Donald Gramm

Donald Gramm (1927-1983) had few equals among bass-baritones. As a regular member of the Metropolitan Opera Company (debuting in 1964) his works ran the gamut from Monterverdi's "The Coronation of Poppea" through Handel's "Messiah" and Berlioz's "Romeo et Juiliette" to Stravinsky's "Le Rossignol" and Carl Orff's "Der Mond". Though his early musical leaning was toward the piano and organ, he turned to voice at sixteen, and soon won a scholarship contest sponsored by the Chicago Tribune. A three time winner of the Oliver Ditson Award he also achieved the coveted Paul Lavalle Scholarship given by the National Federation of Music Clubs. He was a familiar name on the programs of American summer festivals and major symphony orchestras, including Boston, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.