Merrill, Robert
Merrill, Robert
Merrill, Robert, noted American baritone; b. N.Y., June 4, 1917. He first studied voice with his mother, Lillian Miller Merrill, a concert singer; subsequently took lessons with Samuel Margolis. He began his career as a popular singer on the radio; then made his operatic debut as Amonasro in Trenton, N.J., in 1944. After winning the Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the Air in N.Y., he made his debut there with the Metropolitan Opera on Dec. 15, 1945, as Germont. He remained on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera until 1976, and was again on its roster in 1983–84; he also gave solo recitals. In 1961 he made his European operatic debut as Germont in Venice; sang that same role at his Covent Garden debut in London in 1967. He became a highly successful artist through many radio, television, and film appearances; gave recitals and sang with the major American orchs.; also starred in Fiddler on the Roof and other popular musicals. Among his numerous roles were Don José, lago, Figaro, Rigoletto, Ford, and Scarpia. He pubi. 2 autobiographical books, Once More from the Beginning (N.Y., 1965) and Between Acts (N.Y, 1977). In 1993 he was awarded the National Medal of Arts.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire