Percy Heming(1883-1956)
- Additional Crew
- Actor
Operatic baritone. Studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London with
Frederick King, and in Dresden with George Henschel. His career was
almost entirely in Britain. He made his debut with the Beecham Opera
Company in 1915 as Mercutio in Gounod's ROMEO AND JULIET. Subsequently
sang with the British National Opera Company, the Covent Garden touring
company, and Sadlers Well's Opera. He was the Artistic Director of the
Covent Garden English company 1937-39, and after WWII became its
Artistic Advisor. His best roles were Marcello (LA BOHEME), Sharpless
(MADAME BUTTERFLY), and he was the finest Scarpia (TOSCA) of his day.
He also found time to appear in musicals, including LILAC TIME and
JOLLY ROGER; at one time, he toured the USA as MacHeath in THE BEGGAR'S
OPERA. He made many recordings, mostly of popular songs, but he did
record some extracts from Wagner's PARSIFAL (in 1919, he had been the
Amfortas in the first British production).