Theodor Uppman

He is best known for his creation of the title role in Benjamin Britten's opera Billy Budd.

Uppman, of Swedish descent, was born in San Jose, California, and studied voice at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and privately with Beverley Peck Johnson in New York City.

Although he quit singing in 1951 to work in the California oil industry, he was persuaded to come back to opera to perform in the premiere of Billy Budd a short time later at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Britten originally had Geraint Evans in mind for the role, but he withdrew because its tessitura was too high for his voice, and he sang another part.

A supporter of new American operas, Uppman also created roles in Carlisle Floyd’s Passion of Jonathan Wade (with Phyllis Curtin and Norman Treigle), Heitor Villa-Lobos's Yerma in 1971, Thomas Pasatieri’s Black Widow in 1972, and Leonard Bernstein’s A Quiet Place (opposite Chester Ludgin).