Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-03
DAVID S. B|SPHAM,
NOTED SINGER, DIES
Versatile Baritone, Born in
Philadelphia 81 Years Ago,
to Be Buried Here
SCORED MANY TRIUMPHS

David Scull Blspham, one Of Amer
icn's best known operate and lyric
baritones, died yesterday at his home,
las West Fifty-fi fifth street. New York,
after suffering for six weeks from in
testinal trouble. He will bo buried in
Philadelphia. the city of his birth.
Mr.. Bispham was born mere January
NB. 1857. He was graduated from Hav-
erford College in 1876, and the college,
in 1914, conferred on him the degree of
bachelor of arts.
D.. Although It was known Mr.. Bispham
I was i'll, his death came as shock, be-
| cause it seemed last week that he was
we'll on the way TO recovery.
Mr.. Bispham's only son, David, was
killed in an airplane accident in Eng
land in 1917 as member of the Royal
Air Force.
He leaves two daughters and his
widow, who was Miss Caroline Russell,
daughter of the late General Charles 5.
Russell, U. S. 4. One of his daugh
ters, Miss Leonie, is living in Stamford
Conn. The other is Madam DaddiC-
Borghei, who is now studying music
in Florence, Italy.
Studied in Europe
Mr.. Bispham studied in Italy under
NanucCini and Lamperti and aftCrward
in London. He made his debut in the
Royal English Opera House November
8, 1891. in La Baooche, and in Sc
rious opera in Drury Lane June 20,
1892, in Tristan and Isolde. His
first appearance in this country was at
a Symphony Society matinee in 1898.
He made his initial appearance in the
Metropolitan Opera House on Novem-
Der 81 1896, singing Telramund in
"Lohengrin," with Nine. Emma Eamcs
as Elsa. Nine. Olitzka as Ortrud, Jean
de Reszke as Dohengrin and Edouard
de Reszke as the King. Mr.. Bspham
was heard frequently IN all the Wagner
dramas except "Parsifal." He also sang
In Italian and French repertory.
He always was vigorous advocate
of opera in English, but it was not till
! comparatively lately that he had oppor-
tunities to demonstrate the value of
his theories. On October 26, 1916, the
newly formed Society of American
Singers produced two Mozart operettas,
"Bastian and Bastienne" and THE
'Impressario, Mt the Empire Theatre,
New York.
The distinguished baritone also ap-
peared ON several occasions in snort
drama entitled "BcethOven,' giving
composer He also gained considerable
approval as n public reader. His read
ings of "EnoCh Arden" and ''Midsum-
| mer Nights Dream were noteworthy.
Sang at HaverfOrd In February
Probably his last public appearance
was at his beloved alma mater, Haver-
ford College. AT any rate it was his
last appearance in Philadelphia. He
gayo n heneft in February last at Rob-
erts Hall. Haverford, for the Haverford
College Endowment Fund. On this
occasion he sang DANNY DcevGr.' al
ways one of his most popular songs with
the college boys.
Mr.. Bispham was the author of sew
eral books. Most of these were collcc-
.ions of songs and vocal music, except
a Quaker Singers RecollectiOns, his
Biography. He also wrote the intro
duction TO the Haverford College song
book, in which he traced the history OF
music in the institution from his UNDER
graduate days in 1876 to 1902, when
the book was published.
He was a member Of the following
clubs: Haverford Alumni Association,
Of which he was vice president; Cen
tury Association, Players Club, New
York; Mcdowell Club, New York
Musical Art Club. New York, and SIN
fonia, Philadelphia.
Mr.. Bispham was eminent also as an
oratorio and recital singer. His best
. recital numbers were the -Four Serious
, Songs" of Brahms and Walter Dam
rosch's Danny Deevcr."
His voice was n baritone Of fine quail
tty and normal range. His singing was
marked above all things by its strong
personality and intense artistic purpose.