Joseph O'Mara facts for kids
Joseph O'Mara (born July 16, 1864 – died August 5, 1927) was a famous Irish opera singer. He lived during the Victorian era and Edwardian eras. He was known for his powerful tenor voice. A tenor is a male singer with a high vocal range.
Joseph O'Mara studied opera in Milan, Italy. He made his first big stage appearance in London in 1891. He sang the main role in the opera Ivanhoe by Arthur Sullivan. Soon, he became a popular opera star. In 1894, he performed at the famous Covent Garden Theatre. For three years, he was the main tenor at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He even appeared in pantomimes there, which are like musical plays.
In 1896, he created the main tenor role of Mike Murphy in the opera Shamus O'Brien. He performed this role on tours and in America. Later, he traveled to America again to star in The Highwayman. From 1902 to 1908, O'Mara was a top tenor with the Moody-Manners Opera Company. He also performed a lot in Ireland with them. In 1908, he received the "Freedom of the City" award from Limerick, his hometown. This was a very special honor, and he was the only singer ever to get it.
In 1908, he starred in a musical called Peggy Machree on Broadway in New York City. In 1909, O'Mara returned to Britain and joined the Thomas Beecham Company. He sang many main tenor roles over the next few years. He also kept performing in concerts. In 1912, he started his own group, O'Mara's Travelling Opera Company. He was the main tenor in this company until his last performance in 1926. Joseph O'Mara sang in a total of 67 different tenor roles. In 1926, he was the first tenor to sing on the radio in Ireland.
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Early Life and Family
Joseph O'Mara was born in Limerick, Ireland. He was one of thirteen children. His father, James O'Mara, was a politician and owned a bacon factory. His mother, Hanora Foley, passed away when Joseph was a teenager.
Joseph went to a Jesuit school called Crescent College. As a boy, he sang in the choir at St John's Cathedral, Limerick. When he was eighteen, he spent a year sailing on an ocean liner. It traveled between Dundee and Calcutta. After that, he returned to his father's business. He had decided that life at sea was not for him. He also sang in the choir of St. Michael's Church in Limerick. The O'Mara family was well-known in Limerick. Many family members became mayors of the city. This included his nephew, Stephen O'Mara, who was mayor from 1921 to 1923.
Starting His Opera Career
A friend named J. F. Murray encouraged Joseph O'Mara to study opera. He studied in Milan, Italy, with a teacher named Signor Moretti for two years. In 1891, he made his first big appearance in London. He got the main role in the opera Ivanhoe by Arthur Sullivan. Sullivan was famous for his work with Gilbert and Sullivan. This opera was performed at the new Royal English Opera House in London. After this, he performed in La Basoche at the same opera house. Then, he went back to Milan to study more.
From 1893 to 1894, he toured Britain and Ireland. He sang the main tenor roles in many operas. These included Cavalleria rusticana, Faust, Pagliacci, Carmen, Lohengrin, and Die Meistersinger. His strong voice was perfect for the roles in Lohengrin and Die Meistersinger. In 1894, he first performed at Covent Garden Theatre. For three years, O'Mara was the main tenor at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He also appeared in the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk there. Later, he played in the pantomime Aladdin in Liverpool.
In 1896, he created the main tenor role of Mike Murphy in the opera Shamus O'Brien. Henry Wood was the conductor for this show. After touring Britain and Ireland with Shamus O'Brien, the opera went to America in 1897. O'Mara and his new wife, Miss Power, were very successful there. Mike Murphy remained one of O'Mara's most famous roles throughout his career.
Later Career and Achievements
O'Mara and his wife returned to London for some concerts. But in the autumn of 1897, they went back to America. There, O'Mara created the main tenor role in The Highwayman. At the start of the new century, O'Mara gave many private concerts. He was happy to return to opera as the main tenor with the Moody-Manners Opera Company in London. This was from 1902 to 1908. He performed in operas like Maritana, Cavalleria, Faust, Lohengrin, Pagliacci, Il trovatore, Carmen, and Roméo et Juliette. He also performed in the first English version of Puccini's Madame Butterfly in 1907. He performed a lot in Ireland with the company too. In 1908, O'Mara received the "Freedom of the City" honor from Limerick. This was a unique achievement for a singer.
Joseph O'Mara achieved several "firsts" for Ireland. He was the first tenor in Ireland to sing Enzo in La Gioconda. In 1908, he was the first to sing Rodolfo in La bohème. Later, he was the first to sing Cavaradossi in Ireland. In the same season, he was in the first Irish performance of Samson et Dalila. O'Mara's fame grew even more in 1908. He starred in the musical Peggy Machree on Broadway in New York City. He received great reviews for both his acting and singing. In 1909, O'Mara returned to Britain. He joined the Thomas Beecham Company. He sang in Carmen, Faust, and Tales of Hoffmann over the next few years. He also continued to perform in concerts.
A recording of O'Mara from 1901 still exists. It was played on an Irish radio show in 1992. His recordings included songs like "An April Birthday" and "Friend and Lover" from 1902. He also recorded "Ochone! When I used to be young" from Seamus O'Brien in 1911.
His Own Opera Company and Last Years
In 1912, Joseph O'Mara started his own group called O'Mara's Travelling Opera Company. He was the main tenor in this company until 1926. In 1913, his company started their Dublin season with him singing Raoul in The Huguenots. At the Theatre Royal in Leeds, his company performed Puccini's La bohème and Madame Butterfly in 1918. They also performed Verdi's Rigoletto in 1921. The company also brought back many works by Michael Balfe. In total, O'Mara sang in 67 different tenor roles.
The Irish Times newspaper wrote about him in February 1918: "Mr. O'Mara's Lohengrin is one of his best parts. It needs a pure voice, quiet dignity, and a calm character. But it also needs a lot of hidden power. This is what we get from Mr. O'Mara. We always remember that his Lohengrin comes from another world. O'Mara sang his music with such strong feeling." His very last performance was as Lohengrin in 1926.
In 1926, O'Mara was the first tenor to sing on the radio in Ireland. This was at the opening of the new Irish radio station (Raidio 2RN, now R.T.É.). Joseph and his wife had five children: Eileen, Nora, Power, Moya, and Joey.
Joseph O'Mara passed away in Dublin when he was 63 years old.
