Walter Glynne facts for kids
Walter Glynne (born Thomas Glyn Walters; 1890–1970) was a famous Welsh singer. He was a tenor, which means he had a high male singing voice. Walter Glynne sang in operas and concerts, and he was also very popular for his music recordings.
Early Life and Opera Beginnings
Walter Glynne was born in a place called Loughor, Wales, in 1890. His real name was Thomas Glyn Walters. He was the oldest of five children. Before he became a singer, he worked at a bank.
In 1910, he won a special scholarship to study music at the Royal College of Music. There, he focused on singing German songs called lieder. After finishing his studies, he joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. This company was famous for performing funny operas by Gilbert and Sullivan. From March to December 1915, Walter Glynne toured with them. He played main roles like Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore and Colonel Fairfax in The Yeomen of the Guard.
He then left the opera company to join the army during World War I. He was part of the Artists' Rifles and later became an officer in the Welsh Guards. Even during the war, he kept singing in concerts in London.
Singing on Radio and Recordings
After the war, Walter Glynne mostly sang in concerts. He was known for singing ballads (storytelling songs) and oratorios (large musical pieces, often religious). He performed many times at the famous Henry Wood Promenade Concerts in London, held at the Royal Albert Hall.
He was one of the first singers in the United Kingdom to sing on the radio! His clear voice made him very popular on the airwaves. He also sang in many concerts organized by big music companies like Boosey and Chappell.
Walter Glynne became a very popular recording artist. In 1921, he signed a contract with HMV, a major record company. He was especially famous for his recordings of ballads.
He helped make a full recording of The Pirates of Penzance in 1920. He also sang in the chorus for other early Gilbert and Sullivan recordings. In 1928, he recorded parts for The Yeomen of the Guard. He also recorded songs from Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Hiawatha's Wedding Feast and Handel's Messiah.
Walter Glynne also made many recordings for people in Wales. These included songs from the Welsh opera Blodwen by Joseph Parry and other Welsh ballads. Sometimes, he sang with the Welsh Miners' Quartet.
Later Life
In 1929, Walter Glynne appeared in a British musical film called Splinters. He was also in another film, Peace of Mind, in 1930.
He retired in 1947 and moved back to the Gower area in Wales. Walter Glynne passed away in 1970 at his home in Port Eynon.
