Percy Heming(1883-1956)

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).