Norman Walker (24 November 1907 – 5 November 1963) was an Englishbass singer, distinguished for his work in both opera andoratorio.[1]
Walker was born into a musical family inShaw, Lancashire, England. His father playedtrombone in an amateurbrass band, and his mother was an amateursoprano. Achoirboy in theparish church, he continued his musical studies when he went to work in acotton mill on leaving school. By the age of fifteen and a half he already had a deepbass voice, which he used at the evening institute where he studiedharmony. At the age of 17 he made his first public performance as a soloist in a concert programme includingHandel arias. When he was eighteen he was heard by MrsPercy Pitt, wife of the conductor, and went to Laurence Lee for a year's training. While still working in a cotton mill he began to appear inGilbert and Sullivan productions and otherlight opera.
He won a scholarship to theRoyal Manchester College of Music in 1929, and studied singing there for three years underRichard Evans. He took parts in college opera productions, notablyThe Magic Flute, and won theCurtis Gold Medal. Walker was then keen to go to London. He sang forLandon Ronald, and was awarded theHeilbut Major scholarship to theGuildhall School of Music, where he studied with the tenorWalter Hyde. In their production ofAutumn Crocus he was heard byBasil Dean, who engaged him for films such asJava Head,Sing As We Go andLook up and Laugh (withGracie Fields), andWhom the Gods Love (a film about the life ofMozart).
Norman Walker's first appearance with theHallé Orchestra and Choir was in theBachMass in B minor in 1933. The first of manyoratorio performances, this led to an appearance in theVerdiRequiem at theQueen's Hall for theRoyal Philharmonic Society underThomas Beecham in 1935. In the same year he made his first important radio broadcast, and first appeared in the international seasons at theRoyal Opera House, Covent Garden. After two years or so in minor roles, he sang the roles ofKing Mark inTristan und Isolde, Gurnemanz inParsifal and the Commendatore inDon Giovanni.[2] He also took the role of the King in Verdi'sAida in a cast includingBeniamino Gigli. He married the New Zealand-born mezzo-soprano and pianist Merle Miller in October 1938. They had four children: Malcolm (born 1940), Nigel (1941–1947), Douglas (1944–2019) and Elspeth (born 1948).
In 1941 he was commissioned in theRAF and served as aFlying Control Officer until demobilised as aFlight Lieutenant in November 1945. During that time he received a Fellowship of the Royal Manchester College of Music (1941) and a Fellowship of theGuildhall School of Music in 1945. After the War he returned to Covent Garden in February 1948 and was a member of the company for four seasons and appeared during the 1952/53 season as a guest. He was much admired as King Mark inTristan und Isolde and created the role of theEvangelist in the première ofRalph Vaughan Williams'sThe Pilgrim's Progress, and sang withSadler's Wells Opera, Jay Pomeroy's company at the Cambridge Theatre and atGlyndebourne,[2] but devoted himself increasingly to oratorio, including the major works of Bach, Handel andElgar. He also gaveBBC broadcasts oflieder. In 1952 he toured Australia and New Zealand.
Walker suffered a stroke in 1955 and retired from singing on the stage but continued to broadcast. He taught at the Guildhall School of Music from 1951 until his death, his students includingIan Partridge,Elizabeth Bainbridge,Janet Coster, John Dobson,Anne Pashley, John Heddle Nash, Paschal Allen and Lawrence Richard.
His son is the recording historian, magazine editor and discographer Malcolm Walker (born 16 May 1940).[3]
He died in London[2] on 5 November 1963.
