Theodor Uppman

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Theodor Uppman (January 12, 1920 – March 17, 2005) was an American operatic baritone. He is best known for his creation of the title role in Benjamin Britten's opera Billy Budd.

Uppman was born in San Jose, California, and studied voice at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. He made his professional debut in 1941 with the Northern California Symphony Orchestra. His concert performance in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in 1947 sparked his career, and he soon reprised the role with the New York City Opera in 1948 and in his debut with the Metropolitan Opera on November 27, 1953.

Although he quit singing in 1951 to work in the California oil industry, he was persuaded to come back to opera to perform in the debut of Billy Budd a short time later at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Uppman sang 395 performances in fourteen roles during a 24-year career with the Metropolitan Opera, most frequently in Mozart operas: 98 performances as Masetto in Don Giovanni and 60 performances as Papageno in The Magic Flute. He also appeared as Guglielmo in 24 performances of Cosi fan tutte. While with the Met he virtually owned the role of Paquillo in Offenbach’s La Périchole, singing in every one of its 54 performances, from its Metropolitan premiere on December 21, 1956, through the performance in Detroit on May 27, 1971, that is, to date, the last Metropolitan Opera performance of the work. Another frequent role, Sharpless in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, he sang 37 times; Sharpless was the role of his farewell performance with the Met on April 8, 1978.

A supporter of new American operas, Uppman also created roles in Carlisle Floyd’s Passion of Jonathan Wade, Thomas Pasatieri’s Black Widow, and Leonard Bernstein’s A Quiet Place .

Uppman was known for his dramatic characterization as well as for his curly blond locks and good looks.

In his later years he became a professor of voice, teaching at Mannes College of Music from 1977 until his death and at the Manhattan School of Music from 1988 until his death.

Uppman married Jean Seward in 1943. The couple had two children.