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Robert MoulsonAmerican classical tenor
Date of Birth: 26.11.1932
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Robert Moulson
Robert Moulson was an American classical tenor who had an active international career on the opera and concert stage from the late 1950s to the late 1980s. Born on November 26, 1932, in Cleveland, Ohio, Moulson studied under Frederick Jagel and Samuel Margolis in New York City. He made his professional opera debut in 1958 at the New York City Opera, singing the role of Sam Polk in Carlisle Floyd's "Susannah". The New York Times praised Moulson's singing, describing his voice as light, brilliant, and well-focused on stage.
Roles and Recordings
Moulson returned to the New York City Opera several times, performing roles such as Pinkerton in Giacomo Puccini's "Madama Butterfly", Alfredo in Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata", and notably, Lennie Small in the opera adaptation of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men". He originated the role of Lennie Small in the opera's premiere on January 22, 1970, at the Seattle Opera and recorded it for his discography. Over the years, he portrayed Lennie Small with various American opera companies, including the Houston Grand Opera in 1977. Moulson also appeared in Houston in 1981 for the world premiere of Floyd's opera "Willie Stark" based on Robert Penn Warren's novel "All the King's Men".
Aside from contemporary opera, Moulson excelled in classical repertoire. He was highly regarded for his performances as Aegisth in "Elektra", Canio in "Pagliacci", Cavaradossi in "Tosca", Don José in "Carmen", the Duke of Mantua in "Rigoletto", Edgar in "Lucia di Lammermoor", Don Fernando in "La Favorite", Radames in "Aida", and the leading roles in "Don Carlo", "Faust", "The Tales of Hoffmann", and "Oedipus Rex".
Performances and International Career
Throughout his career, Moulson performed in major opera houses across North America, including the Opera Company of Boston, Pittsburgh Opera, Portland Opera, Cincinnati Opera, New Orleans Opera, and San Francisco Opera. On the international stage, he frequently appeared in Germany, performing at prestigious theaters such as the Hamburg State Opera, Staatsoper Stuttgart, Opern- und Schauspielhaus Frankfurt, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, as well as the opera houses in Cologne and Hanover. Moulson was also invited to sing at the Vancouver Opera multiple times.
Legacy
Robert Moulson passed away on August 15, 2003, leaving behind a legacy of exceptional performances and recordings. His expressive and focused voice, combined with his versatility in both contemporary and classical opera, cemented his reputation as a celebrated American tenor.
