Edwin McArthur
Encyclopedia
Edwin McArthur was a celebrated American
classical music
conductor, pianist
and accompanist. From 1935 until her retirement in 1955 he was the usual accompanist of the Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad
.
McArthur was born in Denver, Colorado
and, having begun work as a professional pianist, studied piano at the Juilliard School
and moved to New York
as a music teacher and organist
. He was married to his wife Blanche in 1930. He applied for a post to play for Flagstad soon after her debut at the Metropolitan Opera
(which took place on 2 February 1935) and she chose him for her accompanist for her tour of that year. She encouraged him to study with her the repertoire of Scandinavian songs, especially those of Edvard Grieg
. It was his custom to play accompaniments from memory.
He made his conducting debut during an Australia
n tour with her, in Sydney
in 1938. In 1941, he became possibly the first American-born conductor to lead a work at the Metropolitan Opera House, conducting Flagstad and Lauritz Melchior
in Tristan und Isolde
. His readings were considered lyrical and expressive, and Flagstad insisted that he should direct performances wherever she went. McArthur championed American songs, and Flagstad recorded two of his own - Night and We Have Turned Again Home - in the early 1950s. He remained her conductor right through to her retirement in 1955, persuading her to make final appearances in Wagner
ian scenes at her farewell concert at Carnegie Hall
on 20 March 1955, for the benefit of the Symphony of the Air
. He wrote a memoir of his work with Flagstad, published in 1960.
In 1946-47 he was connected with revivals of Sweethearts and Show Boat
on Broadway. He was also associated with the singers Ezio Pinza
and John Charles Thomas
. He was for 23 years music director of the St. Louis Municipal Opera. He conducted the Harrisburg (Pa.) Symphony 1950-1974, and from 1967 to 1972 he was director of the Eastman School of Music
opera department. In 1976 he conducted Wagner's Die Walküre
at the Teatro di San Carlo
in Naples
. He coached privately in later years; Hildegard Behrens
studied with him before singing Brünnhilde in Wagner's Ring
cycle.
Edwin McArthur died in 1987, survived by his wife.
His rumoured identity as Cosmé McMoon, the accompanist for Florence Foster Jenkins
, was revealed in a 1991 radio interview. This gossip has been disproved by a number of sources, including Cosmé McMoon's living family and the New York Times's obituaries for both men.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
conductor, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and accompanist. From 1935 until her retirement in 1955 he was the usual accompanist of the Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad
Kirsten Flagstad
Kirsten Målfrid Flagstad was a Norwegian opera singer and a highly regarded Wagnerian soprano...
.
McArthur was born in Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and, having begun work as a professional pianist, studied piano at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
and moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as a music teacher and organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
. He was married to his wife Blanche in 1930. He applied for a post to play for Flagstad soon after her debut at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
(which took place on 2 February 1935) and she chose him for her accompanist for her tour of that year. She encouraged him to study with her the repertoire of Scandinavian songs, especially those of Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg
Edvard Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt , and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.-Biography:Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in...
. It was his custom to play accompaniments from memory.
He made his conducting debut during an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n tour with her, in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1938. In 1941, he became possibly the first American-born conductor to lead a work at the Metropolitan Opera House, conducting Flagstad and Lauritz Melchior
Lauritz Melchior
Lauritz Melchior was a Danish and later American opera singer. He was the pre-eminent Wagnerian tenor of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, and has since come to be considered the quintessence of his voice type.-Biography:...
in Tristan und Isolde
Tristan und Isolde
Tristan und Isolde is an opera, or music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Straßburg. It was composed between 1857 and 1859 and premiered in Munich on 10 June 1865 with Hans von Bülow conducting...
. His readings were considered lyrical and expressive, and Flagstad insisted that he should direct performances wherever she went. McArthur championed American songs, and Flagstad recorded two of his own - Night and We Have Turned Again Home - in the early 1950s. He remained her conductor right through to her retirement in 1955, persuading her to make final appearances in Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
ian scenes at her farewell concert at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
on 20 March 1955, for the benefit of the Symphony of the Air
NBC Symphony Orchestra
The NBC Symphony Orchestra was a radio orchestra established by David Sarnoff of the National Broadcasting Company especially for conductor Arturo Toscanini...
. He wrote a memoir of his work with Flagstad, published in 1960.
In 1946-47 he was connected with revivals of Sweethearts and Show Boat
Show Boat
Show Boat is a musical in two acts with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was originally produced in New York in 1927 and in London in 1928, and was based on the 1926 novel of the same name by Edna Ferber. The plot chronicles the lives of those living and working...
on Broadway. He was also associated with the singers Ezio Pinza
Ezio Pinza
Ezio Pinza was an Italian basso opera singer with a rich, smooth and sonorous voice. He spent 22 seasons at New York's Metropolitan Opera, appearing in more than 750 performances of 50 operas...
and John Charles Thomas
John Charles Thomas
John Charles Thomas was a popular American opera, operetta and concert baritone.-Birth, schooling and stage debut:...
. He was for 23 years music director of the St. Louis Municipal Opera. He conducted the Harrisburg (Pa.) Symphony 1950-1974, and from 1967 to 1972 he was director of the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
opera department. In 1976 he conducted Wagner's Die Walküre
Die Walküre
Die Walküre , WWV 86B, is the second of the four operas that form the cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen , by Richard Wagner...
at the Teatro di San Carlo
Teatro di San Carlo
The Real Teatro di San Carlo is an opera house in Naples, Italy. It is the oldest continuously active such venue in Europe.Founded by the Bourbon Charles VII of Naples of the Spanish branch of the dynasty, the theatre was inaugurated on 4 November 1737 — the king's name day — with a performance...
in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. He coached privately in later years; Hildegard Behrens
Hildegard Behrens
Hildegard Behrens was a German soprano with a wide repertory including Wagner, Weber, Mozart, Richard Strauss, and Alban Berg roles.-Biography:...
studied with him before singing Brünnhilde in Wagner's Ring
Der Ring des Nibelungen
Der Ring des Nibelungen is a cycle of four epic operas by the German composer Richard Wagner . The works are based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas and the Nibelungenlied...
cycle.
Edwin McArthur died in 1987, survived by his wife.
His rumoured identity as Cosmé McMoon, the accompanist for Florence Foster Jenkins
Florence Foster Jenkins
Florence Foster Jenkins was an American amateur operatic soprano who was known, and ridiculed, for her lack of rhythm, pitch, tone, and overall singing ability.-Early years:...
, was revealed in a 1991 radio interview. This gossip has been disproved by a number of sources, including Cosmé McMoon's living family and the New York Times's obituaries for both men.
Writing
- E. McArthur, Flagstad: A Personal Memoir (Alfred A. Knopf, New York 1965, reprint 1980)
Sources
- T. Page, Edwin McArthur, conductor and accompanist, dies at 79. (New York Times, 25 February 1987).
- N. Douglas, Kirsten Flagstad in Song (disc liner), (Nimbus Prima Voce NI 7871.)