Frank Titterton (31 December 1893, in Handsworth – 24 November 1956, in London) was a well-known British lyric tenor of the mid-twentieth century. He was noted for his musicianship.
Titterton trained originally as an actor and was a member of The Pilgrim Players (which became the Birmingham Repertory Theatre) run by Sir Barry Jackson. He began to sing as an amateur, appearing in operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan and others in Birmingham before studying singing with Ernesto Beraldi and Charles Victor in London. He then left his stage career to work as a song recitalist and in Oratorio in Britain and Holland. He later became a sought-after singing teacher in London.[1]
Titterton's career was mainly in the concert hall, though he was also a prolific broadcaster and recording artist for Vocalion, Broadcast, Columbia and Decca. Most titles were recorded under his own name, but he also used the pseudonyms 'Francesco Vada' and 'Norton Collyer'. Like many British singers of his era he spent much time touring the United Kingdom, appearing in popular oratorios, rather than performing in operas or giving lieder recitals. A Birmingham City Choir website lists some typical dates and casts for performances of Handel's Messiah, for example:
In addition Titterton undertook some film roles, including parts in Barnacle Bill (1935), Song at Eventide (1934) and Waltz Time (1933).
According to the baritoneRoy Henderson (BBC Radio interview 1988), Titterton always travelled with 'a sort of apothecary's case' and would produce medicines for anyone's ailments.
He was selected by the composer Alma Rattenbury, also known as 'Lozanne', to record some of her songs, recording twelve in all for Decca between 1932 and 1935, the first two to her own accompaniment. [Ref. Sir Michael Havers, et al., 'Tragedy in three voices - the Rattenbury Murder' - William Kimber, London, 1980; see also The Record Collector, Ipswich, Vol 27. 11/12, March 1983]
References
^Grosses Sängerlexicon by K J Kutsch and Leo Riemens [Franke Verlag, Bern and Stuttgart, 1987 Edition]
^Adam, Nicky, ed. (1993). Who's Who in British Opera, article on John Fryatt. Aldershot: Scolar Press. ISBN0-85967-894-6.
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frank, titterton, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Frank Titterton news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Frank Titterton 31 December 1893 in Handsworth 24 November 1956 in London was a well known British lyric tenor of the mid twentieth century He was noted for his musicianship Titterton trained originally as an actor and was a member of The Pilgrim Players which became the Birmingham Repertory Theatre run by Sir Barry Jackson He began to sing as an amateur appearing in operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan and others in Birmingham before studying singing with Ernesto Beraldi and Charles Victor in London He then left his stage career to work as a song recitalist and in Oratorio in Britain and Holland He later became a sought after singing teacher in London 1 Titterton s career was mainly in the concert hall though he was also a prolific broadcaster and recording artist for Vocalion Broadcast Columbia and Decca Most titles were recorded under his own name but he also used the pseudonyms Francesco Vada and Norton Collyer Like many British singers of his era he spent much time touring the United Kingdom appearing in popular oratorios rather than performing in operas or giving lieder recitals A Birmingham City Choir website lists some typical dates and casts for performances of Handel s Messiah for example 12 December 1936 with Lilian Stiles Allen Gladys Ripley Frank Titterton Horace Stevens and 26 December 1943 with Joan Cross Muriel Brunskill Frank Titterton Norman Lumsden Along with fellow tenors Heddle Nash Walter Widdop and Parry Jones Titterton was chosen as one of the sixteen soloists for the first performance and subsequent recording of Vaughan Williams s Serenade to Music in 1938 One of his pupils was John Fryatt 2 In addition Titterton undertook some film roles including parts in Barnacle Bill 1935 Song at Eventide 1934 and Waltz Time 1933 According to the baritone Roy Henderson BBC Radio interview 1988 Titterton always travelled with a sort of apothecary s case and would produce medicines for anyone s ailments Recordings EditTitterton can be heard on record singing Michael Balfe s duet Excelsior a setting of Longfellow s poem with Malcolm McEachern Pearl GEMM CD9455 He can also be heard at the following address http oldgramophonerecords co uk titterton htmHe was selected by the composer Alma Rattenbury also known as Lozanne to record some of her songs recording twelve in all for Decca between 1932 and 1935 the first two to her own accompaniment Ref Sir Michael Havers et al Tragedy in three voices the Rattenbury Murder William Kimber London 1980 see also The Record Collector Ipswich Vol 27 11 12 March 1983 References Edit Grosses Sangerlexicon by K J Kutsch and Leo Riemens Franke Verlag Bern and Stuttgart 1987 Edition Adam Nicky ed 1993 Who s Who in British Opera article on John Fryatt Aldershot Scolar Press ISBN 0 85967 894 6 This article about a British opera singer is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Titterton amp oldid 1107106982, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
