Mack Harrell facts for kids

Mack Kendree Harrell, Jr. (born October 8, 1909 – died January 29, 1960) was a famous American singer. He was a baritone, which means he had a deep male singing voice. Many people thought he was one of the best American singers of his time, especially for a type of classical song called "lieder" (German art songs).

Growing Up in Texas

Mack Harrell was born in Celeste, Texas. His parents were Asbury Mack Kendree Harrell and Mollie Harrell. He was the youngest of three children. Mack grew up and went to school in Greenville, Texas.

He started playing the violin when he was ten years old. He continued to play it for twelve years! His older brother, Lynn Mozart Harrell, was also a musician. Lynn played piano in a big band called the Jimmy Joy Orchestra in the 1920s.

Learning More About Music

Mack Harrell first studied the violin at Oklahoma City University. He then earned a special scholarship. This allowed him to attend the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. There, he continued to study violin with Emanuel Zetlin.

It was at the Curtis Institute that people noticed his amazing deep singing voice. After this discovery, he moved to The Juilliard School to study singing. His teacher was Anna E. Schoen-René. Mack believed that his experience playing the violin first helped him become an even better singer.

In 1939, Mack Harrell's book was published. It was called The Sacred Hour of Song. This book was a collection of sacred songs.

Mack Harrell's Singing Career

Mack Harrell made his first big public performance in 1938. He sang a concert of opera and lieder at Town Hall in New York City. In the same year, he won a singing competition called the Metropolitan Opera's Audition of the Air. This led to him getting a contract with the famous Metropolitan Opera company.

He made his first opera performance at the Met on December 16, 1939. He sang the role of Biterolf in Richard Wagner's opera Tannhäuser. He sang with the Met almost every year until 1948. He also returned for several seasons later on.

Famous Roles at the Met

Mack Harrell played many different roles at the Met. Some of these included:

• Amfortas in Parsifal
• Baron Douphol in La Traviata
• Captain Balstrode in Peter Grimes
• Papageno in Die Zauberflöte
• Peter in Hänsel and Gretel
• Wolfram in Tannhäuser

He also created new roles in operas. He was the first to play Samson in the opera The Warrior in 1947. He also played Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress when it first came to the United States in 1953. His very last performance at the Met was on February 17, 1958. He sang the role of Jochanaan in Richard Strauss's Salome. He performed 156 times at the Met!

Other Opera Companies and Concerts

While singing at the Met, Mack Harrell also performed many concerts. In 1944, he gave the first performance of Arnold Schoenberg's Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte.

He also sang with many other opera companies.

• In 1940, he sang in Chicago.
• In May 1944, he first appeared at the New York City Opera (NYCO). He returned to the NYCO several times.
• At the NYCO, he played Rabbi Azrael in the first performance of The Dybbuk in 1951.
• In September 1945, he made his debut with the San Francisco Opera. He played Escamillo in Carmen.
• In 1952, he played Christopher Columbus in the first US performance of Christophe Colomb at Carnegie Hall.
• In 1955, he played Olin Blitch in the first performance of Susannah.
• In 1956, he played Saul in the first US performance of David.

Later Life and Teaching

In 1944, Mack Harrell's son, Lynn Harrell, was born. Lynn later became a very famous cellist.

From 1945 to 1956, Mack Harrell taught singing at The Juilliard School. Then, from 1957 to 1960, he taught at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

In 1954, he became the director of the Aspen Music Festival and School. He was one of the people who helped start this festival. He held this important job until he passed away in 1960. Some of his students became famous singers themselves, like William Blankenship and Barry McDaniel.

Mack Harrell passed away in Dallas, Texas, when he was 50 years old.