Walter Keith Wyatt
Walter Keith Wyatt | |
|---|---|
| File:Walter Keith Wyatt-1.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Keith Wyatt |
| Born | 11 January 1926 Columbus, Ohio |
| Died | 29 January 1999 (aged 73) North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1941-1995 |
Walter Keith Wyatt, (January 11, 1926 - January 29, 1999) known professionally as "Keith Wyatt," was an American tenor. He performed live opera, in concert and recital, and made numerous recordings from various genres: Opera, Popular Music, Sacred Music, and Art songs . Respected throughout the Operatic and Concert community throughout his life, he was a much sought after voice teacher. At the core of Keith Wyatt's teaching was his motto, "Control of voice is mind over matter; therefore the student must learn to make his matter mind." Known for his Artistry, he was a perfectionist with a complete understanding of the mechanics of the human voice. Keith Wyatt was also known for his masterful vocal technique and superior diction.[1] As a singer he displayed rare quality and pure vocal beauty, never sacrificing passion for power.
Early Life[edit]
Walter Keith Wyatt was born January 11, 1926 in Columbus, Ohio to Jack and Ida May Wyatt. During his assignment at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, Jack met hometown girl, Ida May Kall, while she was working at the "Palace of Sweets." They married and had three sons, Andy, Joseph, and Walter Keith. In 1922 at six years of age, Andy succumbed to Scarlet fever. A few years later, Joseph was stillborn and severe bleeding almost cost Ida May her life. As a result of that tragedy, the doctor informed them that Ida could no longer bear children. Refusing to give up her quest to have another child, she again became pregnant and when Walter Keith was born, Jack and Ida May considered him to be their "miracle child." At three years of age, Walter Keith also contracted Scarlet fever and it nearly took his life, leaving him with a weakened heart and a severe stutter.
Jack, was a tough-as-nails, hard drinking Army Master Sergeant who insisted on teaching his son Walter Keith both of his passions, playing the trumpet and boxing. Jack held an Army Welterweight Boxing title, and fronted his own swing band during his off duty hours. Ida May had a lovely soprano voice and often sang with the band. Descended from generations of professional singers and musicians, it was no surprise that Walter Keith showed an early and sincere love of music. His musical interest was focused on singing and playing the piano, which he practiced daily with his Mother. At the age of nine, Walter Keith performed at one of Bing Crosby's Hollywood parties. Bing's wife, Dixie Lee, the former Wilma Winifred Wyatt, was Walter Keith's first cousin. Thererafter, he regularly sang at the Crosby's gatherings and was often surrounded by many influential people in the entertainment industry. Through the years of his youth, Walter Keith's parents received many offers to make him a Movie and Recording Star but his mother consistently forbade it, having been warned by Dixie Lee that, "Hollywood [would] destroy him".
Music Training and Competitions[edit]
In 1939, Walter Keith began five years of piano study with Edwinna Delaurente, and through the years, singing while he played helped rid him of his stutter. At age fifteen, he began training voice and performance art at the studio of former Metropolitan Opera Star, Margaret Romaine, in Los Angeles. As her first male student, she determined he was a high baritone and trained him as such. With his exceptional aptitude and devotion to improving his voice and performance, Walter Keith soon became Ms. Romaine's protégé. His association with Margaret Romaine continued throughout her lifetime. In 1941, Walter Keith experienced his first taste of success, entering and winning two singing competitions, the Los Angeles, "Junior High School Vocal Solo" award and "The Los Angeles Federation of Churches, National Vocal Student Competition." The following year he began singing professionally and made his first recording, "Lord's Prayer," produced by Bing Crosby. Walter Keith was soon much in demand as soloist for several churches and oratorio societies, social functions and music clubs.
Reaching his eighteenth year, Walter Keith stopped using his given name and from that time forward was known personally and professionally as, "Keith Wyatt". By his early twenties, Keith had developed a beautiful, soulful tenor voice complete with a high E note, with which he began to win numerous vocal competitions, including "The Hollywood Bowl Auditions," "The Atwater-Kent Vocal Auditions," "The Foundation of Sacred Music Contest" and "The Los Angeles County Vocal Auditions".
Career[edit]
1950s[edit]
| One of Keith's earliest opera performances was as Sextus, in Julius Caesar, with The Los Angeles City College Opera Workshop under the direction of Hugo Strelitzer, in 1953. In the mid 1950's, Keith held the position of Tenor Soloist for both, "The Roger Wagner Chorale" and "The Robert Shaw Chorale," touring nationally with both companies and internationally with Robert Shaw.
In 1955, Keith was the first "guest artist" to appear for the "University of Southern California Opera Theater," he starred as King Gustave III, in Verdi's, "A Masked Ball". Subsequently, Keith starred in the Opera Theater's staging of "Capriccio" as Flamand, then in "Otello" as Cassio[2]. Keith often lectured on voice for the USC Thornton School of Music, and many of his vocal students, both professional and amateur singers, were USC Opera Theater performers. Keith's connection with USC goes back to his association with the renowned Director of the Berlin Opera, Carl Ebert, who created The Opera Department of The University of Southern California, in 1948 and was general director and founder of, "The Guild Opera Company of Los Angeles" from 1950 to 1954. In 1957, Keith began his thirty-eight year association as Tenor Soloist for "The Mitzelfelt Chorale" and "The Camerata of Los Angeles". Specializing in baroque and classical music, "The Mitzelfelt Chorale" and "The Camerata of Los Angeles" also performed the major oratorios, chorale symphonic works, chamber orchestral works, chamber opera and various contemporary repertoire. Dr. Ebert returned to Los Angeles in 1958 specifically to direct Keith and The Guild Opera cast in eight performances of the comic opera, "The Bartered Bride," given at the Shrine Auditorium and performed in English for Los Angeles City and County elementary school children as part of the "National Music Educators Convention". 1958 gave rise to Keith's debut with the premiere opera and concert venue in Southern California, "The Redlands Bowl". There, he starred in five operas, first as Vashek with film and recording artist Marni Nixon[3] in "The Bartered Bride," in 1958. |
1960s[edit]
| In 1960, Keith made his debut with, "The Cosmopolitan Opera of San Francisco," also that year he was awarded the "Euterpe Opera Club Scholarship."[4] In the Summer of 1960, Keith returned to Redlands Bowl to perform the title role of "Faust,"[5] with San Francisco Opera Star, Dorothy Warenskjold. "Faust" was the first of their many performances together. He then assumed the role of Manrico in the 1961 staging of "Il Trovatore, Redlands Bowl with "Metropolitan Opera" Star, Maralin Niska, with whom Keith performed often. In 1962, He sang Don Alvaro[6] in "La Forza Del Destino,"[7] with Redlands Bowl Soprano Jane McGowan[8]. For his final Redlands Bowl opera performance he starred as Calaf in "Turandot,"[9] with Jane McGowan,[10] in 1963. The following year Keith appeared in-concert at Redlands Bowl with Marilyn Niska.[11] From the mid 1950's through the mid 1960's, Keith performed with regularity for most of the professional opera companies throughout the Los Angeles region. In addition to, "The Guild Opera Company of Los Angeles," these opera companies included: "The Euterpe Opera," "The American Opera Company" and "The Santa Monica Civic Opera". He was also a founding member of, "The First Operetta Group of Hollywood".[12] The Group performed a varied repertoire, including Light Opera and popular songs from musicals.[13] Also in 1962 Keith joined, "The Greg Smith Singers" on their first national tour, appearing as First Tenor in all sixty-three concerts.
By the mid 1960's, Keith had established himself as one of the busiest tenors[14] on the West Coast having starred in hundreds of opera performances and concerts throughout California. Many of his performances were staged in various Los Angeles churches and affiliated venues including: "Israel in Egypt," Handel's, "Messiah," "A Choir of Starlings," "The Play of Daniel" and the "Passion of Christ," to name a few. Keith's first opera performance outside of California was in 1964, at the University of Utah for their "University Theater and the Opera Workshop," where he performed as Turiddu,[15] in "Cavalleria Rusticana". In 1965, Keith secured the position of "Erster Tenor" (Lead Tenor) at the Oldenburgisches Staatstheater in Germany for the 1965-1966 season, giving forty-four performances in five operas: "Der Filegende Hollander," "Martha," "Der Bajazzo/Cavalleria Rusticana" and the avant-garde opera, "Boulevard Solitude," while also performing in concert. A resounding success, he was offered auditions at: La Scala, Covent Garden, the Paris Opera, the Berlin Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. While reveling in his recent accomplishments, a family emergency forced Keith to cut short his tour, abandoning his auditions for the following season both in Europe and New York. In 1967, Keith set up residence in Manhattan but health problems and personal issues began to affect his performance regimen. That year, Keith debuted at, "The San Francisco Opera," "The Baltimore Opera"[16][17] and "The Gala Premiere Performance, of The Brooklyn Lyric Opera," before once again returning to Los Angeles to care for his ailing mother. Appearing in his final opera at the age of forty-two, Keith Wyatt performed the role of Cassio, for "The Pasadena Opera Company," in the 1968 production of, "Otello". His last Operetta was, "The Committee," in 1969. In 1969 Keith joined Dorothy Warenskjold on a thirty-seven states tour with her, "Warenskjold Musical Theater". Keith continued to teach voice to many successful Professional-Singers, including Delcina Stevenson and Nina Hinson, both of whom he had performed with in concert. |
1970s[edit]
Through much of the 1970's, in addition to his many appearances with "The Mitzelfelt Chorale," and "The Camerata of Los Angeles,"[18] Keith performed in concert[19] and gave recitals that presented a "musical bouillabaisse"[20] of selections. During 1974 and 1975, Keith taught singing at California State University, Long Beach, as an "Adjunct Faculty Member." His final concert tour was in 1978, an eight week European Tour with "The Camarata of Los Angeles," which included performances in West Germany, Holland, and Spain.
1980s-1990s[edit]
Keith continued to perform in concert several times a year and taught voice prolifically, often instructing up to fifty lessons a week. Beginning at fifteen years old and throughout his life, Keith was the Soloist for many churches and synagogs in Los Angeles. This was a position he continued until his retirement from professional singing at age sixty-nine. This self-imposed retirement was due to declining health. By then he'd amassed no less than 379 performances in forty-two operas and 155 performances in nine operettas. He made over 150 recordings, his last at age sixty-seven. From opera arias to popular music and classic ballads, as well as Sacred Music and Art songs, leaving a recorded legacy that spanned 51 years. Keith retained complete ownership of his recordings and at the time of his death none had been released to the public. A veteran of thousands of performances, Keith Wyatt gave his first concert at age five and his last at age sixty-nine, continuing to teach until the day he died.
Repertoire[edit]
| OPERA
Romeo et Juliette, Faust, Carmen, Louise, Samson, King David, Norma, Julius Caesar, Boulevard Solitude, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Capriccio, La Sonnambula, Martha, Turandot, Lucia Di Lammermoor, Pagliacci, Il Trovatore, La Boheme, Madame Butterfly, Aida, Un Ballo in Maschera, Il Tabarro, Otello, La Traviata, The Bartered Bride, Boris Godunov, Manon Lescaut, Cavalleria Rusticana, La Forza del Destino, Rigoletto, The Flying Dutchman, Tannhauser, Gianni Schicchi, The Magic Flute, Das Rheingold, Der Rosenkavalier, Lakme, Primeval Void, La Guerra, Hin und Zuruck, La Gioconda, Lohengrin.
OPERETTA
SACRED
|
Personal Life[edit]
Keith and soprano, Helen Draga Lightner, were married in 1953, subsequently having two children, Evan Keith, in 1955 and Elaine Patrice, in 1958. 1960 brought about the end of Keith and Helen's marriage. In the early 1960's, during the course of numerous performances while preparing for his first Hollywood film and an accompanying album, Keith's world became detrimentally complex and he struggled to maintain balance between his personal and professional life. In 1962, having battled back from a number of physical and emotional crisis that threatened to destroy his career, Keith recorded, "The Hollywood Recordings," at Desilu Productions. It was originally intended to release this highly anticipated work upon his calculated debut with The Metropolitan Opera, but dire personal circumstances derailed the album's planned release. Never the less, "The Hollywood Recordings," with its intimate collection of arias is testament to Keith Wyatt's renowned talent at accompanying himself on the piano while delivering a masterfully controlled vocal performance.
Death[edit]
Having been diagnosed years before with heart disease, for which he was treated with daily doses of Nitrostat, Keith Wyatt passed on January, 29, 1999 at his apartment in North Hollywood, California, the cause of death, heart failure. Twenty-two years earlier, in the very same apartment, his mother, Ida May, passed away in his arms from heart failure.
References[edit]
- ↑ "Review of Keith and Maralin Niska concert at Redlands Bowl". The Daily Sun. 6 August 1964. p. 21 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "USC Opera's staging of 'Otello' as 'Othello.'". The Los Angeles Times. 29 March 1960. p. 49 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Redlands 'Bartered Bride' review". The San Bernadino County Sun. 20 July 1958. p. 15 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Euterpe Award for Keith Wyatt". Indepent Press-Telegram. 5 June 1960. p. 64 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Redlands Bowl 'Faust' review. *****". The San Bernadino County Sun. 28 August 1960. p. 17 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Redlands Bowl La Forza Del Destino". The San Bernadino County Sun. 24 August 1962. p. 19 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "La Forza at Redlands bowl. *****". Redlands Daily Facts. 24 August 1962. p. 2 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Redlands Bowl "La Forza Del Destino" Review". The San Bernadino County Sun. 26 August 1962. p. 17 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Redlands Bowl "Turendot" performance review by Charles D. Perlee". The San Bernadino County Sun. 1 September 1963. p. 3 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Redlands Bowl 'Turandot' performance review by Josephine Reay". Redlands Daily Facts. 31 August 1963. p. 4 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Review of Keith and Maralin Niska concert at Redlands Bowl". The San Bernadino County Sun. 6 August 1964. p. 21 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "The First Operetta Group Performance Notice in Redlands". Redlands Daily Facts. 30 September 1961. p. 3 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "First Operetta group with Keith Wyatt". Redlands Daily Facts. 5 October 1963. p. 3 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Operetta Group to Do Lehar Work". The San Bernadino County Sun. 23 August 1962. p. 34 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Cavalleria performance. ****". The Daily Utah Chronicle. 3 April 1964. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Peabody Civic Opera". The Baltimore Sun. 20 April 1967. p. 21 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "'La Guerra,' and 'Gianni Schicchi' Baltimore Civic Opera review.****". The Baltimore Sun. 29 April 1967. p. 12 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Mitzelfelt Chorale Review, with Keith and Delcina Stevenson". The Los Angeles Times. 20 March 1973. p. 70 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Musicale Singers Selected". The Los Angeles Times. 14 November 1971. p. 321 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ ""Musical Bouillabaisse." Keith in concert with three instrumentalists". The Los Angeles Times. 2 February 1970. p. 54 – via newspapers.com.
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