Willard White facts for kids

Sir Willard White is a famous opera singer. He was born in Jamaica on October 10, 1946. He is known for his deep voice, called a bass-baritone. He has sung in many big opera houses around the world. He is also a British citizen.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Willard White grew up in Kingston, Jamaica. His father worked at the docks, and his mother was a housewife. He went to Excelsior High School, which is a well-known school in Jamaica.

He first learned music by listening to the radio. He loved singing songs by Nat King Cole. He was also inspired by Paul Robeson, an American singer and civil rights activist. Willard White was one of the first members of The Jamaican Folk Singers. He also studied music at the Jamaican School of Music.

Studying Music Abroad

A musician named Evelyn Rothwell visited Jamaica. She heard Willard White sing and suggested he study music in London. Instead, his father bought him a ticket to New York City. The flight was cheaper to New York.

In New York, he won a scholarship. He continued his music studies at the Juilliard School. While there, he was chosen by the famous opera singer Maria Callas. She picked him to join her special master classes in the early 1970s.

Opera Career Highlights

Willard White started his opera career in May 1971. He played the role of Jim in an opera called Huckleberry Finn. In 1974, he sang with the New York City Opera. He performed as Colline in the opera La bohème.

In 1976, he made his first London opera appearance. He sang as Seneca in L'incoronazione di Poppea. That same year, he was part of the first complete recording of Porgy and Bess.

Singing Around the World

Since then, Willard White has sung in many famous opera houses. These include the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House. He has also performed in major cities across Europe. He has been a part of many important music festivals. These include Glyndebourne and Salzburg.

He sings many different types of opera roles. These roles are from famous composers like Mozart, Verdi, and Wagner. He has also explored less common operas. For example, he sang in Bluebeard's Castle and The Rake's Progress.

Other Notable Performances

In 2005, he sang in a special concert called the First Night of the Proms. His voice was also featured in the movie Amadeus. This movie won an Academy Award. Some of his most famous roles are Mephistopheles in The Damnation of Faust and Porgy in Porgy and Bess.

Willard White has also acted in plays. In 1989, he played Othello in a Royal Shakespeare Company production. Ian McKellen and Imogen Stubbs were also in this play. He also sang Porgy in the 1993 Glyndebourne production of Porgy and Bess. Both of these performances were filmed for television.

In 2019, he sang a French song called "Chant des Partisans." This was at a ceremony in Portsmouth. The ceremony marked the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings. He sang in front of important leaders like Queen Elizabeth II and Emmanuel Macron.

In 2021, at 74 years old, he sang Seneca again. This was for a new production at the Vienna State Opera. In 2022, he performed as Count Monterone in Rigoletto for Opera North.

Awards and Personal Life

In 1977, the first stereo recording of Porgy and Bess won a Grammy Award. Willard White sang the role of Porgy in this recording. He also received the Gold Musgrave Medal from The Institute of Jamaica.

In 1995, he was given the CBE award. In 2004, he was made a Knight Bachelor. This means he can be called "Sir Willard White." In 2000, he received the Jamaican Order of Merit (OM). This is a very high honor in Jamaica. It is for people who have achieved great things in the performing arts.

Sir Willard White lives in Lewisham, which is in South East London.

Selected Recordings

• Wagner: Die Walküre as Wotan with the Berlin Philharmonic
• Berlioz: La damnation de Faust as Mephistopheles
• Porgy and Bess with Leona Mitchell and the Cleveland Orchestra. This was the first complete recording of the opera.
• The Paul Robeson Legacy (2002), a collection of songs made famous by Paul Robeson.
• Willard White – A Gala Celebration: Includes spirituals, American songs, and opera arias.
• Porgy and Bess with Cynthia Haymon and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. This recording was used for the 1993 television show.
• Mozart: Requiem with the Monteverdi Choir.
• Handel: Messiah with the Royal Choral Society.
• Dvořák: Rusalka, from a 2012 production.

See also

In Spanish: Willard White para niños