143:(UM) as a pre-med major but transferred to the music school during his sophomore year to pursue studies in vocal performance. He graduated with a bachelor music degree from the UM in 1952. In 1954 he won the Grinnell Foundation–Detroit Grand Opera Association scholarship which provided him with the financial support he needed to pursue vocal studies with Eleanor McLellan in New York City.
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in 1980. He was married to soprano
Roberta Porretta for 47 years. They had five children and seven grandchildren together. Two of their sons have successful careers in the performing arts: actor
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Porretta was also active as a concert artist with many notable symphony orchestras and music ensembles around the country. In 1960 he was the tenor soloist in the world premiere of
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in Darien, Connecticut, for more than 40 years. He occasionally would still perform in local theater events in Darien, including playing
Fredrik Egerman in a production of
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in which he once again portrayed
Nordraak, this time opposite Florence Henderson and Toralv Maurstad. In 1957 he sang the role of Charlie in the studio cast recording of
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397:. He later reprised that role on television for a nationally broadcast performance on ABC on October 15, 1961. He also appeared on television in three operas with the
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In addition to his work at the NYCO, Porretta made appearances as a guest artist with several opera companies in North
America. In 1958 he made his debut at the
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during his career. In 1964 he appeared in two productions presented by Music
Theater of Lincoln Center: performing Lun Tha in
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and a singer in their associated choir from 1952 to 1954. In 1956 he portrayed the First Court Crier in the world premiere of
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in
Detroit, Porretta initially intended to become a doctor as his father and two brothers were all surgeons. He entered the
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as
Philine. He remained a regular performer with the NYCO for the next fourteen years, performing such roles as Alfred in
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at the
Phyllis Anderson Theatre in New York. Other companies he sang leading roles with during his career were the
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from 1956 to 1970 where he sang a highly diverse repertoire; including roles in new operas by composers
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and opera singer Frank
Porretta III. Their daughter Anna Porretta wrote for the television program
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among others. He also created roles in several world premieres at the NYCO, including Bezano in
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After retiring from the stage in his early 40s, Porretta worked as the choir director at
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Movie
Roadshows: A History and Filmography of Reserved-Seat Limited Showings, 1911–1973
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Off-Broadway Musicals since 1919: From Greenwich Village Follies to The Toxic Avenger
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Falling Up: The Days and Nights of Carlisle Floyd : the Authorized Biography
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661:. Another highlight of his concert work was singing Jaquino in Beethoven's
919:"The Opera: City Center Double Bill; Works by Dello Joio and Menotti Sung"
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492:. In 1970 he portrayed Jimmy Mahogonny in the United States premiere of
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643:. In 1962 he sang the title role in a concert performance of Rossini's
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University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni
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In 1970 Poretta made his only film appearance in the musical film
171:. In 1957 he created the role of Panfilo in the world premiere of
35:
31:
385:. In 1959 he created the role of Micah in the world premiere of
1113:
A Prima Donna's Progress: The Autobiography of Joan Sutherland
1035:"Opera Viva: The Canadian Opera Company The First Fifty Years"
413:(1962) and The Astronaut in the world premiere of Menotti's
188:
In 1956 Porretta made his professional opera debut at the
192:(NYCO) as Frederic in the company's first performance of
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Porretta began his music career as an officer in the
1014:"Pittsburgh Opera features next-generation Porretta"
371:. That same year he appeared as Aronne in Rossini's
105:. He made his only film appearance in the 1970 film
66:
he portrayed The Astronaut in the world premiere of
79:Porretta also starred in several musicals at the
865:. Syracuse University Press. pp. 171–172.
517:Porretta also appeared in several musicals and
422:In the 1959/60 season Porretta appeared at the
597:John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
484:in the title role. In 1968 he sang Alfredo to
1033:Ezra Schaba and Carl Morey (September 2000).
537:. He performed in several productions at the
8:
1245:The Complete Book of 1940s Broadway Musicals
442:. In 1964 he portrayed Alwa in Alban Berg's
155:where he served as a vocal soloist with the
348:. He also appeared as the tenor soloist in
16:American opera, musical, and concert singer
1248:. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 382.
587:(1971). He also toured the West Coast in
1460:20th-century American male opera singers
1387:
753:. Vol. 79, no. 12. June 2015.
725:
87:; notably performing on cast albums of
34:who had an active career performing in
1326:"Obituary: Francis Samuel Porretta II"
495:Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
81:Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
1320:
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7:
1435:American male musical theatre actors
1296:Raymond Ericson (February 3, 1962).
1071:Comes to Boston in a Major Premiere"
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737:
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1345:Haskel Frankel (October 19, 1980).
432:. In 1963 he made his debut at the
1347:"Magic of A Summer Night Captured"
1115:. Regnery Publishing. p. 203.
533:; both of which were recorded for
14:
1470:Classical musicians from Michigan
1455:20th-century American male actors
1298:"Concert Offered By Philharmonic"
1200:. September 13, 1971. p. 50.
1012:Robert Croan (October 12, 2008).
470:. In 1967 he performed Gerald in
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1151:. Scarecrow Press. p. 129.
713:. He died on April 23, 2015, at
710:The New Adventures of Robin Hood
591:and performed the role opposite
512:Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company
401:, portraying Grigori–Dimitri in
1173:"Los Angeles Civic Light Opera"
1090:William Littler (May 5, 1966).
988:Operas in English: A Dictionary
813:"'Susannah' Due At City Center"
342:, and Lucas Wardlaw in Floyd's
227:The Abduction from the Seraglio
1092:"Guttman Forges Operatic Link"
886:John Briggs (April 28, 1958).
581:(1970), and the title role in
460:in 1966 portraying Rodolfo to
1:
539:Los Angeles Civic Light Opera
111:in which he starred opposite
85:Los Angeles Civic Light Opera
345:The Passion of Jonathan Wade
765:"The Wife of Martin Guerre"
573:(1966), Alexander Dumas in
456:. He made his debut at the
1486:
1145:Thomas S. Hischak (2011).
745:"Obituary: Frank Porretta"
673:Chicago Symphony Orchestra
340:The Servant of Two Masters
137:Francis Samuel Porretta II
127:, for more than 40 years.
1274:"Ballet: Brahms' Waltzes"
960:"Opera: Rossini's 'Mose'"
837:"Opera: Substitute Stars"
579:Musical Theater Cavalcade
577:(1967), various parts in
391:The Thief and the Hangman
363:Washington National Opera
338:, Florindo in Giannini's
165:The Wife of Martin Guerre
1450:Male actors from Detroit
1440:American operatic tenors
1111:Joan Sutherland (1997).
859:Thomas Holliday (2013).
790:"Opera: First by Chavez"
328:, the English sentry in
230:, the Duke of Mantua in
131:Early life and education
1219:McFarland & Company
1211:Kim R. Holston (2012).
1019:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
772:www.newworldrecords.org
450:Opera Company of Boston
410:The Love of Three Kings
335:The Triumph of St. Joan
255:The Taming of the Shrew
245:The Pirates of Penzance
157:United States Army Band
888:"Three New Singers in
567:(1965), Karl Franz in
434:Canadian Opera Company
383:American Opera Society
202:in the title role and
141:University of Michigan
1272:(November 23, 1960).
1126:"Opera in Edmonton".
983:Margaret Ross Griffel
938:"Ariadne auf Naxos".
821:. September 22, 1956.
679:Later life and career
651:New York Philharmonic
429:The Barber of Seville
426:as Count Almaviva in
300:, the Sleepwalker in
282:, Ralph Rackstraw in
28:Stamford, Connecticut
1465:Singers from Detroit
1065:(January 19, 1964).
958:(December 3, 1958).
835:(October 13, 1958).
694:A Little Night Music
641:New York City Ballet
595:as Cunegonde at the
551:(1962), Mr. Snow in
309:The Cradle Will Rock
1063:Harold C. Schonberg
991:. Scarecrow Press.
667:under the baton of
636:Liebeslieder Walzer
557:(1963), Lun Tha in
488:'s Violetta at the
325:He Who Gets Slapped
190:New York City Opera
183:Columbia University
125:Darien, Connecticut
44:New York City Opera
1355:The New York Times
1306:The New York Times
1282:The New York Times
1242:Dan Dietz (2015).
1076:The New York Times
968:The New York Times
924:The New York Times
917:(April 17, 1959).
900:The New York Times
845:The New York Times
818:The New York Times
798:The New York Times
717:at the age of 84.
570:The Student Prince
561:(1965), Schani in
504:Central City Opera
436:as Don Ottavio in
365:as Scaramuccio in
358:with the company.
312:, and Vladimir in
236:, Edgar Linton in
153:United States Army
113:Florence Henderson
68:Gian Carlo Menotti
30:) was an American
26:– April 23, 2015,
20:Frank Porretta Jr.
1334:. April 28, 2015.
715:Stamford Hospital
685:St. John's Church
631:George Balanchine
462:Maria di Gerlando
407:(1961), Avito in
399:NBC Opera Theatre
368:Ariadne auf Naxos
330:Norman Dello Joio
250:Vittorio Giannini
239:Wuthering Heights
121:St. John's Church
64:NBC Opera Theatre
56:Vittorio Giannini
48:Norman Dello Joio
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1179:: 126–127. 1977.
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788:(May 10, 1957).
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699:Matthew Porretta
689:Stephen Sondheim
655:Thomas Schippers
452:under conductor
424:Pittsburgh Opera
387:Abraham Ellstein
294:, Sam Kaplan in
279:Madama Butterfly
169:Juilliard School
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1221:. p. 252.
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543:Rikard Nordraak
530:The Merry Widow
527:and Jolidon in
500:Baltimore Opera
486:Heather Thomson
482:Joan Sutherland
458:Vancouver Opera
395:Ohio University
291:Gianni Schicchi
285:H.M.S. Pinafore
276:, Pinkerton in
270:, Nanki-Poo in
261:The Merry Widow
161:William Bergsma
149:
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117:Toralv Maurstad
102:The Merry Widow
90:The Great Waltz
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1366:External links
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653:and conductor
605:Song of Norway
559:The King and I
548:Song of Norway
524:The King and I
514:among others.
490:Edmonton Opera
454:Sarah Caldwell
374:Mosè in Egitto
355:Carmina Burana
288:, Rinuccio in
248:, Lucentio in
242:, Frederic in
224:, Belmonte in
209:Die Fledermaus
148:
147:Singing career
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108:Song of Norway
96:The King and I
52:Carlisle Floyd
22:(May 4, 1930,
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