George Lambert (baritone)
Encyclopedia
George James Lambert was an English baritone
and voice teacher
who was primarily active in Canada.
Lambert was born in Long Preston
. Following World War I
, he studied singing in his native country with Frederic Lord
while concurrently playing soccer professionally. He was highly active as an oratorio
singer in England during the early 1920s. In 1923 he relocated to Rome where he studied opera
with Alfredo Martino. He made his professional opera debut in Rome soon after as Giorgio Germont in Giuseppe Verdi
's La Traviata
. He returned to England where he became a frequent soloist on BBC Radio
during the late 1920s. During this time Sir Henry Wood was his vocal coach.
Lambert relocated to Canada in the early 1930s to continue vocal studies with Lord who now resided in Ontario. He performed in concerts with symphony orchestras and with opera companies in many Canadian cities during the 1930s and 1940s. He was particularly active as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
(TSO); notably performing the part of Christus
in the TSO's annual presentations of Bach
's St Matthew Passion with conductor Sir Ernest MacMillan and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir
every year from 1938-1945. One of his final performances was as Cathva in the world premiere Healey Willan
's opera Deirdre which was broadcast live on CBC Radio
on 20 April 1946.
Lambert retired from the stage in 1946 and thereafter dedicated his life to teaching. He had joined the voice faculty of the Toronto Conservatory of Music in 1932, and he continued to teach there until his death nearly 40 years later. A large number of his pupils have had successful singing careers, including Léonard Bilodeau, Jean Bonhomme, Pierre Boutet, Victor Braun
, John Dodington
, Audrey Farnell, Don Garrard, Robert Goulet
, Doreen Hume
, Gwenlynn Little, Phyllis Mailing, Ermanno Mauro, Joan Maxwell, David Mills
, Peter Milne, Bernard Turgeon, Jon Vickers
, Alan Woodrow
, and Lesia Zubrack Romanoff. He died in 1971 at the age of 70 in Toronto.
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
and voice teacher
Voice teacher
A voice teacher or singing teacher is a musical instructor who trains adults and children in the art of singing. This generally involves training in breath control and support, proper tone production, pitch control and musical intonation, proper formation of vowels and consonants as well as...
who was primarily active in Canada.
Lambert was born in Long Preston
Long Preston
Long Preston is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England, in the Yorkshire Dales. It lies along the A65 road, and is 12 miles from the larger town of Skipton and four miles from the town of Settle...
. Following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he studied singing in his native country with Frederic Lord
Frederic Lord
Frederic Lord was an English choral conductor, organist, composer, and music educator. He studied piano with Ladislas Gorski in Montreux, Switzerland and the organ with Arthur Eaglefield Hull in England. A child prodigy, he started giving organ recitals at the age of 10 and began working as a...
while concurrently playing soccer professionally. He was highly active as an oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
singer in England during the early 1920s. In 1923 he relocated to Rome where he studied opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
with Alfredo Martino. He made his professional opera debut in Rome soon after as Giorgio Germont in Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
's La Traviata
La traviata
La traviata is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on La dame aux Camélias , a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils. The title La traviata means literally The Fallen Woman, or perhaps more figuratively, The Woman...
. He returned to England where he became a frequent soloist on BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
during the late 1920s. During this time Sir Henry Wood was his vocal coach.
Lambert relocated to Canada in the early 1930s to continue vocal studies with Lord who now resided in Ontario. He performed in concerts with symphony orchestras and with opera companies in many Canadian cities during the 1930s and 1940s. He was particularly active as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
(TSO); notably performing the part of Christus
Vox Christi
Vox Christi, Latin for Voice of Christ, is a term for the bass voice representing Jesus in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and others. This part appears prominently in Bach's Passions...
in the TSO's annual presentations of Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
's St Matthew Passion with conductor Sir Ernest MacMillan and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir
The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir is a Canadian large vocal ensemble based in Toronto.The choir was co-founded in 1894 by Augustus S. Vogt and W. H. Hewlett. The ensemble was originally an extension of the choir of Jarvis St. Baptist Church in Toronto which Vogt directed and Hewlett accompanied. The...
every year from 1938-1945. One of his final performances was as Cathva in the world premiere Healey Willan
Healey Willan
Healey Willan, was an Anglo-Canadian organist and composer. He composed more than 800 works including operas, symphonies, chamber music, a concerto, and pieces for band, orchestra, organ, and piano...
's opera Deirdre which was broadcast live on CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
on 20 April 1946.
Lambert retired from the stage in 1946 and thereafter dedicated his life to teaching. He had joined the voice faculty of the Toronto Conservatory of Music in 1932, and he continued to teach there until his death nearly 40 years later. A large number of his pupils have had successful singing careers, including Léonard Bilodeau, Jean Bonhomme, Pierre Boutet, Victor Braun
Victor Braun
Victor Conrad Braun was a Canadian baritone who had a major international performance career in concerts and operas that lasted more than 40 years...
, John Dodington
John Dodington
John Dodington is a Canadian operatic bass. Born in Toronto, he studied singing at The Royal Conservatory of Music with George Lambert from 1965-71. He then studied singing at the University of Toronto under Louis Quilico where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1972. From 1972-1975 he...
, Audrey Farnell, Don Garrard, Robert Goulet
Robert Goulet
Robert Gerard Goulet was a Canadian American entertainer as a singer and actor. He played the role of Lancelot in the Broadway musical Camelot of 1960.-Early life:...
, Doreen Hume
Doreen Hume
Doreen Hume is a Canadian soprano soloist who performed in North America and Europe from the 1940s through to the 1970s.-Biography:...
, Gwenlynn Little, Phyllis Mailing, Ermanno Mauro, Joan Maxwell, David Mills
David Mills (bass)
David Mills is a Canadian bass, poet, composer and actor. Retired now, he had an active international singing career that spanned more than five decades. He has published two books of poetry, Isobelle, a Novel in Verse and The Social Comedy...
, Peter Milne, Bernard Turgeon, Jon Vickers
Jon Vickers
Jonathan Stewart Vickers, CC , known professionally as Jon Vickers, is a retired Canadian heldentenor.Born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, he was the sixth in a family of eight children. In 1950, he was awarded a scholarship to study opera at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto...
, Alan Woodrow
Alan Woodrow
Alan Donald Woodrow is a Canadian opera singer.Born in Toronto, Woodrow studied singing with George Lambert at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto before pursuing further studies at the London Opera Centre. On completing these studies he joined English National Opera as a principal tenor...
, and Lesia Zubrack Romanoff. He died in 1971 at the age of 70 in Toronto.