Brian Sullivan (tenor)
{{short description|American opera singer (1917–1969)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Brian Sullivan
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Harry Joseph Sullivan
| birth_date = {{birth date|1917|8|9}}
| birth_place = Oakland, California
| death_date = {{death date and age|1969|6|17|1917|8|9}}
| death_place = Lake Geneva, Switzerland
| nationality = American
| other_names =
| occupation = Tenor singer
| alma_mater = University of Southern California
| spouse = Marie Pauline Horn (1938–1969, his death)
| children = 3
| parents =
| known_for =
}}
Brian Sullivan (August 9, 1917 – June 17, 1969) was an American tenor who sang in films, on radio, on television, and with the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as with other groups.
Early years
Sullivan was born Harry Joseph Sullivan in Oakland, California. After living in Salt Lake City, the family moved to Los Angeles, where he attended Manual Arts High School.{{cite journal|last1=Wagner|first1=Laura|title=Brian Sullivan: Unhook the Stars and Take Them Down|journal=Classic Images|date=April 2018|issue=514|pages=14–15, 58–61}} His initial study of singing occurred late in his high school years.{{cite news|title=Brian Sullivan Sings SR Concert Wednesday|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20030651/brian_sullivan/|work=The Press Democrat|date=March 8, 1959|location=California, Santa Rosa|page=15 F|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = May 12, 2018}} {{Open access}} He went on to study voice at the University of Southern California.
Career
Unable to find openings in operas early in his career, Sullivan delved into musical comedy productions and toured with the Ice Follies for one winter. In 1943, he gained performing experience with the American Music Theatre in Pasadena, California. His performances there led to a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studios, but that was interrupted when he went into the U.S. Army. He began his military service in the motor pool but soon was transferred to Special Services.{{cite news|last1=Bates|first1=Hal|title=Pasadena Opera Stars Brian Sullivan as 'Otello'|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20028428/brian_sullivan/|work=The Van Nuys News|date=January 26, 1968|location=California, Van Nuys|page=14|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = May 12, 2018}} {{Open access}}
In 1946, Sullivan sang the role of Gaylord Ravenal in a revival of Show Boat in New York.{{cite news|title=New 'Met' Star Will Make Local Debut Monday|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20028051/brian_sullivan/|work=Hartford Courant|date=February 1953|location=Connecticut, Hartford|page=V.14|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = May 12, 2018}} {{Open access}} A year later, he performed on Broadway in Kurt Weill's Street Scene.{{cite web|title=Brian Sullivan|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/brian-sullivan-93311|website=Internet Broadway Database|publisher=The Broadway League|access-date=13 May 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513011936/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/brian-sullivan-93311|archivedate=13 May 2018}} His audition for the Metropolitan Opera occurred during the run of Street Scene, and at the close of that production he was signed by the Central City Opera in Colorado to sing in its presentation of Beethoven's Fidelio.{{cite news|title=Tenor Brian Sullivan to Sing Here Tuesday|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20047549/brian_sullivan/|work=Eureka Humboldt Standard|date=March 23, 1960|location=California, Eureka|page=12|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = May 13, 2018}} {{Open access}}
Sullivan debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in 1948, in the title role in Britten's Peter Grimes. He also became "the first American singer in a generation to sing the title role in Wagner's Lohengrin."{{cite news|title=Brian Sullivan to Appear In Concert Here Tuesday|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20030257/brian_sullivan/|work=Asheville Citizen-Times|date=March 13, 1955|location=North Carolina, Asheville|page=D.5|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = May 12, 2018}} {{Open access}}
Sullivan was heard frequently on The Bell Telephone Hour on radio and appeared often on The Voice of Firestone on television.
Films
Sullivan's screen debut came in an uncredited part in This Man's Navy (1945). He also had bit parts in Thrill of a Romance (1945) and Courage of Lassie (1946).
Recordings
In 1947, Columbia Records released a six-record album of music from Street Scene, with Sullivan and other cast members performing songs from the Broadway production.{{cite news|last1=Sherman|first1=Thomas B.|title=Weekly Review of the New Records|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20031845/brian_sullivan/|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=May 28, 1947|location=Missouri, St. Louis|page=4 D|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = May 12, 2018}} {{Open access}}
- Walhall CD, The Magic Flute, Bruno Walter, Metropolitan Opera 1956
Personal life
Death
On June 17, 1969, Sullivan's body was found floating in Lake Geneva. He had been in Geneva, Switzerland, to sing Siegfried in a production of Götterdämmerung at the Grand Théâtre de Genève.{{cite news|title=Brian Sullivan found dead in Geneva lake|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20052919/brian_sullivan/|work=Redlands Daily Facts|date=June 18, 1969|location=California, Redlands|page=4|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = May 13, 2018}} {{Open access}} He had been missing for several days.{{cite news|title=Tenor Sullivan Found Dead in Swiss Lake|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20151437/brian_sullivan/|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 18, 1969|location=California, Los Angeles|page=II.5|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = May 17, 2018}} {{Open access}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Opera}}
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Category:20th-century American male opera singers
Category:American operatic tenors
Category:Singers from Oakland, California
Category:Singers from California
Category:Classical musicians from California