211:
443:, described his performance as follows: "Donald Gramm, as Waldner, underplayed the role rather than making it into a broad-accented German buffo, and brought to life the inner pride of the down-at-heel nobleman. His first-act scene with Mandryka was a highpoint of the evening (this must be one of the most closely characterized duologues in opera); the clarity of his enunciation was exemplary." Gramm repeated the role 6 more times, giving his final performance at the Met in a matinee broadcast on March 5, 1983. In total he had appeared 230 times with the company.
202:. In an interview Caldwell had this to say about Gramm as a performer: "Conductors and stage directors love him. Donald's high level of musicianship and intelligence, and his beautiful voice are attributes which make him the logical choice of a conductor. His remarkable ability for physical characterization and his deep interest in its development make him the logical choice of a stage director. This fusion of musical and dramatic qualities sets him apart as one of the most extraordinary singing actors of our time."
1009:
1021:
111:
Donald Gramm lived for over 25 years, until his death, with his life partner Donald Dervin in New York City. They shared two connected brownstones on Park Avenue with the renowned theatrical and arts philanthropist, Robert L. B. Tobin. They also spent time at their houses in
Connecticut and Santa Fe,
40:
described Gramm as follows: "He had an unusually rich, noble tone, and although its volume may not have been large, it penetrated even the biggest theaters easily. Technically, he could handle bel-canto ornamentation fluently. But his real strengths lay in his aristocratic musicianship (impeccable
243:. He performed the part 24 times with the company between 1966 and 1981; of these only 5 were in New York, the remainder were on tour. He was otherwise, however, often confined to smaller parts. Roles performed in the 1964–65 season included the Maharajah in
214:
President John F. Kennedy and
President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan of India greet actors following a performance of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” in the East Room of the White House. Donald Gramm (left) and
45:
that he polished by accompanying himself at the piano, and an easy command of five languages) and his instinctive acting." Among the most notable of his many operatic roles were the title role in Verdi's
656:"Donald Gramm's Leporello, distinctly darker-toned than Giovanni, comes across well: good, unaffected singing, without exaggeration or coarseness ... perhaps, not a strongly characterful reading."
901:
580:"...Sir Colin Davis's electrifying Philips performance ... is not only unsurpassed but likely to remain so.... Munch ... shows a greater grasp of Berliozian nuance than Ozawa...."
988:
965:
827:
419:
In the 1980–81 season he again sang only on tour, repeating his portrayal of
Leporello; but in the 1981–82 season he appeared as Don Alfonso in a new production of
81:
410:. In the 1977–78 season he repeated Captain Balstrode and Leporello. In the 1978–79 season, on the Met's Spring Tour, he added the title role in Donizetti's
1148:
140:
and continued to sing with that company in nearly every season for the next 30 years. His roles there included both the Count and Figaro in Mozart's
34:
performances. His appearances were primarily limited to the United States, which at the time was unusual for an
American singer. John Rockwell of
1138:
451:
Gramm died of a heart attack in New York City on June 2, 1983. He was 56 years old. He had just finished a set of performances in
Bellini's
210:
1153:
736:
1133:
1158:
1123:
77:
465:
on May 29. His publicist said he had complained of chest pains in the last week, but otherwise appeared to be in good health.
819:(Alice Ford); Elizabeth Gale (Nannetta); Max-René Cosotti (Fenton); Nucci Condò (Mistress Quickly); Reni Penkova (Meg Page);
1143:
966:"MARTINU'S OPERA SCORES IN TV BOW; ' The Marriage,' Based on Play by Gogol, Offered by N.B.C. in Excellent Production"
1118:
376:
as Don José); he repeated his roles as the
Speaker, Leporello, and Sulpice, and added Captain Balstrode in Britten's
423:; on the tour he repeated his portrayal of Papageno. In 1982–83, his final season at the Met, Gramm alternated with
340:
852:
with a natural dignity of manner and mien, while the
American baritone's singing, while not as ideally rounded as
76:
of German ancestry. He later changed the surname
Grambsch to Gramm. He received his early musical training at the
1128:
938:
777:
400:. In the 1975–76 season he repeated Papageno and added the roles of Dr. Schön and Jack the Ripper in Berg's
127:
789:
237:. One of the most important roles Gramm performed during his career at the Met was Leporello in Mozart's
929:. Cambridge, Massachusetts, and London, England: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. p.
1086:
796:
690:
602:
486:
100:
438:
661:
585:
536:
462:
324:
216:
196:
192:
92:
547:
Re: electronic stereo: "I could detect no sense of direction, nor clarification of texture...."
346:
694:
142:
122:
930:
869:
755:
672:"Leporello (the excellent Donald Gramm) ... a landmark set in its way...." Gramophone review,
552:
531:"Magnificent! ... The Brander (presumably American) does the Song of the Rat effectively...."
838:
751:
733:
673:
481:
429:
396:
160:
573:
1113:
1108:
834:
802:
495:
176:
544:
Label: RCA Victrola (UK) VIC6109/1-2 (mono) and VICS6109/1-2 (electronic stereo) (2 LPs)
8:
781:
131:
85:
171:
970:
857:
244:
228:
36:
293:
1060:
1033:
934:
923:
606:
355:
233:
181:
1048:
253:
231:
debut was on
January 10, 1964, in the minor role of Truffaldino in Richard Straus's
861:
771:
623:
165:
47:
42:
502:
359:
868:) on the rival versions..., is always well-groomed and exact." Gramophone review
740:
627:
617:
508:
373:
351:
220:
96:
853:
271:
812:
705:
647:
631:
458:
299:
287:
199:
188:
154:
148:
1076:
1102:
865:
719:
715:
635:
512:
453:
369:
277:
23:
416:. He never performed this part at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.
685:
639:
597:
424:
412:
401:
378:
239:
60:
54:
1022:
Arabella New
Production Premiere 10 February 1983 at the Met Opera Archive
136:
961:
820:
816:
433:, and repeated the role of Count Waldner in a new production premiere of
407:
383:
1092:
1037:
744:
723:
561:
170:. In 1953 he created the role of The Bachelor in the world premiere of
669:
Label: Decca Grand Opera (UK) 448 973-2DMO3 (3 CDs, 184 minutes, ADD)
73:
1061:
University of Virginia Library online catalog – Call Number LP17109
522:
386:
in the title role). In the 1973–74 season he performed Papageno in
265:
146:, Orlofsky (transposed down from the original) in Johann Strauss's
1049:
University of Virginia Library online catalog – Call Number LP277
568:
330:
259:
31:
823:(Doctor Caius); Bernard Dickerson (Bardolph); Ugo Trama (Pistol)
521:
Label: RCA Victor (USA) LM-6114 (E4RP-8102 – E4RP-8107) (3 LPs,
995:. Registration and purchase required. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
364:
80:(1933–1944) and sang his operatic debut at age 17 at Chicago's
560:
Label: RCA Victor Gold Seal (UK) GD87940 (2 CDs, 141 minutes,
251:(a part which rises to high F-sharp), Don Alfonso in Mozart's
27:
831:
334:. In the 1971–72 season he repeated the role of Bailiff in
358:
as Tonio). In the 1972–73 season he was cast as Zuniga in
921:
Randel, Don Michael (1996). Randel, Don Michael (ed.).
902:"Donald Gramm is dead at 56; bass-baritone at Met Opera
406:, the Met's first production of the opera, directed by
750:"Donald Gramm is a well-mannered, vivid Pasquale...."
584:
comparative review of the Ozawa and Munch recordings
848:
of a Falstaff: we can tell that here is an idealist
314:
In the 1970–71 season he appeared again as Pedro in
263:; in the 1965–66 season, Count Waldner in Strauss's
344:, but most importantly sang Sulpice in Donizetti's
22:(February 26, 1927 – June 2, 1983) was an American
1015:
922:
437:on 10 February 1983. Patrick J. Smith, writing in
390:. In the 1974–75 season he repeated the Doctor in
205:
729:Label: Angel (USA) SBLX 3871 (2 LPs, issued 1978)
291:; in the 1967–68 season, the Speaker in Mozart's
187:Gramm also performed major roles frequently with
1100:
120:He made his New York debut in 1951 in Berlioz's
58:, and Dr. Schön and Jack the Ripper in Berg's
896:
894:
892:
890:
888:
489:, Harvard Glee Club, Radcliffe Choral Society
1005:
1003:
1001:
925:The Harvard biographical dictionary of music
916:
914:
311:. He did not perform in the 1969–70 season.
112:where he performed with the Santa Fe Opera.
960:
653:Label: Decca (UK) SET412-5 (4 LPs, stereo)
307:; and in the 1968–69 season, the Doctor in
983:
981:
885:
67:
998:
911:
507:Principal singers: David Poleri (Faust);
1149:20th-century American male opera singers
528:Label: HMV (UK) ALP1225-7 (3 LPs, mono)
322:but also added Don Basilio in Rossini's
209:
978:
78:Wisconsin College Conservatory of Music
72:Gramm was born Donald John Grambsch in
1139:Wisconsin Conservatory of Music alumni
1101:
920:
726:(Dr. Malatesta); Henry Newman (Notary)
1010:Donald Gramm at the Met Opera Archive
285:; in the 1966–67 season, Dr.Falke in
989:"A Model of a Modern Singing Actor"
987:Dyer, Richard (February 23, 1975).
13:
1154:Classical musicians from Wisconsin
1095:by Bruce Duffie, December 17, 1981
954:
788:Recording date: 1976 (live at the
394:and added Varlaam in Mussorgsky's
14:
1170:
1134:American people of German descent
1070:
130:. The following year he made his
26:whose career was divided between
1159:Music Academy of the West alumni
1124:American operatic bass-baritones
164:, and the title role in Verdi's
900:Rockwell, John (3 June 1983).
646:; Leonardo Monreale (Masetto);
206:Metropolitan Opera performances
1054:
1042:
1027:
341:Die Meistersinger von NĂĽrnberg
328:and the Bailiff in Massenet's
134:debut as Colline in Puccini's
1:
878:
778:London Philharmonic Orchestra
662:February 1970, pp. 1312, 1319
468:
362:'s new production of Bizet's
219:shaking hands with President
106:
872:. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
790:Opera Festival, Glyndebourne
758:. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
676:. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
664:. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
588:. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
555:. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
539:. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
338:, added Kothner in Wagner's
128:The Little Orchestra Society
7:
1144:Roosevelt University alumni
1093:Interview with Donald Gramm
1063:. Accessed January 5, 2010.
1051:. Accessed January 5, 2010.
1024:. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
1012:. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
908:. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
712:Donald Gramm (Don Pasquale)
257:, and the Doctor in Berg's
10:
1175:
303:, and again the Doctor in
91:. He later studied at the
691:London Symphony Orchestra
603:English Chamber Orchestra
487:Boston Symphony Orchestra
115:
101:Music Academy of the West
1119:Musicians from Milwaukee
764:
644:Donald Gramm (Leporello)
473:
446:
427:as Varlaam and Pimen in
52:, Leporello in Mozart's
870:July 2005, pp. 107, 109
809:Donald Gramm (Falstaff)
463:Opera Company of Boston
325:Il barbiere di Siviglia
297:, Plunkett in Flotow's
275:, Geronte in Puccini's
269:, Pedro in Offenbach's
193:Opera Company of Boston
158:, Bartolo in Rossini's
152:, Dandini in Rossini's
93:Chicago Musical College
68:Early life and training
1129:Singers from Wisconsin
695:Ambrosian Opera Chorus
586:February 1989, p. 1320
517:Donald Gramm (Brander)
494:Recording date: 1954 (
224:
143:The Marriage of Figaro
16:American bass-baritone
828:Arthaus Musik 101 083
743:(2 CDs, 122 minutes,
674:May 1997, pp. 112–113
537:December 1955, p. 178
482:La damnation de Faust
213:
161:The Barber of Seville
82:Eighth Street Theater
964:(February 8, 1953).
803:Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
732:Label: EMI Classics
701:Recording date: 1978
613:Recording date: 1969
496:Boston Symphony Hall
347:La fille du régiment
74:Milwaukee, Wisconsin
807:Principal singers:
782:Glyndebourne Chorus
710:Principal singers:
622:Principal singers:
553:March 1969, p. 1332
281:, and Leporello in
132:New York City Opera
123:L'enfance du Christ
88:Lucia di Lammermoor
1080:Il turco in Italia
993:The New York Times
971:The New York Times
906:The New York Times
739:2011-06-14 at the
574:La Damoiselle Ă©lue
511:(Méphistophélès);
225:
37:The New York Times
844:"Gramm is a true
841:stereo, 118 min)
801:Stage Director:
756:March 1997, p. 93
607:Ambrosian Singers
356:Luciano Pavarotti
318:and Leporello in
234:Ariadne auf Naxos
182:NBC Opera Theatre
20:Donald John Gramm
1166:
1083:
1078:Donald Gramm in
1064:
1058:
1052:
1046:
1040:
1031:
1025:
1019:
1013:
1007:
996:
985:
976:
975:
958:
952:
951:
949:
947:
928:
918:
909:
898:
862:Ambrogio Maestri
634:(Donna Elvira);
626:(Don Giovanni);
624:Gabriel Bacquier
172:Bohuslav MartinĹŻ
1174:
1173:
1169:
1168:
1167:
1165:
1164:
1163:
1099:
1098:
1077:
1073:
1068:
1067:
1059:
1055:
1047:
1043:
1032:
1028:
1020:
1016:
1008:
999:
986:
979:
959:
955:
945:
943:
941:
919:
912:
899:
886:
881:
767:
741:Wayback Machine
642:(Don Ottavio);
628:Joan Sutherland
618:Richard Bonynge
509:Martial Singher
476:
471:
449:
388:Die Zauberflöte
374:James McCracken
352:Joan Sutherland
294:Die Zauberflöte
249:The Last Savage
221:John F. Kennedy
208:
118:
109:
97:Martial Singher
84:as Raimondo in
70:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1172:
1162:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1097:
1096:
1090:
1072:
1071:External links
1069:
1066:
1065:
1053:
1041:
1026:
1014:
997:
977:
953:
939:
910:
883:
882:
880:
877:
876:
875:
874:
873:
824:
813:Benjamin Luxon
805:
799:
797:John Pritchard
793:
766:
763:
762:
761:
760:
759:
730:
727:
708:
706:Sarah Caldwell
702:
680:
679:
678:
677:
667:
666:
665:
651:
650:(Commendatore)
648:Clifford Grant
632:Pilar Lorengar
630:(Donna Anna);
620:
614:
592:
591:
590:
589:
578:
567:Also includes
558:
557:
556:
542:
541:
540:
526:
519:
515:(Margeurite);
505:
499:
475:
472:
470:
467:
459:Sarah Caldwell
448:
445:
421:Così fan tutte
372:as Carmen and
288:Die Fledermaus
254:Così fan tutte
207:
204:
200:Santa Fe Opera
189:Sarah Caldwell
155:La Cenerentola
149:Die Fledermaus
117:
114:
108:
105:
69:
66:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1171:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1107:
1106:
1104:
1094:
1091:
1088:
1084:
1081:
1075:
1074:
1062:
1057:
1050:
1045:
1039:
1035:
1030:
1023:
1018:
1011:
1006:
1004:
1002:
994:
990:
984:
982:
973:
972:
967:
963:
957:
942:
936:
932:
927:
926:
917:
915:
907:
903:
897:
895:
893:
891:
889:
884:
871:
867:
863:
859:
855:
851:
847:
843:
842:
840:
836:
833:
829:
825:
822:
818:
814:
810:
806:
804:
800:
798:
794:
791:
787:
786:
785:
784:
783:
779:
775:
774:
757:
753:
749:
748:
746:
742:
738:
735:
731:
728:
725:
721:
720:Alfredo Kraus
717:
716:Beverly Sills
713:
709:
707:
703:
700:
699:
698:
697:
696:
692:
688:
687:
675:
671:
670:
668:
663:
659:
655:
654:
652:
649:
645:
641:
637:
636:Marilyn Horne
633:
629:
625:
621:
619:
615:
612:
611:
610:
609:
608:
604:
600:
599:
587:
583:
579:
576:
575:
570:
566:
565:
563:
559:
554:
550:
546:
545:
543:
538:
534:
530:
529:
527:
524:
520:
518:
514:
513:Suzanne Danco
510:
506:
504:
503:Charles MĂĽnch
500:
497:
493:
492:
491:
490:
488:
484:
483:
466:
464:
460:
456:
455:
444:
442:
441:
436:
432:
431:
430:Boris Godunov
426:
422:
417:
415:
414:
409:
405:
404:
399:
398:
397:Boris Godunov
393:
389:
385:
381:
380:
375:
371:
370:Marilyn Horne
367:
366:
361:
360:Göran Gentele
357:
354:as Marie and
353:
349:
348:
343:
342:
337:
333:
332:
327:
326:
321:
317:
312:
310:
306:
302:
301:
296:
295:
290:
289:
284:
280:
279:
278:Manon Lescaut
274:
273:
268:
267:
262:
261:
256:
255:
250:
246:
242:
241:
236:
235:
230:
222:
218:
212:
203:
201:
198:
197:John Crosby's
194:
190:
185:
183:
179:
178:
173:
169:
168:
163:
162:
157:
156:
151:
150:
145:
144:
139:
138:
133:
129:
125:
124:
113:
104:
102:
98:
94:
90:
89:
83:
79:
75:
65:
63:
62:
57:
56:
51:
50:
44:
39:
38:
33:
29:
25:
24:bass-baritone
21:
1079:
1056:
1044:
1029:
1017:
992:
969:
956:
944:. Retrieved
924:
905:
854:José van Dam
849:
845:
808:
772:
769:
768:
734:724356603028
711:
686:Don Pasquale
684:
682:
681:
657:
643:
640:Werner Krenn
598:Don Giovanni
596:
594:
593:
581:
572:
548:
532:
516:
480:
478:
477:
452:
450:
439:
434:
428:
425:Paul Plishka
420:
418:
413:Don Pasquale
411:
402:
395:
391:
387:
379:Peter Grimes
377:
363:
345:
339:
335:
329:
323:
320:Don Giovanni
319:
316:La PĂ©richole
315:
313:
308:
304:
298:
292:
286:
283:Don Giovanni
282:
276:
272:La PĂ©richole
270:
264:
258:
252:
248:
240:Don Giovanni
238:
232:
226:
217:John Reardon
186:
177:The Marriage
175:
166:
159:
153:
147:
141:
135:
121:
119:
110:
87:
86:Donizetti's
71:
59:
55:Don Giovanni
53:
48:
35:
19:
18:
1114:1983 deaths
1109:1927 births
962:Olin Downes
821:John Fryatt
817:Kay Griffel
795:Conductor:
722:(Ernesto);
704:Conductor:
683:Donizetti:
638:(Zerlina);
616:Conductor:
501:Conductor:
408:John Dexter
384:Jon Vickers
350:(with Dame
1103:Categories
946:18 January
940:0674372999
879:References
858:Cambreling
752:Gramophone
724:Alan Titus
718:(Norina);
658:Gramophone
582:Gramophone
549:Gramophone
533:Gramophone
525:, issued )
469:Recordings
107:Adult life
846:cavaliere
479:Berlioz:
229:Met Opera
180:with the
137:La bohème
95:and with
815:(Ford);
773:Falstaff
754:review,
737:Archived
660:review,
595:Mozart:
461:and the
435:Arabella
266:Arabella
227:Gramm's
167:Falstaff
49:Falstaff
43:phrasing
1087:YouTube
1038:9883790
826:Label:
770:Verdi:
569:Debussy
551:review
535:review
392:Wozzeck
336:Werther
331:Werther
309:Wozzeck
305:Wozzeck
260:Wozzeck
245:Menotti
99:at the
32:concert
1082:(1978)
1036:
937:
860:) and
850:manqué
830:(DVD,
382:(with
368:(with
365:Carmen
300:Martha
116:Career
765:Video
474:Audio
457:with
454:Norma
447:Death
440:Opera
126:with
28:opera
1034:OCLC
948:2020
935:ISBN
866:Muti
832:NTSC
523:mono
403:Lulu
195:and
61:Lulu
30:and
1085:on
931:328
839:PCM
835:4:3
745:ADD
571:'s
562:ADD
247:'s
191:'s
174:'s
1105::
1000:^
991:.
980:^
968:.
933:.
913:^
904:.
887:^
837:,
811:;
780:,
776:•
747:)
714:;
693:,
689:•
605:,
601:•
564:)
485:•
184:.
103:.
64:.
1089:.
974:.
950:.
864:(
856:(
792:)
577:.
498:)
223:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.