Charles Kullman (1903-1983)

Preislied
Die Miestersinger von Nürnberg by Richard Wagner

Charles Kullman was born and died in New Haven Connecticut. He studied at Yale and Julliard and made his début with the American Opera Company in 1929 as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly. He traveled to Europe, singing the same role at the Kroll Opera in Berlin in 1931. He performed at the Berlin Staatsoper, Covent Garden and in Vienna and Salzburg. He made his Metropolitan Opera début in Gounod's Faust in 1935 and performed there for 25 seasons. He was one of the most versatile tenors ever to sing at the Met. Because he was able to adapt his lyric voice to the heavy roles, his repertory ranged from Tamino to Tannhäuser.

Charles Kullman was one of the international opera stars I used to see almost daily when I was a youngster (though I had no idea those people were so famous). I was acquainted with him, but didn't have much conversation with him. He seemed to be a quiet and unassuming man, and judging from the stories friends related, a very kind man.

This is a Columbia recording from Argentina (Los maestros cantores de Nuremberg).