Thomas Jamerson Explained

Thomas Jamerson is an American baritone who had an active international career as an opera and concert performer from the 1960s through the 1990s. He first drew distinction in the field of opera in 1968 when he recorded the role of Baron Douphol in Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata for RCA with conductor Georges Prêtre, the RCA Italiana Orchestra, and Montserrat Caballé as Violetta and Carlo Bergonzi as Alfredo. In 1969 he portrayed roles in the United States premieres of two operas at the Santa Fe Opera: Der Auserwählte (The Chosen One) in Arnold Schoenberg's Die Jakobsleiter and Captain of the Royal Guard in Hans Werner Henze's The Bassarids. He was a principal artist with the New York City Opera from 1969 to 1984. In 1971 he notably created the role of Professor Bolental in the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti's The Most Important Man. He currently teaches voice on the faculty at the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains, New York.

Life and career

Born in Louisiana, Jamerson graduated in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in vocal performance from Louisiana State University where he studied with Loren Davidson.^[1] He went on to earn a Master of Music in vocal performance from LSU in 1966, and studied with Cornelius L. Reid in New York City. In 1965 he was a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and he performed Giorgio's aria "Di Provenza il mar, il suol chi dal cor ti cancellò?" from Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata in concert at the Metropolitan Opera House on March 28, 1965.^[2] In 1966 he made his professional opera debut as Count Almaviva in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro with the Metropolitan Opera National Company, performing the role in more than 70 cities throughout the United States.^[3]

In the late 1960s, Jamerson apprenticed with the Santa Fe Opera (SFO).^[4] He notably portrayed the role of Der Auserwählte (The Chosen One) in the United States premiere of Arnold Schoenberg's Die Jakobsleiter and the role of the Captain of the Royal Guard in the United States premiere of Hans Werner Henze's The Bassarids with the SFO in 1969.^{[5] [6]} He had first drawn distinction in the field of opera a year earlier when he recorded the role of Baron Douphol in Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata for RCA with conductor Georges Prêtre, the RCA Italiana Orchestra, and Montserrat Caballé as Violetta and Carlo Bergonzi as Alfredo in 1968.^[7]

Jamerson relocated to New York City, and made his New York opera debut with the New York City Opera in March 1969 as Silvio in Pagliacci.^[8] He sang with the American Opera Society in 1969 as Nevers in Giacomo Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots with Beverly Sills as Margaret of Valois at Carnegie Hall.^[9] In 1970 he performed the role of Gadshill in Gustav Holst's At the Boar's Head with The Little Orchestra Society and conductor Thomas Scherman at David Geffen Hall.^[10] That same year he returned to the NYCO as Monsieur de Brétigny in Jules Massenet's Manon in March 1970 at the David H. Koch Theater with Carol Neblett in the title role and Julius Rudel conducting.^[11] He continued to perform with the NYCO for 15 consecutive seasons, appearing in both leading and supporting roles like Sharpless in Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly,^[12] Marcello in Puccini's La bohème,^[13] Valentin in Charles Gounod's Faust,^[14] and Harlequin in Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos^[15] among many others. In 1971 he created the role of Professor Bolental in the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti's The Most Important Man with the NYCO.^[16] He notably re-created one of the roles in his NYCO repertoire, Pish‐Tush in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, in the 1978 film Foul Play starring Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase.^[17] In 1983 he represented the City Opera's soloist employees who were members of the American Guild of Musical Artists in highly publicized labor dispute meetings with the NYCO orchestra, the NYCO governing board, and the New York State Department of Labor.^[18] His final performance with the NYCO was as Schaunard in Puccini's La bohème in 1984.^[19]

In addition to performing with the NYCO, Jamerson also performed in operas with the Baltimore Opera Company, Canadian Opera Company, the Opera Company of Boston, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. In his later career, he has dedicated most of his time to teaching voice on the faculty at the Music Conservatory of Westchester and working as a church musician at Grace Episcopal Church in White Plains, New York. At Grace Episcopal Church he performed the title role in Benjamin Britten's Noye's Fludde (1998) and the Bishop in the East Coast premiere of Stephen Paulus'a The Three Hermits (1999).^{[20] [21]}

Roles with New York City Opera

• Silvio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci (1969, 1972, 1977)^[22]
• Monsieur de Brétigny in Jules Massenet's Manon (1970, 1978, 1979 David H. Koch Theater, Carol Neblett in title role, Julius Rudel conducting)
• Unknown role in Dmitri Shostakovich's 1934 opera Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (1970, NYCO)^[23]
• Dandini in Rossini's La Cenerentola (1970, 1983)^[24]
• Professor Bolental in Gian Carlo Menotti's The Most Important Man (1971)
• Schaunard in Puccini's La bohème (1971, 1972, 1983, 1984)^{[25] [26]}
• Silvano in Giuseppe Verdi's Un ballo in maschera (1971)^[27]
• Faninal in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier (1973)^[28]
• Sharpless in Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly (1973, 1975)
• Ottone in Claudio Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea (1973)^[29]
• The Secretary in Hans Werner Henze's Der junge Lord (1973)^[30]
• The Three Barge Men in Frederick Delius A Village Romeo and Juliet (1973)^[31]
• Marcello in Puccini's La bohème (1974, 1977, 1978, 1979)
• Pish‐Tush in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado (1974)^[32]
• Valentin in Charles Gounod's Faust (1974)
• Harlequin in Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos (1974, 1975, 1977)
• Masetto in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni (1974)^[33]
• Ping in Puccini's Turandot (1975, 1977)^[34]
• Morales in Georges Bizet's Carmen (1975, 1977, 1981)^{[35] [36]}
• Dr. Falke in Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus (1976)^[37]
• Barney in Douglas Moore's The Ballad of Baby Doe (1976)^[38]
• Sonora in Puccini's La fanciulla del West (1977)^[39]
• Rouche in Umberto Giordano's Andrea Chénier (1979)^[40]
• Dr. Cajus in Otto Nicolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor (1981)^[41]
• Belcore in Gaetano Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore (1981, New York Grand Opera)^[42]
• Barone Douphol in Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata (1982)^[43]
• Marquis de Cascada in Franz Lehár's The Merry Widow (1982, 1983)^[44]
• Gravedigger in Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet (1982)^[45]

Concert work

• Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 at Carnegie Hall with conductor Arthur Winograd and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra (1971)^[46]
• Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's Magnificat with the Danbury Symphony Orchestra (1997)^[47]

Notes and References

1. Web site: LSU, Baton Rouge LA., Friday, May 24, 1963, Graduation Ceremonies. Louisiana Digital Library. March 19, 2021.
2. Web site: National Council Concert. Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 03/28/1965. Metropolitan Opera Performance Archives. March 19, 2021.
3. News: The Not-So-Grand Tour. Martin Bernheimer. Opera News. August 2006. 71. 2. 40–45.
4. News: Music View; A Hearty Mix of Opera and Green Chilies. Donal Henahan. August 16, 1981. The New York Times.
5. News: Opera: Henze at Santa Fe. The New York Times. August 11, 1968. Harold C. Schonberg.
6. News: Music: Schoenberg at Santa Fe Opera. The New York Times. August 16, 1968. Harold C. Schonberg.
7. Book: Records in Review. University of California Press. 1968. 388.
8. News: City Opera Records Good and Bad Night. The New York Times. March 1, 1969. Robert T. Jones.
9. News: MEYERBEER WORK IN CONCERT FORM. Raymond Ericson. The New York Times. May 15, 1969.
10. News: Music: Double‐Bill of English Operas. Harold C. Schonberg. January 28, 1970. The New York Times.
11. News: City Opera Sings Revised Manon; Three Major Parts Recast – Carol Neblett Pleases. Robert Sherman. March 16, 1970. The New York Times.
12. News: Thomas Jamerson in Sharpless Role. John Rockwell. March 11, 1973. The New York Times.
13. News: Spring La boheme at City Opera. February 24, 1974. The New York Times. Raymond Ericson.
14. News: Opera: Strong Faust by City Troupe. Allen Hughes. The New York Times. September 22, 1974.
15. News: Opera: Ariadne Is Back. September 29, 1974. The New York Times. John Rockwell.
16. Operas In English: A Dictionary. 2013. Scarecrow Press. Margaret Ross Griffel. Margaret Ross Griffel. 329. 9780810883253.
17. Book: The Motion Picture Guide. 3. Jay Robert Nash. Stanley Ralph Ross. Robert Connelly. 1985. University of Virginia Press. 9780933997004.
18. News: State Board Will Study Dispute at City Opera. John Rockwell. The New York Times. August 16, 1983.
19. News: Music: City Opera Presents Puccini's Bohème. Will Crutchfield. The New York Times. July 9, 1984.
20. News: Music; Cinderella, Musical, at Library. Robert Sherman. April 19, 1998. The New York Times.
21. News: Music; Bel Canto Returns to Caramoor. Robert Sherman. April 25, 1999. The New York Times.
22. News: Cav' and Pag' Enlists Two New Heroines. Robert Sherman. April 24, 1972. The New York Times.
23. News: City Opera Presents Bright Ismailova. Theodore Strongin. April 13, 1970. The New York Times.
24. News: Music: City Opera Offers Cendrillon. Donal Henahan. September 22, 1983. The New York Times.
25. News: Miss Craig Pleases In City Opera Debut. April 6, 1971. The New York Times.
26. News: City Opera: Season's First La bohème. Bernard Holland. September 25, 1983. The New York Times.
27. News: Clatworthy Plays City Opera Renato. April 10, 1971. The New York Times. Raymond Ericson.
28. News: City Opera Starts Its Season With Der Rosenkavalier. Harold C. Schonberg. February 23, 1973. The New York Times.
29. News: Opera: Neblett's Poppea. Donal Henahan. March 29, 1973. The New York Times.
30. News: City Standbys Sing in Last Young Lord. April 22, 1973. The New York Times. Raymond Ericson.
31. News: Village Romeo and Juliet Sparkles at City Opera. Allen Hughes. The New York Times. October 8, 1973.
32. News: Mikado Is a First for State Theater. March 18, 1974. The New York Times. Raymond Ericson.
33. News: Opera: City Troupe Returns With Half‐Hearted Don Giovanni. Harold C. Schonberg. October 6, 1974. The New York Times.
34. News: Opera: Lavish Turandot. Allen Hughes. The New York Times. February 22, 1975.
35. News: Music: Welcome Tenor. Allen Hughes. The New York Times. September 8, 1975.
36. News: City Opera: Patricia Miller as Carmen. Donal Henahan. October 2, 1981. The New York Times.
37. News: Opera: Strauss. Peter G. Davis. The New York Times. September 13, 1976.
38. Book: Douglas Moore: A Bio-bibliography. A-R Editions. Jerry L. McBride. 2011.
39. News: Opera: La fanciulla del West. Harold C. Schonberg. October 17, 1977. The New York Times.
40. News: City Opera: Andrea Chénier. February 24, 1979. The New York Times. Raymond Ericson.
41. News: Opera: Wildermann in Merry Wives. Donal Henahan. February 20, 1981. The New York Times.
42. News: Opera: Outdoor L'elisir. Peter G. Davis. July 5, 1981. The New York Times.
43. News: Park Opera: La traviata. Bernard Holland. July 19, 1982. The New York Times.
44. News: City Opera: Merry Widow. Donal Henahan. September 8, 1982. The New York Times.
45. News: Opera: Milnes Sings Hamlet Lead. Donal Henahan. September 15, 1982. The New York Times.
46. News: Hartford Symphony Excels in Mahler. April 25, 1971. The New York Times. Raymond Ericson.
47. News: A Choral Resurgence with Bach and Handel. The New York Times. March 9, 1997. Robert Sherman.