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Focusing mostly on the standard
Italian and French repertory, Walker led the company through "seven seasons of rising artistry and record audiences," ultimately increasing season subscriptions, wiping out deficits, and bolstering the company's annual budget and its endowment to what were then record
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Even when he was still at the Met and working with world-class stage directors and designers, Walker believed that great singing was what made great opera. "'That's what opera's all about, you know: let the opera singer sing and opera will flourish.'" When he began to produce opera in Fort Worth,
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In 1998, despite the successes achieved under Walker's tenure, the executive committee of the larger Fort Worth Opera board of directors attempted to force Walker to retire, but their decision was overridden by a vote of the full board. "I'm the happiest man in
America," Walker said at the time.
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Walker retired from singing in 1982. In 1970, Walker was named
Distinguished Alumnus of the Year by his alma mater, Texas Christian University. In 1980, he was named the Hearndon Distinguished Visiting Professor of Music at Texas Christian University and taught master classes in performance for
442:. With a technique considered innovative at the time, Walker addressed his recital audiences directly from the stage, interspersing his songs with funny, often self-deprecating stories, making him a more accessible performer to his audiences then the stereotypically aloof classical artist.
27:
600:
In 2007, Walker and his wife, Marci, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The couple had four children and three grandchildren. One of his sons, popularly known by the pseudonym "Wammo", was a co-founder, songwriter and performer with the
521:"This is the job I prepared for my whole life. I can't wait to get started again." Walker's contract was extended until 2002, when he retired and was named Executive Director Emeritus by the Fort Worth Opera board of directors.
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From 1969 to 1976, Walker gave more than 250 solo recitals in the United States and Canada, performing classical operatic arias, art songs and
American musical show stoppers, most memorably "Soliloquy" from
73:. After watching him strike out four times one night at a high school game, Walker's father suggested that perhaps his son should think more seriously about being a singer. In 1949, upon graduation from
199:—where Walker appeared some 60 times – led to a higher profile in his opera career. During his 18 seasons there, Walker gave more than 360 performances at the Met and sang the role of Marcello in
388:, Chancellor of West Germany. In 1976, under the auspices of the U.S. State department, Walker was sent abroad to perform as a representative of the United States. In addition to recitals in
41:(1962–1980) whose singing career included performances at the White House, at Carnegie Hall and other concert venues across North America and Europe, and some 60 appearances on
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Walker capitalized on this philosophy of "a singer's opera" by recognizing the opportunity for Fort Worth Opera to be a showcase for up-and-coming vocal talent.
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646:"A New Voice: William Walker Aims Opera in Different Direction," Wayne Lee Gay, Fort Worth Star Telegram, 12/16/91, Life section, p. 1, accessed 8/27/2007
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Other recordings and career memorabilia are on deposit in the
William Walker Collection at the library at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas.
896:
621:"Baritone sang on one of opera's biggest stages: the Met in New York," Chris Vaughn, Fort Worth Star Telegram, 04/12/2010, accessed via web 04/18/2010
134:. He was listed in the program as "Bill Walker". A frequent performer in summer stock during the 1960s, Walker sang in many performances with the
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Walker's career included performances at the White House: In 1967 during the
Johnson administration he was the principal entertainer at the
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for meritorious service. Upon his honorable discharge, Walker returned to Fort Worth, completed his bachelor's in voice and graduated from
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levels. During Walker's tenure, Fort Worth Opera joined other major Fort Worth performing arts organizations (Fort Worth
Symphony,
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69:. Known as "Bill" to his family and friends, Walker began singing professionally at the age of 12 but secretly yearned to play
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513:, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and Cliburn Concerts series) when they moved into their permanent home at
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In 1965, Walker was featured in two new productions at the Met. He was selected to sing the role of
Valentin in
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shows on file at the Paley Center for Media (formerly the Museum of
Television and Radio) in New York. New York
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several years. He also taught master classes as the Carol Kyle
Distinguished Visiting Professor of Music at
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517:. Tickets for the 1998-1999 inaugural season of Fort Worth Opera at Bass Performance Hall were sold out.
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In 1991, Walker returned to his hometown of Fort Worth to accept the position of General Director of the
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756:"Singing a happy tune: William Walker aims to bolster reputation of Fort Worth Opera," Wayne Lee Gay,
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265:. The following season, Walker stepped in for an ailing colleague and sang the role of Germont in
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45:. From 1991-2002, he produced opera as General Director of Fort Worth Opera in Fort Worth, Texas.
181:. His first roles at the Met were small ones, but subsequent exposure on television shows such as
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His studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to serve in the
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In 1975 when the Met toured Japan for the first time, Walker sang the role of Marcello in
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384:. During the Carter administration, he sang at a White House state dinner honoring
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The Opera; 'La Traviata' Is Led by Miss Caldwell - Free Preview - The New York Times
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230:. He also sang the role of Prince Yeletsky in a new English-language production of
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655:"A New Voice: William Walker Aims Opera in Different Direction" by Wayne Lee Gay,
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Walker was a frequent soloist with many great American orchestras, including the
693:"A New Voice: William Walker Aims Opera in Different Direction," Wayne Lee Gay,
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822:"Walker says he'll retire from Fort Worth Opera in 2002", Wayne Lee Gay,
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630:"William Walker: Director of the Fort Worth Opera" Sheila Taylor Wells,
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in 1956. In 1957, he married the former Marci Martin and they moved to
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Commercially available audio and video recordings of Walker are rare.
582:, New England Conservatory of Music/Video Artists International. Inc.
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for the first time at the Met, a role he had already sung at the
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244:. In 1972, Walker repeated the role in the first production of
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at the age of 6, where his father eventually went to work for
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Winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
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Original Broadway Cast Soundtrack, RCA Victor LOC-1060, 1961
37:(October 29, 1931 – April 10, 2010) was a baritone with the
785:"Opera Director to Retire at Season's End," Wayne Lee Gay,
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Internet Broadway Database: Bill Walker Credits on Broadway
283:"the best singing of the night came from Mr. Walker," and
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809:"Opera reverses decision on director", Wayne Lee Gay,
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11/19/1992, A&E section, page 1, accessed 8/29/07
568:
The Voice of Firestone: A Firestone French Opera Gala
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In 1960, Walker made his Broadway debut as Tattoo in
248:ever presented in its original Russian at the Met.
826:12/29/00, Metro section, p. 1, accessed 9/16/2007
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813:9/25/98, Metro section, p.1, accessed 9/16/2007
697:12/16/91, Life section, p.1, accessed 8/27/2007
634:3/10/94, Life section, p. 1, accessed 9/17/2007
287:magazine called his Germont "splendidly sung."
88:. During his time in Korea, he was awarded the
789:9/19/98, News section, p.1, accessed 9/16/2007
175:Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
8:
689:
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77:, Walker was awarded a vocal scholarship to
461:as the baritone soloist in performances of
275:and in other regional productions. Critic
838:"The Asylum Street Spankers, Sounding Off"
799:Bass Performance Hall: History of the Hall
290:Other roles at the Met included Figaro in
659:, 12/16/91, Life section, p. 1, 8/27/2007
457:. In the 1970s, Walker appeared twice at
436:and "Surrey With The Fringe On Top" from
917:20th-century American male opera singers
614:
196:The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
177:and was offered a contract to join the
43:The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
769:"New In Seville", Florence Stevenson,
173:In 1962, Walker was a finalist in the
7:
493:General Director, Fort Worth Opera
382:White House Correspondents' Dinner
14:
907:Texas Christian University alumni
574:, telecast of February 10, 1963)
897:Musicians from Fort Worth, Texas
130:, directed and choreographed by
541:RCA/NBC, rare recording from a
21:William Walker (disambiguation)
902:Classical musicians from Texas
743:"An Elegant Debut", Printout,
714:Metropolitan Opera Association
1:
836:Street, Asylum (2005-07-31).
140:Kansas City Starlight Theatre
75:Arlington Heights High School
57:and moved with his family to
144:Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera
887:American operatic baritones
53:William Walker was born in
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539:Cole Porter: A Remembrance
94:Texas Christian University
79:Texas Christian University
18:
824:Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
811:Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
787:Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
758:Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
695:Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
632:Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
404:, Walker sang Germont in
136:St. Louis Municipal Opera
657:Fort Worth Star Telegram
892:American opera managers
586:The Bell Telephone Hour
551:Mercury SRM 1-604, 1970
184:The Bell Telephone Hour
35:William Sterling Walker
603:Asylum Street Spankers
455:Philadelphia Orchestra
190:The Voice of Firestone
114:, a musical comedy by
31:
862:The MetOpera Database
515:Bass Performance Hall
451:New York Philharmonic
326:, the High Priest in
293:The Barber of Seville
29:
16:American opera singer
773:March 2, 1974, p. 19
511:Texas Ballet Theater
203:more than 30 times.
30:William Walker, 1966
19:For other uses, see
489:from 1980 to 1984.
473:, conducted by Sir
447:Cleveland Orchestra
398:Royal Swedish Opera
375:Lucia di Lammermoor
366:, Dr. Malatesta in
342:, Count Di Luna in
281:The New York Times,
277:Harold C. Schonberg
246:The Queen of Spades
237:The Queen of Spades
224:Jean-Louis Barrault
193:, and most notably
65:, a predecessor of
63:Consolidated Vultee
922:Singers from Texas
719:2008-02-03 at the
179:Metropolitan Opera
39:Metropolitan Opera
32:
572:Romeo et Juliette
545:broadcast in 1965
335:Hansel und Gretel
226:and conducted by
146:in such works as
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408:and Amonasro in
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882:2010 deaths
877:1931 births
771:Opera News,
475:Georg Solti
406:La traviata
396:and at the
332:, Peter in
268:La traviata
232:Tchaikovsky
126:, starring
90:Bronze Star
55:Waco, Texas
871:Categories
844:2012-03-13
609:References
543:Today Show
525:Recordings
453:, and the
357:Il tabarro
314:, Ford in
142:, and the
120:Cy Coleman
86:Korean War
59:Fort Worth
49:Early life
469:with the
439:Oklahoma!
402:Stockholm
390:Reykjavík
363:Pagliacci
351:Lohengrin
340:La bohème
279:wrote in
254:La bohème
201:La bohème
717:Archived
680:The Muny
433:Carousel
414:in both
317:Falstaff
167:Carousel
71:baseball
555:Wildcat
394:Iceland
138:, the
111:Wildcat
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463:Mahler
449:, the
424:Poland
416:Warsaw
323:Carmen
164:, and
122:, and
840:. NPR
562:Video
533:Audio
422:, in
257:with
208:Faust
745:Time
576:ISBN
420:Łódź
418:and
411:Aida
285:Time
261:and
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