Charles Kullman was born in
New Haven, Connecticut, and began performing in church choir at age eight. He attended
Yale University, studying medicine. However, after graduating in 1924, he returned to his first interest, music, believing he could succeed in making a career as a singer. He was accepted at the
Juilliard School on a scholarship where he studied with
Anna Eugénie Schoen-René. After completing three years of study there, he won another scholarship, this one affording him the opportunity to study at the American University in
Fontainebleau,
France, with Thomas Salignac. Upon returning to America, he taught voice for a while at
Smith College, then joined
Vladimir Rosing's touring
American Opera Company and began singing leading roles. Two years later, Kullman returned to Europe. An associate brought his name to the attention of conductor
Otto Klemperer, which led to his engagement at the
Kroll Theater in Berlin, where he made his debut on February 24, 1931, as Pinkerton in
Madama Butterfly. A year later, Kullman made his debut at the
Berlin Staatsoper, where he became a favorite with the public. During his time there, he worked with Germany's leading conductors, including
Wilhelm Furtwängler,
Erich Kleiber and
Leo Blech. 1934 saw Kullman making his debut at the
Vienna State Opera, and the
Royal Opera House in London. The following year saw his triumphant debut at the
Salzburg Festival, as Florestan in
Fidelio, conducted by
Arturo Toscanini. His Walther in
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, in 1936, again with Toscanini, won him further praise. He is heard at this time in the live recording of
Das Lied von der Erde, with
Kerstin Thorborg, under
Bruno Walter, from the Vienna
Musikverein (also 1936). On December 8, 1939, he changed the spelling of his name from Kullmann to Kullman. After having sung widely in Europe, Kullman returned to America for his debut at the
Metropolitan Opera on December 19, 1935, in the title role of
Faust. A live recording can be heard of him in this time, singing Alfredo in
La traviata, opposite
Bidu Sayão and
Leonard Warren in 1943, under Cesare Sordero. In 1947 he appeared in the film
Song of Scheherazade as a singing ship's doctor and friend of
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The film was an imaginary episode in the composer's life. Kullman was billed as "Charles Kullmann". In 25 seasons at the Met, his roles included Don José in
Carmen, Pinkerton, Walther, Ottavio in
Don Giovanni, Avito in ''
L'amore dei tre re, and Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus. He later took on character roles such as Shuisky in Boris Godunov and Goro in Madama Butterfly'', then weightier roles, ranging from Tannhäuser to Parsifal. In later years he taught voice both at
Indiana University (1956–1971) and
Curtis Institute of Music (1970–1971). Charles Kullman died in his native New Haven, Connecticut, aged 80. == References ==