Tibbett, Lawrence

Tibbett, Lawrence

(tĭb`ĭt), 1896–1960, American baritone, b. Bakersfield, Calif. He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1923. After a successful appearance as Ford in Verdi's Falstaff, he was given leading roles and became especially noted for those he created in American operas, including Louis Gruenberg's Emperor Jones (1933) and the operas of Deems Taylor. He was outstanding in the revival (1932) of Verdi's Simon Boccanegra. Beginning with The Rogue Song (1930) he appeared in a number of motion pictures and was long popular as a radio singer. In 1936 he helped found the American Guild of Musical Artists, of which he became president.

Tibbett, Lawrence

(1896–1960) baritone; born in Bakersfield, Calif. After experience as an actor and in light opera, he studied voice in New York and made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1923, going on to be a favorite there until his retirement in 1950. He was admired both for his roles in Italian classics and in new operas, and also appeared in films and recitals, and on radio.