Robert Carr (baritone)
Encyclopedia
Robert Carr was an English baritone
singer and prolific recording artist. Born in London, he studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
under Bantock Pierrepoint. He recorded under his own name and as variously Richard Condor, William Duncan, Harry Durrant, Robert Durrant, Ernest Gray, Bobby Gray, Robert Oswald, and perhaps some others.
His recording repertoire was varied rangiing from popular songs of the day, sentimental songs, hymns and sacred songs, British patriotic songs (particularly during the First World War) as well as Classical music, most notably a complete recording of Gounod's Faust in 1929 under Sir Thomas Beecham
under the Columbia
label. He also took part in recordings of several Gilbert and Sullivan
operattas as well as Edward German
's Merrie England
under the direction of Joe Batten.
In addition to being a recording, concert and opera singer, Robert Carr was also a leading figure with concert parties
which provided light entertainment at British holiday resorts in the years before the Second World War. He owned one such party called the Georgians.
During the Second World War, Robert Carr worked for ENSA
, an organisation which provided entertainment for British servicemen serving in the war. After the war, he also taught singing at his old music college, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
.
He died in Essex
, England on 20 November 1948.
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
singer and prolific recording artist. Born in London, he studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
under Bantock Pierrepoint. He recorded under his own name and as variously Richard Condor, William Duncan, Harry Durrant, Robert Durrant, Ernest Gray, Bobby Gray, Robert Oswald, and perhaps some others.
His recording repertoire was varied rangiing from popular songs of the day, sentimental songs, hymns and sacred songs, British patriotic songs (particularly during the First World War) as well as Classical music, most notably a complete recording of Gounod's Faust in 1929 under Sir Thomas Beecham
Thomas Beecham
Sir Thomas Beecham, 2nd Baronet CH was an English conductor and impresario best known for his association with the London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic orchestras. He was also closely associated with the Liverpool Philharmonic and Hallé orchestras...
under the Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
label. He also took part in recordings of several Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
operattas as well as Edward German
Edward German
Sir Edward German was an English musician and composer of Welsh descent, best remembered for his extensive output of incidental music for the stage and as a successor to Arthur Sullivan in the field of English comic opera.As a youth, German played the violin and led the town orchestra, also...
's Merrie England
Merrie England (opera)
Merrie England is an English comic opera in two acts by Edward German to a libretto by Basil Hood. The patriotic story concerns love and rivalries at the court of Queen Elizabeth I, who is portrayed as jealous of the affection of Sir Walter Raleigh for Bessie Throckmorton. Its sunny depiction of...
under the direction of Joe Batten.
In addition to being a recording, concert and opera singer, Robert Carr was also a leading figure with concert parties
Concert Party (entertainment)
A concert party, also called a Pierrot troupe, is the collective name for a group of entertainers, or Pierrots, popular in Britain during the first half of the 20th century. The variety show given by a Pierrot troupe was called a Pierrot show...
which provided light entertainment at British holiday resorts in the years before the Second World War. He owned one such party called the Georgians.
During the Second World War, Robert Carr worked for ENSA
Entertainments National Service Association
The Entertainments National Service Association or ENSA was an organisation set up in 1939 by Basil Dean and Leslie Henson to provide entertainment for British armed forces personnel during World War II. ENSA operated as part of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes...
, an organisation which provided entertainment for British servicemen serving in the war. After the war, he also taught singing at his old music college, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
.
He died in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England on 20 November 1948.
Recordings
Recordings include:- GounodCharles GounodCharles-François Gounod was a French composer, known for his Ave Maria as well as his operas Faust and Roméo et Juliette.-Biography:...
: Faust Harold Williams (baritone), Robert Carr (baritone), Robert Easton (bass), Muriel BrunskillMuriel BrunskillMuriel Brunskill was an English contralto of the mid-twentieth century. Her career included concert, operatic and recital performance from the early 1920s until the 1950s...
(contralto) Clarence Raybould (conductor) Dutton Laboratories - So Near The Kingdom (Sacred) Robert Carr - Ethel Toms Contralto, Baritone Duet - Orch. Acc. Gennett 9080-B
- Beautiful Birds, Sing On J. Howe / Robert Carr Baritone-- Orch. Acc. Gennett 9082-A
- What Will You Do With Jesus Ethel Toms & Robert Carr Contralto, Baritone Duet with Orch. Acc. Gennett 9092-A
- Hold Thou My Hand Robert Carr Baritone with Orch. Acc. Gennett 9092-B
- The Rosary Nevin / Robert Carr Baritone with Orch. Acc. Gennett 4669-A
- Hiding In Thee Robert Carr Baritone Gennett 4674-B
- The songs my Mother sang Winner 2404
- All aboard for the bye-bye land Winner 2315
- Turn On, Old Time Cameron, Wilfrid Virgo & Robert Carr, Trio Winner 2349
- I am the King of Spain Wilfrid Virgo & Robert Carr, Duet
- Come sing to me Winner 2111
- We were Sweethearts Winner 2247