TWO AUDIO CUTS Norman Treigle (TRAY-gil) was the leading bass-baritone of the New York City Opera from the time he was very young until his death at 48. Among the opera roles he made his own were Mephistopheles in Gounod's Faust, the title role in Boito's Mefistofele, Handel's Julius Caesar in a 1966 production that brought him to world fame and launched Beverly Sills's international career, Boris Godunov, and the Reverend Olin Blitch in Carlisle Floyd's Susannah. Treigle became greatly identified with Blitch, and for twenty years from the time of the operas' premiere in 1955, (with Phyllis Curtin and Mack Harrell), performances of Susannah-and there were a lot of them- were nearly unthinkable without Treigle (Mack Harrell died in 1961). Treigle was born in New Orleans and began his career there, with the New Orleans Opera. He soon went national. He was a particular favorite in Cincinnati in the days of the Zoo Opera, and sang in Mexico and South America. He never sang at the Metropolitan (he turned down offers in the early 1970s) and his final performances, in London in 1974, were one of a very few he gave in Europe. This was an American artist with an American based career. Treigle was a smallish, wiry man, a chain smoker who battled addictions to alcohol and prescription meds. His death in 1975 was thought to have been caused by an accidental overdose of sleeping pills. Because he died young and because his career never went international, Treigle is not well remembered today. What a shame! That this huge, dark voice could come out of this small, highly strung man is a wonder. He was known as a consummate actor with a complicated and messy emotional life. Last Saturday I was pleased to offer his sexy, thrilling performance of Boito's Mefistofele on Saturday on Stage. We've also heard him as Julius Caesar and in The tales of Hoffmann on air. Here's a bit of the revival scene from Susannah, in performance with the New Orleans Opera, March 31, 1962. The Reverend Olin Blitch tries to confess his guilt in raping Susannah Polk, who has been shunned by the community. [audio:treigle-blitch] And here's Norman Treigle in another signature role, the devil himself, Mephistopheles in Gounod's Faust at the New York City Opera on October 26, 1968. [audio:treigle-faust] There is a biography availed called Strange Child of Chaos. It is not very well written. Better to seek out Treigle's recordings. He's a thrilling artist, gone long before his time.
Christopher Purdy is Classical 101's early morning host, 7-10 a.m. weekdays. He is host and producer of Front Row Center – Classical 101’s weekly celebration of Opera and more – as well as Music in Mid-Ohio, Concerts at Ohio State, and the Columbus Symphony broadcast series. He is the regular pre-concert speaker for Columbus Symphony performances in the Ohio Theater.