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IN MEMORIAM
JESS WALTERS
Jess Walters,
professor emeritus of voice at The University of Texas School
of Music and one of the world's leading baritones, died Sunday,
October 8, 2000, in Austin.
Jess was born Joshua Wolk in Brooklyn, New York, on November 18, 1908,
the youngest of seven children of Latvian parents. His father was a portrait
painter and opera buff. Growing up in New York City, Jess wanted to become
an artist. At the age of 15 he was sent to the National Farm School for
a three-year course in farming. At the school, he began singing for school
functions.
In 1931, Jess returned to New York, at the height of the Depression,
having to work such jobs as "grease monkey", gas station
attendant, delivery boy, and a stint in a leather shop. During
this time, he sang
on Major Bowes Amateur Night with Rudy Vallee.
His first review in Broadway productions stated:
". . . The young baritone, Jesse Wolk, of
389 E. 52nd St., who prosaically works in a women's apparel
firm by day, astonished and pleased the judges. His voice lacks
finish, but it has tonal qualities and ease, and who knows
but he may be another Chaliapin. Dazed at the impression he
had made. . . ." Brooklyn Daily Times, December
1931.
Walters continued singing, and
even had a singing job during the lunch hour in a restaurant
on 42nd Street. Another quote from 1935 reads:
"Journal's Summer Music Festival
. . . Jesse Wolk, the other gold medalist, is considered
by many musicians a true vocal discovery. Among those who
made this estimate was Frank
LaForge, maker of great singers, who acted as one of the distinguished
judges on 'baritone night' and promptly offered to undertake young Wolk's
future development. Wolk will take his first lesson from the teacher
of Lawrence Tibbett, Richard Crooks, and other famous artists, tomorrow
morning." New York Journal, July 1935.
He sang into the late '30s for
hotels, supper clubs, churches, and radio, always moving up the
ladder. He changed his name from Jesse Wolk to Jess Walters‹and
even to George King in Buffalo!
Walters began studying voice with LaForge at age 25; other teachers would
include Mario Pagano, Luigi Guifrida, and Hulda and Luigi Rossini. During
his career, he was noted for performances in some 55 major operatic roles
and was highly acclaimed as a member of a number of outstanding companies.
His operatic debut was with the New York Opera Company in 1941, singing
the title role in Macbeth. Jess was paid $75 for his New York Opera
Company performances! Reviews include:
"Macbeth Review
Discovery of a Baritone
The New Opera Company has a find in Jess Walters, the baritone who sang Macbeth last
night. If it is true that he had not been on the stage before, his showing
was a remarkable one. . . . what Mr. Walters really made count was a
voice of power, freedom, ample compass and rare beauty of sound. We have
not had many such voices, or voices so well produced, among either our
American or our imported baritones in the year immediately behind us.
Moreover, the young man exhibited a fine sense of Italian style. His
achievement of the aria "Sangue a me" and, in fact, the entire
scene of the second interview with the witches, was of a definitely superior
order. Warmth of tone and an admirable legato were to be found in his
delivery of the familiar 'Pieta, rispetto, amore.' " Oscar Thompson,
October 25, 1941.
Emma DeFina was a voice student
in New York when she heard Jess's voice and fell in love with
him. They were married in 1943 and had a son, Arnold Emil, now
an actor in England.
Jess made his European debut in 1947 as Count des Grieux in Manon with
the Royal Opera, Covent Garden. He remained with that company for 12 years,
singing 684 performances. Of the approximately 25 roles he performed while
in London, he was best known for his interpretations of Germont, Wozzeck,
Almaviva, Rigoletto, Papageno, di Luna, Marcello, and Sharpless.
A sampling of his reviews would include:
"With Jess Walters as Papageno one could
believe that his birds would be as easily bewitched as his
audience." Birmingham, England, April 1952.
"As is becoming usual at the Garden, the laurals [sic] of the evening to
Jess Walters, who, as the King's loyal secretary, Anckarstroem, who is forced
by circumstances to be his friend's assassin, gives a sensitive and wholly sincere
performance. Mr. Walters has proved himself more than just a 'good trouper,'
and it would do us all good to see him trusted with some really 'meaty' parts." The
Kensington News (London), October 31, 1952.
"It has been said that there have been only three great Rigoletto stars‹Marco
Rothmuller, Jess Walters, and Tom Williams." Merthyr Express (Wales),
October 23, 1954.
"As Renato, Jess Walters proved once again that he is a pillar of strength
in the company." Opera News, March 11, 1957.
"He virtually owned the roles he sang at Covent Garden, and his name was
a household word," said Robert DeSimone, UT Opera Theatre director and professor
of Opera. "Jess was THE leading baritone at the Royal Opera for years."
From 1960 to 1965, Jess sang with
the Netherlands Opera in Amsterdam. He also performed with the
Liege in Belgium, and the New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco
Opera Companies. Walters sang with major orchestras such as the
Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, and London Philharmonic. He
appeared internationally with Maria Callas, Jermone Hines, Dorothy
Kirsten, Roberta Peters, Jan Peerce, Joan Sutherland, and Richard
Tucker. Additionally, he sang with Victoria de los Angeles, Kurt
Baum, Vivian Della Chiesa, Edith Coates, Eugene Conley, Mattiwilda
Dobbs, Geraint Evans, Sylvia Fisher, Nicolai Gedda, Adele Leigh,
George London, Pilar Lorengar, Giovanni Martinelli, Virginia
Mewatrers, Zinka Milanov, Elsie Morrison, Peter Pears, Regina
Resnick, Joseph Rouleau, Amy Schuard, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf,
Graziella Sciutti, Giulietta Simionato, Willa Stewart, Ebe Stignani,
Jenny Tourel, Jon Vickers, and Lubja Welitch.
One of Jess's memorable recordings includes the 1953 CD of Verdi's Aida with
Maria Callas at Covent Garden.
He returned to London in 1997 to be honored in the celebration of the 50th
anniversary of the Royal Opera's first performance.
Jess came to the campus in 1965 and taught here for 35 years. His last
lesson was on the Monday before his death. His contributions to music in
Austin were enormous, and for years, Jess Walters delighted Austin audiences
in productions of the UT Opera Theatre, Austin Gilbert and Sullivan Society,
Capitol City Playhouse, and later in the Austin Lyric Opera. He continued
to present voice recitals at UT into his nineties and was a featured soloist
at many local and community fundraising presentations.
"Jess was an icon," said DeSimone. "He inspired the love of the
human voice in the community, and he gave of himself generously to his students
and to Austin. The adulation and love he received from his friends, colleagues,
and students was all part of the wonderful life he led here." The Austin
Gilbert and Sullivan Society honored Jess and Emma Walters in 1998 with a musical
tribute.
Walters is survived by his wife Emma, son Arnold Emil, daughter-in-law
Margaret, and granddaughter Gemma, of Manchester, England.
<signed>
Larry R. Faulkner, President
The University of Texas at Austin
<signed>
John R. Durbin, Secretary
The General Faculty
This memorial resolution was prepared by a special committee consisting
of Professors Darlene Wiley (chair), Robert DeSimone, and Martha Deatherage.
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