Claude Heater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Claude Heater
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| Born | October 25, 1927 |
| Died | May 28, 2020 (aged 92) San Francisco, California, US
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| Occupation | Opera singer |
| Known for | Role of Jesus in Ben-Hur |
Claude Heater (born October 25, 1927 – died May 28, 2020) was an American opera singer. He is also well-known for playing Jesus Christ in the classic 1959 movie Ben-Hur. His role in the film was not credited.
Contents
Life and Career
Claude Heater was born in Oakland, California. He grew up in a family who were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When he was nineteen, he served as a missionary for his church in the Eastern United States.
Starting on Broadway
Heater began his singing career on Broadway in New York City in 1950. At first, he sang as a baritone. A baritone is a male singer with a voice that is lower than a tenor but higher than a bass.
Opera Studies and European Tours
In 1952, Claude decided to focus on opera. He moved to Italy to study as a baritone. This led to him touring Spain with an Italian opera company. He then performed in many opera houses across Europe.
He sang as a baritone for three years at the Vienna State Opera in Austria. He also performed at the San Francisco Opera in California from 1953 to 1961. In 1956, he returned to Europe to sing in Basel, Switzerland. There, he performed in operas like Tosca and Pagliacci with the famous singer Montserrat Caballé. He also sang in Un ballo in maschera, La bohème, and Lohengrin.
After Basel, he went to Berlin. He shared roles with other famous singers like Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in operas such as Un ballo in maschera and Don Carlos. His first role in Berlin was Escamillo in Carmen.
Becoming a Tenor
Later, Claude Heater trained his voice to become a tenor. A tenor is a male singer with a high vocal range. From 1963, he became very successful as a dramatic or Wagnerian tenor. He performed in major theaters around the world.
After retiring from the stage in the 1970s, he spent his time helping other singers develop their voices. Claude Heater passed away on May 28, 2020, in San Francisco, California, at the age of 92. He died due to cardiovascular disease, which affects the heart and blood vessels.
Film Roles
- Ben-Hur (1959) - He played Jesus Christ in this film. It was his first movie role, and he was not credited.
- Tristan und Isolde (1970) - He played Tristan in his final film.
See also
In Spanish: Claude Heater para niños
