Opera Singers on "Broadway" The Broadway-type show has often been a musical venue for "pre-opera career" and "post-opera career" opera singers.  Many singers began their musical careers in Broadway-type shows long before actually finding success on the opera stages of the world, while other singers found an extended career performing in Broadway-type shows following their retirement from the opera stage.  Shown below are 20 original cast albums (arranged alphabetically) all containing singers in either their "pre" or "post" opera careers.  Few opera singers have been able to successfully combine both the opera and musical show careers simultaneously.   Original German cast of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN; Robert Trehy (NYC Opera, 1959-1969) Lauritz Melchior, Ralph Herbert (both the Met), William Chapman (NYC Opera, 1957-1979) Cesare Siepi (opera houses, the world over) Robert Rounseville (NYC Opera, 1948-1966), William Olvis, Irra Petina (both Met singers) Ezio Pinza (opera houses, the world over) Julia Migenes (pre-Johnson) pre-opera career Ivan Rebroff (autographed) in Theatre Marigny cast (sung in French) This cast features famous Hungarian opera singers (sung in Hungarian) Ian Wallace, Scottish bass, sang mostly in England and Scotland; also great comic actor Giorgio Tozzi and Jean Fenn were colleagues at the Met for many years;Frank Porretta (NYCO) Hungarian Sári Barabás and American Walter  Cassel in this English Drury Lane Theater cast Plácido Domingo's first recording, identifiably heard in the With A Little Bit Of Luck ensemble.  Mexican cast album, autographed by Plácido. Robert Weede (Metropolitan Opera, 1937-1947) John Reardon (Met and NYC Opera) Thomas Hayward, Laurel Hurley and other Met singers; Jones Beach Marine Theater cast After her opera career at the Metropolitan Opera, Helen Traubel did Las Vegas, TV and this show. William Warfield reprises his role of "Joe" in this 1966 Lincoln Center Musical Theater production. Brenda Lewis, John Reardon (signed on rear) and William Olvis - all Metropolitan Opera colleagues Ezio Pinza - the original "Emile de Becque" -> Giorgio Tozzi - a worthy successor as "Emile" Return to The Gallery                    Return to Home Page