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Gladys Swarthout
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Gladys Swarthout
Gladys Swarthout (December 25, 1900, in Deepwater, Missouri – July 7, 1969, in Florence, Italy) was an American mezzo-soprano opera singer and actress.
While studying at the Bush Conservatory of Music in Chicago, a group of friends arranged an audition for her with the Chicago Civic Opera Company. Much to her surprise, she ended up with a contract, though at the time she did not know a single operatic role. When she debuted a few months later, she had memorized 23 parts and participated in over half of the season's operas.
She sang for the Ravinia Opera Company of Chicago for three seasons. She sang Carmen in April 1928 in Chicago with the American Opera Company, of which her future husband, Frank M. Chapman Jr., later became a member. In 1929, she made her debut with the New York Metropolitan Opera Company, where she sang in over 270 performances until a final Carmen in 1945. She appeared once more to sing one number at a gala concert in 1951. She attended the company's Gala Farewell on April 16, 1966 as a non-singing guest.
Swarthout's role as Carmen was well respected. She regularly worked eight hours a day with vocal coaches, and would spend an hour or more singing duets with her husband, Chapman. She also advocated inflating balloons and blowing bubbles to strengthen her lungs. She also wrote a semi-autobiographical novel entitled Come Soon, Tomorrow: The Story of a Young Singer, first published in 1943, which went through at least seven printings.
She appeared in five films for Paramount Pictures, Rose of the Rancho (1936), Give Us This Night (1936), Champagne Waltz (1937), Romance in the Dark (1938), and Ambush (1939).
For the movie Champagne Waltz with Fred MacMurray, she sang her songs in five languages, including French, German, Italian, and Spanish for the foreign versions of the films. Swarthout also performed on many opera shows on television.
In one of her final public singing performances, she performed a concert in January 1951 at the Met. She continued to make public appearances, including an appearance on What's My Line? in 1951. The Railroad Hour presented Martha on February 22, 1954.
She was often heard on radio programs, including those of General Motors, RCA-Magic Key, Camel Caravan, the Ford Symphony, and the Prudential Family Hour. In a 1942 article, Time magazine reported that she had earned $1,250,000 in her lifetime. One of her signature songs on the radio was Bless This House featured in advertising and commonly found framed in many homes throughout America. Shortly after World War II, Swarthout recorded "Just Awearyin' for You" (w. 1894 by Frank Lebby Stanton, m. 1901 by Carrie Jacobs-Bond).
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Gladys Swarthout
Gladys Swarthout (December 25, 1900, in Deepwater, Missouri – July 7, 1969, in Florence, Italy) was an American mezzo-soprano opera singer and actress.
While studying at the Bush Conservatory of Music in Chicago, a group of friends arranged an audition for her with the Chicago Civic Opera Company. Much to her surprise, she ended up with a contract, though at the time she did not know a single operatic role. When she debuted a few months later, she had memorized 23 parts and participated in over half of the season's operas.
She sang for the Ravinia Opera Company of Chicago for three seasons. She sang Carmen in April 1928 in Chicago with the American Opera Company, of which her future husband, Frank M. Chapman Jr., later became a member. In 1929, she made her debut with the New York Metropolitan Opera Company, where she sang in over 270 performances until a final Carmen in 1945. She appeared once more to sing one number at a gala concert in 1951. She attended the company's Gala Farewell on April 16, 1966 as a non-singing guest.
Swarthout's role as Carmen was well respected. She regularly worked eight hours a day with vocal coaches, and would spend an hour or more singing duets with her husband, Chapman. She also advocated inflating balloons and blowing bubbles to strengthen her lungs. She also wrote a semi-autobiographical novel entitled Come Soon, Tomorrow: The Story of a Young Singer, first published in 1943, which went through at least seven printings.
She appeared in five films for Paramount Pictures, Rose of the Rancho (1936), Give Us This Night (1936), Champagne Waltz (1937), Romance in the Dark (1938), and Ambush (1939).
For the movie Champagne Waltz with Fred MacMurray, she sang her songs in five languages, including French, German, Italian, and Spanish for the foreign versions of the films. Swarthout also performed on many opera shows on television.
In one of her final public singing performances, she performed a concert in January 1951 at the Met. She continued to make public appearances, including an appearance on What's My Line? in 1951. The Railroad Hour presented Martha on February 22, 1954.
She was often heard on radio programs, including those of General Motors, RCA-Magic Key, Camel Caravan, the Ford Symphony, and the Prudential Family Hour. In a 1942 article, Time magazine reported that she had earned $1,250,000 in her lifetime. One of her signature songs on the radio was Bless This House featured in advertising and commonly found framed in many homes throughout America. Shortly after World War II, Swarthout recorded "Just Awearyin' for You" (w. 1894 by Frank Lebby Stanton, m. 1901 by Carrie Jacobs-Bond).
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