- Joseph Hislop
Joseph Hislop (b.
Edinburgh , 5 April 1887; d. Sweden, 6 May 1977) was a Scottish tenor singer notable both in opera and oratorio, who had an international career and was one of the fine and really outstanding British singers of his generation. [G. Davidson, "Opera Biographies" (Werner Laurie, London 1955), 132-134.]Career
Joseph Hislop studied at the Edinburgh Cathedral School and at the School of Arts. His early employment was in photo-press work. He was aware of his vocal ability, but only began to consider a career in voice after many visits to the opera in
Stockholm during a stay there in 1907 for business purposes. He was taught by Dr Gillis Waldemar Bratt, and went in for a course of study at the Stockholm School of Opera. He made very rapid progress, and appeared in a performance of "Faust" at theRoyal Swedish Opera in 1914. [1914, Swedish Wikipedia, and Davidson 1955. Rosenthal and Warrack (1974) have Stockholm debut as 1916.] He then went toMilan to further his training, and within a fairly short time he was singing leads in various Italian opera houses.Hislop made his London debut at Covent Garden, as Rodolpho in "
La boheme ", in 1920. He was a great success, and also scored hits in "Rigoletto ", "La traviata " and "Tristan und Isolde ". He continued singing at Covent Garden until 1928. In 1924 he appeared withNellie Melba . In 1928 he sang (Gounod 's) Faust oppositeFyodor Chaliapin as Mephistopheles. This was a particularly memorable performance, [Davidson 1955, 133.] and was immortalised in extensive highlights (13 sides) by one of the early 'live' recording endeavours of theGramophone Company (HMV). [J. Steane and K. Hardwick, 1979, "Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Historic Recordings of Actual Performances" Album insert, (EMI Records, London 1979), pp 7, 10.] In the 1926 season he sangHandel 's "Messiah" and was greatly admired in it.Hislop made a very successful career in America, and first appeared (again in "Faust") in
Chicago in 1920. He toured in North and South America: he was warmly received in Buenos Aires. In addition to his Verdi and Puccini roles he was also a distinguished "Roméo" and Des Grieux in "Manon ". He made extended tours in Australia and South Africa. In Stockholm he received Royal honours, including the Literio et Artibus (1922) and theOrder of Vasa in 1929. In Denmark he received the Order ofDannebrog in 1926. He was appointed Director of the Stockholm School of Opera in 1936, and also became Professor of Singing at theRoyal Swedish Academy of Music , Stockholm, remaining there until 1948. [Davidson 1955, 134.] He also taught in London. His students includedBirgit Nilsson andJussi Björling . Late in his long life he acted as adviser on singing atSadlers Wells . [H. Rosenthal and J. Warrack (Eds.), "The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera" (OUP, London 1974 printing).]References
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