2881 Columbia 1927
Excelsior (Balfe) Duo with Foster Richardson Z144 T210
Imperial, London 1932 – 1934 (all 12”)
For you alone (Geehl) Z125 175 Imperial, London 1932 – 1934
(all 12”)
I cover the Waterfront (Haymant Green) 3333 1384-2 Broadcast
Twelve, London
I heard you sing (Solloway) (as Pat Nolan) 1020 M.31-2 () Metropole,
London
Ich liebe dich (Hart-Blight) 3287 Broadcast Twelve, London
I'm sitting by the stile, Mary (Song of the Irish emigrant)
(Barker-Dufferin) 536-D W141250-2 Columbia, New York 1925-11-06
Kathleen Mavourneen (Crouch) 33007 140913 Columbia, New York
1925-09-08
Killamey (Balfe) 33007 140914 Columbia, New York 1925-09-08
Let us waltz as we say goodbye (Beiner) 520-D W141181-9 Columbia,
New York 1925-11-30
Lo-Nah (Stept-Green) 560-D W141434-1 Columbia, New York
1925-12-24
Love everlasting (Friml) Z137 199 Imperial, London 1932 –
1934 (all 12”)
Love's last word is spoken (Bixio) 4012 6571 Broadcast
Twelve, London
Macushla (MacMurrough) Z137 200 Imperial, London 1932 – 1934
(all 12”)
Maire my girl (Aitken) Z136 190-2 Imperial, London 1932 –
1934 (all 12”)
Manon (Massenet) Le reve 7204 76402 Columbia 1920/1921
Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Donna non vidi mai 7225 Columbia,
London 1920/1921
Martha (Flotow) M'appari 7203 76414 Columbia, London 1920/1921
Masquerade (Loeb) 3251 1208X Broadcast Twelve, London
My dreams (Tosti) L1951 WAX 2865 Columbia 1927
My song goes around the world (Kennedy & May) 3362
Broadcast Twelve, London
Nightfall (Harold) 3251 1209X Broadcast Twelve, London
O sole mio (Du Capua) Z144 TI209 Imperial, London 1932 – 1934
(all 12”)
One night of love (Schertzinger) 4025 6580-2 Broadcast
Twelve, London
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba Z125 TI176 Imperial, London
1932 – 1934 (all 12”)
Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna e mobile 7346 76405 Columbia
19201921
Rigoletto (Verdi) Questa o quella 7346 76406 Columbia 19201921
Rosa Mia (Poetter) 3279 1270 Broadcast Twelve, London
Serenata (Toselli) Z120 160A Imperial, London 1932 – 1934
(all 12”)
Serse (Handel) Ombra mai fu C345 1627 Dominion 1929
Sing, gypsy, sing (-) 3362 Broadcast Twelve, London
Smiling through (Penn) 3279 1269 Broadcast Twelve, London
Smoke gets in your eyes (Kern) 4025 6581-2 Broadcast Twelve,
London
Song of songs (Vaucaire) Z120 161-4 Imperial, London 1932 –
1934 (all 12”)
Student Prince (Romberg) Serenade Z128 179-3 Imperial, London
1932 – 1934 (all 12”)
Sunrise to sunset (-) 3333 1385-2 Broadcast Twelve, London
Teach me to smile (Bestor-Griswold) 560-D W141433-2 Columbia,
New York 1925-12-24
Tell me tonight (Spoliansky) 3264 1230 Broadcast Twelve,
London
The minstrel boy (Trad,) D1594 A5659 Columbia 1927
The snowy-breasted pearl (Robinson) 536D 141250 Columbia, New
York 1925-11-06
Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle D15930 Columbia 1927
Tosca (Puccini) Recondita armonia 7200 76366 Columbia 19201/921
Turandot (Puccini) Nessun dorma D15930 A6145 Columbia 1927
Was it a dream (-) (as Brian Thomas) 4963 WA7580-1 Columbia,
London 1928-09
When you come to rest (Burke) (as Terry O'Neill) 883 88322X Edison Bell, London
You just you (Stolz) 3264 1231X Broadcast Twelve, London
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