David Atkinson (baritone) facts for kids

David Anthony Stuart Atkinson (born David Burke; October 20, 1921 – October 4, 2012) was a talented Canadian singer and actor. He was known for his powerful baritone voice. A baritone is a male singing voice that is lower than a tenor but higher than a bass. David Atkinson spent most of his career performing in musicals and operettas (a lighter type of opera) in New York City. He worked from the late 1940s to the early 1970s. He also performed in some operas and on television.

In 1952, he was the first person to play the character Sam in Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti. From 1956 to 1962, he was a main performer at the New York City Opera. There, he starred in many musicals. He also appeared in the first performances of several English operas. His biggest success was playing Cervantes in the musical Man of La Mancha. He performed this role on Broadway, in a national tour, and in a Broadway revival.

Life and Early Career

David Burke was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1921. He grew up in Saint-Romuald, Quebec. His parents spoke English, but his community spoke French. So, he learned both languages as a child. After attending Bishop's College School, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He served during World War II in the South Pacific.

After the war, he studied music at McGill University in 1946. In 1947, he won a scholarship to the Juilliard School in New York. He left Juilliard after one year to start his acting career. He continued to take private singing lessons in New York City.

First Performances

While at Juilliard, David Atkinson made his first professional opera appearance. He used his birth name, David Burke. In January 1948, he performed in Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto. He also sang in Camille Saint-Saëns's Samson and Delilah.

In September 1948, he made his Broadway debut. He used the name "John Atkinson," which was his mother's maiden name. He played Franz Liszt in the musical Inside U.S.A.. He then joined the musical's first national tour.

Musicals and Operas in the 1950s

In 1950, Atkinson starred in Rio Rita. In 1951, he performed in several shows at the Paper Mill Playhouse. These included Sweethearts and Song of Norway. He also played Pierre Birabeau in The Desert Song.

In June 1952, he was the first to play Sam in Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti. This performance was at Brandeis University. Later that year, he played Sam again on a national TV broadcast. He reprised the role at the New York City Opera in 1958. In 1953, he played Don Jose in Georges Bizet's Carmen on TV.

In 1954, Atkinson returned to Broadway. He starred in The Girl in Pink Tights. In 1955, he starred with Carol Channing in The Vamp. In 1956, he performed in two musicals at Lincoln Center. These were Kiss Me, Kate and Show Boat.

In 1957, he played Tommy Albright in Brigadoon. This show moved from Lincoln Center to Broadway. That same year, he appeared on TV in Who's Earnest?. In 1958, he created the role of Doctor Gregg in the opera Gallantry. He also performed in Annie Get Your Gun and the opera The Good Soldier Schweik. He played Billy in Carousel at the Brussels World’s Fair.

In 1959, he starred in Say, Darling and the opera He Who Gets Slapped. He also appeared in At the Grand and Can-Can. He played Count Danilo Danilovitsch in a TV production of The Merry Widow.

Later Career and Man of La Mancha

In 1960, Atkinson played Larry Foreman in The Cradle Will Rock. In 1961, he took over the role of Mack the Knife in The Threepenny Opera. He then created the role of Jack Absolute in All In Love.

In 1963, he joined the Broadway production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In 1964, he played Phileas Fogg in a musical version of Around the World in Eighty Days. He also starred in the musical Mardi Gras! in 1965.

In 1967, David Atkinson took over the role of Cervantes in Man of La Mancha on Broadway. He performed this role in the national tour in 1968. He famously sang 'The Impossible Dream' live at the 22nd Tony Awards. He returned to the Broadway cast in 1969. He played Cervantes again in the 1972 Broadway revival and in 1980. In 1973, he performed in the play The Freedom of the City in London.

David Atkinson passed away in New York in 2012.