Thomas Hampson (baritone)

:"For the English runner, see Tommy Hampson" Thomas Hampson (born June 28, 1955, Elkhart, Indiana) is an American opera singer (baritone).

Thomas Hampson grew up in Spokane, Washington. He studied with Marietta Coyle, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Martial Singher, and Horst Günther. In 1980 he took the second prize at the 's-Hertogenbosch International Vocal Competition, and in 1981 first place in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions. In 1992, Hampson earned a BA degree in Government from Eastern Washington University.

As the young, tall and handsome protegé of late "Leonard Bernstein", Hampson recorded "Gustav Mahler"'s "Kindertotenlieder" and "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen" with him for Deutsche Grammophone. This recording is widely appreciated. Their relationship, triggering some gossip as well, continued until Bernstein's death and Thomas Hampson contributed to almost every major Bernstein recording then on.

Today considered one of America's leading baritones, Hampson's operatic repertoire spans a wide range of roles: the title roles in Mozart's "Don Giovanni", Rossini's "Guillaume Tell", Ambroise Thomas' "Hamlet", and Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin"; Figaro in Rossini's "Barber of Seville", Germont in Verdi's "La traviata" and more recently also Amfortas in Wagner's "Parsifal". In 2003 his recording of Wagner's "Tannhäuser" received the Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording.

Thomas Hampson is also a celebrated lieder singer (Franz Schubert, Hugo Wolf, Joseph Marx, Richard Strauss, Gustav Mahler and others) and a soloist of choice for the world's leading conductors. He is also noted for his renditions of Aaron Copland's "Old American Songs." He has appeared in all major opera houses and concert halls. His impressive discography includes many award-winning recordings.

Hampsong Foundation

In 2003, he founded the "Hampsong Foundation" dedicated to the promotion of art song in America, which supports research and young artists through research projects, symposia, masterclasses, debuts, and concert lectures.

References

*Crutchfield, Will (1988, 24 February), [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE3DE1E3CF937A15751C0A96E948260 'Music: Thomas Hampson'] "The New York Times". Accessed 31 August 2007.
*Rothstein, Edward (1991, 14 February), [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE1D61030F937A25751C0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print 'Review/Opera; Thomas Hampson as the Barber'] "The New York Times". Accessed 31 August 2007.
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE5DB103AF930A25750C0A960948260 'Thomas Hampson, Baritone, Plans Debut'] (1986, 13 March) "The New York Times". Accessed 31 August 2007.

ources

* [http://www.thomashampson.com/ Official website of Thomas Hampson]
* [http://www.hampsong.org/ Official website of the Hampsong Foundation]
* [http://www.loc.gov/creativity/hampson/biography.html LOC Biography (American 2006 tour)]
* [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas/ PBS Site (American Dreams 1990s tour)]
*Bryce, Peter. " [http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/artsfun/afterhours/6418.html Understanding Your Life Through Music: A Mahler Scholar Brings His Passion to DC] ", "Washingtonian", January 30 20068