American opera singer (1943–1987)
James Peyton Atherton Jr (April 27, 1943 – November 20, 1987) was an American tenor and artistic director. Classically trained, he went on to sing with numerous American opera companies. He also performed on stage in Europe.
Early life and career.
Atherton was born in Montgomery, Alabama, the son of James Peyton Atherton (1904–1972) and Anna Avery Thomas (1909–1993), both of Montgomery, Alabama.
He studied at the Peabody Conservatory, in Baltimore primarily with Martial Singher and Rosa Ponselle. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 1965.
He shorted his name for the stage to simply "James Atherton" and had a successful career as a tenor and music director. He is listed as a noteworthy tenor in "Marquis Who's Who" and is recognized in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
He first sang on stage in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Early stage performances as tenor included Beethoven's Missa Solemnis at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 1966 and Madama Butterfly with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in 1971. He was a tenor in the Santa Fe Opera from 1973 to 1978.
1979 to 1980 were spent in the United Kingdom. In the early 1980s, he performed in San Francisco, Dallas, Houston and Miami.
His last performance at the Metropolitan Opera alongside Tatiana Troyanos, Gwyneth Jones and Aage Haugland, as an Innkeeper in "Der Rosenkavalier", took place on September 27, 1985. This was his 277th appearance at the MET.
In his final year, Atherton had prepared for a production of George Frideric Handel's "Rinaldo" at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in association with the Handel Festival Orchestra, directed by Stephen Simon, which rebranded during 1987, as the Washington Chamber Symphony.
Atherton specialized in opera roles as the secondary tenor. He served on the faculties of Peabody Conservatory, Goucher College, Towson University, and Dickinson College. However he eventually broadened his activities to stage management, as a stage director, and talent scout. This new career path was curtailed by a short illness, resulting in his untimely death at the age of 44.
Recordings.
The Met also televised several of his performances, including "The Magic Flute" in 1979.
Personal.
Atherton died of an HIV related illness in his adoptive hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, on November 20, 1987.
He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Montgomery, Alabama. His obituary was printed in "The New York Times" on November 24, 1987.
Ancestry.
His paternal ancestors came to Alabama from McLean County, Kentucky. His great-great-grandfather, William Atherton died there in 1879.
References.
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