William Martin

William Martin graduated from Harvard University, and sang there in the Harvard Glee Club, a tenor-bass choir looking back on a venerable tradition. Martin started singing there in 1917, without excelling; with time, his voice grew better and better, and on a 1921 tour to France, which the standard tenor soloist could not join, Martin stepped in for him and sang all the solos on that tour. His success was such that he stayed in France, and studied voice in Paris with the retired tenor Amédée Sujol. On 25 May 1923, he made his debut at the Paris Opéra-Comique, as Werther.

He got a two-year contract, which was then prolonged until 1929; his roles included Rodolfo, Pinkerton, Cavaradossi, Mylio, Hoffmann and Julien, and he also sang Philippe in the world premiere of Le poème du soir by Lucien Chevaillier. From 1927, William Martin also sang at the Opéra: Gounod's Faust and Roméo, the Astrologer, Nicias, Duca di Mantova (a major success, 1929) and Maître Loÿs in Le miracle by Georges Hüe. In 1930, he appeared in Liège, singing Roméo to Grace Moore's Juliette.

Back to the United States, he continued his career; most notably, he created Amelia's lover in the world premiere of Menotti's Amelia goes to the ball (Philadelphia, 1 April 1937).

Reference 1 and picture source: Boston Globe, 27 February 1923; reference 2: New York Times, 26 February 1923; reference 3; reference 4: Time, 1 August 1927; reference 5: www.artlyriquefr.fr (defunct)

Anton Bieber has contributed the recordings and label scans: thank you!