Robert Weede
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Robert Weede (né Wiedefeld, in Baltimore, Maryland, on February 22, 1903; died in Walnut Creek, California, on July 9, 1972) was one of the most esteemed of American operatic baritones. He studied at the Eastman School and in Milan, and made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1937, as Tonio in Pagliacci. His other roles there included Rigoletto (opposite Jussi Björling), Amonasro (Aïda), Manfredo (L'amore dei tre re), Shaklovity (Khovanschina) and Baron Scarpia (Tosca). He debuted as the protagonist of Rigoletto in Chicago (1939), San Francisco (1940), and at the New York City Opera (1948).
At the City Opera, Weede also sang in Pagliacci and in the world premiere of William Grant Still's Troubled Island, opposite Marie Powers, Marguerite Piazza and Robert McFerrin. In Mexico City, the baritone appeared with Maria Callas in Aïda and Tosca. Later, he sang with that soprano in Chicago, in Il trovatore and her only appearances in Madama Butterfly.
In 1956, he scored a great success on Broadway, as the first Tony Esposito in Loesser's The Most Happy Fella, which he recorded. He was seen on Broadway in Milk and Honey (1961-63) and Cry for Us All (1970), as well. He also had recorded excerpts from Carmen, in 1946, with Risë Stevens conducted by Georges Sébastian, and recorded an album of "Verdi Arias" for Capitol Records in 1955.
Weede often gave assistance to younger singers, especially John Alexander, Dominic Cossa, Mario Lanza and Norman Treigle.¹
¹ Strange Child of Chaos: Norman Treigle (page 217), by Brian Morgan, iUniverse, 2006.
