Episode 366. Donald Gramm Revisited

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I’m going all out (literally) for this year’s Pride celebrations, especially because the haters are out there in such force. Today I pay tribute to my fellow Milwaukeean, the marvelous bass-baritone Donald Gramm (1927-1983), one of the central house singers at both the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera from the 1960s through his premature death at the age of 56. Gifted with an intrinsically beautiful voice, an impeccable technique and an expansive range, he also was a crackerjack musician whose repertoire easily encompassed musical styles from florid Baroque music through the thorniest contemporary idioms. He is probably best celebrated these days for his commitment to American art song. This episode focuses on both his intrepid and thoughtful programming of such songs, as well as a cross-section of his achievements on the operatic stage. Though Gramm may not have been “out” by today’s standards, he lived his life unapologetically and is still remembered today for his exacting yet bountiful musicianship and voice. It’s a treat to revisit his legacy today.

RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE

Ned Rorem, Walt Whitman: To You (Five Songs to Poems of Walt Whitman, No. 3). Donald Gramm, Eugene Istomin [1969]

Hector Berlioz, Léon de Wailly, Auguste Barbier: Gain for your sins holy indulgence [À tous péchés pleine indulgence] (Benvenuto Cellini). Donald Gramm, Sarah Caldwell, Orchestra of the Opera Company of Boston [live Boston 05.75]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lorenzo da Ponte: O statua gentilissima (Don Giovanni). Donald Gramm, Donald Gramm, William Dooley, McHenry Boatwright, Sarah Caldwell, Orchestra of the Opera Company of Boston [live 21.II.1966]

Igor Stravinsky, Jean Cocteau: Respondit deus… Non reparis vetus scelus (Oedipus Rex). Donald Gramm, George Shirley, Igor Stravinsky, Orchestra and Chorus of the Opera Society of Washington [1962]

Richard Wagner: Was euch zum Liebe Richt’ und Schnur (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg). Donald Gramm, Thomas Schippers, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra [live 15.I.72]

The unbelievably handsome Thomas Schippers

Richard Wagner, unknown librettist: Guerrieri! A voi venirne… Norma il predisse, WWW52 (insertion aria for Bellini’s Norma). Donald Gramm, Sarah Caldwell, Orchestra and Chorus of the Opera Company of Boston [live Boston 11.VI.1971]

Ludwig Van Beethoven, Joseph Sonnleithner, Stephan von Breuning, after Jean-Nicolas Bouilly: Hat man nicht auch Gold beineben (Fidelio). Donald Gramm, Sarah Caldwell, Orchestra of the Opera Company of Boston [05.76]

Jules Massenet, Henri Meilhac, Philippe Gille: Épouse quelque brave fille (Manon). Donald Gramm, Jean Fournet, Orchestra of the Lyric Opera of Chicago [live Chicago 29.IX.73]

Gramm as Pasquale with Alan Titus, Beverly Sills and Joseph Evans

Gaetano Donizetti, Giovanni Ruffini (after Angelo Anelli): Ah, un foco insolito (Don Pasquale). Donald Gramm, Sarah Caldwell, Orchestra of the Houston Grand Opera [live Houston 15.II.80]

Gioacchino Rossini, Felice Romani, Andrew Porter [English translation]: Bella Italia, At last I see thee! (The Turk in Italy). Donald Gramm, Beverly Sills, Julius Rudel, New York City Opera Orchestra [telecast 04.X.78]

Gaetano Donizetti, Giuseppe Bardari (after Friedrich Schiller): Un altra colpa a piangere… Lascia contenta al carcere (Maria Stuarda). Montserrat Caballé, Donald Gramm, Bruno Bartoletti, Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra [live Chicago 21.IX.73]

Giuseppe Verdi, Arrigo Boito (after William Shakespeare): L’onore? Ladri! (Falstaff). Donald Gramm, Sarah Caldwell, Chicago Symphony Orchestra [live Ravinia 03.VIII.76]

I actually think he’s Don Pasquale here, but imagine him as Schicchi masquerading as Buoso

Giacomo Puccini, Giovacchino Forzano (after Dante Alighieri): Laurettina, va’ sul terrazzino… Ah! che zucconi! (Gianni Schicchi). Donald Gramm, Fedora Barbieri, Edoardo Gimenez, Federico Davià, Pamela South, Janice Felty, Peter Strummer, John Duykers, James Hooper, William Dansby, Elyakum Shapirra, San Francisco Opera Orchestra [live 28.XI.75]

Igor Stravinsky, Stepan Mitusov: Excerpt from Act III (Le Rossignol). Donald Gramm, Reri Grist, Igor Stravinsky, Orchestra of the Opera Society of Washington [1962]

Igor Stravinsky (after Giovanni Battista Pergolesi): Con queste paroline (Pulcinella). Donald Gramm, Igor Stravinsky, Columbia Symphony Orchestra [1965]

Arnold Schoenberg, Francesco Petrarch (translated Karl Förster): Sonett Nr. 217 von Petrarca (Serenade, Op. 24/4). Donald Gramm, Robert Craft, The Columbia Chamber Ensemble [1967]

John LaMontaine, Henry David Thoreau: We need the tonic of wildness (Wilderness Journal, Op. 41). Donald Gramm, Antal Dorati, National Symphony Orchestra [1972]