David Walther
Dramatic Bass

Welcome to my website. My name is David Walther. You may e-mail me at davidwalther@earthlink.net or dramaticbass@earthlink.net
I specialize in contemporary music, Afro-American spirituals and the dramatic bass operatic literature, especially Verdi and Wagner. I recently greatly expanded the Wikipedia listing for the bass voice and repertoire. I also perform oratorio, and German and French songs. I am currently the low bass soloist at Old South Church, in Boston, MA under Harry Huff. As a composer I have been performed internationally. At the bottom of this page are selected reviews and comments about my work.

The Acting Singers Project: I am the artistic director, composer in residence, and a regular bass soloist with The Acting Singers Project. Currently, we are recording full lenght operatic movie. We have assembled a brilliant cast of eight singers, accompanied by an ensemble of ten instruments, and I feel thrilled and honored to work with all of them. We are currently recording the sound track at Futura Studio in Roslindale. A feature article about ASP appeared in The Dorchester Argus News in 2000. ASP does not believe in set staging and has no staging director. David Wheeler, who was the director of The Theater Company of Boston, and associate director of The ART in Cambridge, acts as our theatrical consultant... our dress rehearsal "eyes and ears." ASP believes in collaborative performance. Each acting singer “becomes” the character emotionally, and those characters interact together. Thanks to the help of our wonderful lawyer, Pat Cerundolo, ASP is now both non-profit and tax-exempt, and able to accept tax deductible donations. Two highlights for me were singing the role of King Marke in Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” and The Prince in my “The Swallow and The Prince” with ASP. These pieces were both cablecast on Boston Neighborhood Network Television. You may e-mail The Acting Singers Project at actingsingersproject@earthlink.net

Other Solo Performances: In June of 2008, I sang the bass solos in Mozart's "Requiem" with The Masterworks Chorale. In 2006 I was the male soloist in the Brahms "Requiem" with the Braintree Choral Society www.braintreesings.com and the Nashoba Valley Chorale www.nashobachorale.org I sang the male solos in Boston premiere of original orchestration of The Fauré "Requiem" at King’s Chapel under Daniel Pinkham. I sang the bass solos in Handel's "Messiah" with Commonwealth Opera and with The New Philharmonic Orchestra under Ronald Knussen, and Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony" with the Marlborough Symphony. I also sang the bass solos in Haydn's "Mass in Time of War" with The Masterworks Chorale under Allen Lannom. I sang the role of Nourabad in Bizet's "Les Pêcheurs de Perles" with Les Amis Opera, and the role of Herod in the New England premiere of "It's only a Miracle" by Barab. Some other conductors with whom I have had the pleasure of working as soloist include: Emile Renan, John Morioraty and Thomas Dunn. In 2005 and 2006 I sang Beethoven, Schumann, Gershwin, Puccini, Verdi, and music theater with Mass Theatrica. I have been the regular weekly bass soloist at Trinity Church (evening service); and St. Paul's Cathedral (under my father, Samuel Walter), Boston, as well as Calvary Episcopalian (under Calvin Hampton) and The Church of The Resurrection (also under Samuel Walter) in NYC. My mother was the soprano soloist at Trinity Church Boston a generation earlier. They were both college professors: he at Douglas College of Rutgers University and earlier at New England Conservatory and Boston University; she at Bard College in New York.

Education (voice teachers): My main teacher was John Powell of Rutgers University and my main coach was Michael Strauss of Boston Conservatory. I also worked with Metropolitan Opera coach, Valery Ryvkin, and studied with two Metropolitan Opera stars: Jeffrey Gall, counter-tenor, and Jerome Hines, bass. I once asked Mr. Hines (who was in his seventies at the time) what he had coming up. He said that he thought he was about ready to sing Sarastro. I said that SURELY he had sung the role before (since he was one of the leading profundi in the world). He said that he was about ready to sing it the way it was supposed to be sung. This helped me put both my concept of time and my career into prospective.

Education (colleges): I am a graduate of The Juilliard School of Music, with a Baccalaureate in musical composition. At Juilliard I studied voice with Oren Brown, and composition with Vincent Persichetti, David Diamond and Otto Leuning. I received an honorary scholarship in my Sophomore year. My main composition teacher was Calvin Hampton. I hold a Master’s Degree in vocal performance from Trenton State Teachers College (now called The College of New Jersey). I attended Rutgers Graduate School of Philosophy and finished all but three credits of my PHD work at Boston University in musical composition. I was a teaching fellow in ear training and keyboard harmony at both Boston University and at Trenton State. I was offered a scholarship, and attended, the combined opera department of New England Conservatory and Boston Conservatory (NEW/BCM).

Other teaching: In the past I gave vocal workshops at "The Summer Session for Church Musicians" at Colby College, ME; and at The Hancock Church in Lexington, MA, as well as maintaining a private voice studio. I have also taught composition and music theory privately.

Composer: My compositions have been performed by the choir of The Cathedral of St. John The Divine in New York City; by Sasha Pepelyaev’s Kinetic Dance Theater of Moscow; and by The Copley Square Ballet at The Strand Theater in Dorchester. My “Invocation for Organ” commissioned by The American Guild of Organists Bienniel Convention in Boston, and published by G. Schirmer. My work as a singer and composer has been heard on WCRB, WGBH, WERS, WEZ, WMBR, & WHRB radio and channel 56 “News” in Boston. I have written around 50 hours of music; over 160 pieces: chamber music, symphonic, concerti, vocal, choral, ballet, opera and music theater. I have set all of the poems of James Joyce, more poems of Emily Dickinson than anyone who ever lived, and written the longest music theater piece ever written (seven complete evenings).

Videographer: I produced three series on Boston Neighborhood Television, of chamber music, opera and music theater. These series were finalists, on three occasions, in The Hometown USA Video Contest. One piece was also an honorable mention in the same competition. My video work has been screened at Mobius and on ABC News in Boston. Feature articles have appeared in The South End News, front page (3/24/88); Bay Windows (2/1/90); The Advocate, 2 page spread (7/19/90); Planet 3.9 ‘zine, 4 page interview with 1 page photo (May 1992).

Music Director and Composer in Residence: I was the music director of Music Now & Now Dance, a performance collective that included about 35 musicians and dancers. I was also one of three composers in residence. I was the composer in residence and frequent guest singer with The Putnam Court musicians (soprano, flute, and guitar) and the music director of "Prime Time for Kids" at Massasoit Community College, Brockton. At Massasoit, I also acted as pianist and composer.

Powerlifter: I have been powerlifting at Gold’s Gym for six years. I regularly perform leg press @1000-1200 pounds (12 reps to 45 degrees); and bench press (machine) @ 400 pounds (12 reps);. I have leg pressed 1440 pounds to 45 degrees, and have also lifted 1600 pounds and held for 30 seconds.

Reviews (in alphabetical order by last name): “...assured platform manner... acuteness to word values.” Richard Buell, Boston Globe.

"Wow, what a great bio! You are truly accomplished." Pat Cerundolo, of Foley and Hoag; lawyer for ASP.

“Please leave the window open so I can listen to your rehearsals... I find your voice soothing. You really should insure your hands!” Arlene DeDominicis, next door neighbor..

"Walther is a formidably prolific composer; he writes music constantly and has a seemingly endless stream of ideas for new projects..." Roger Edmonton, The Advocate.

"Easily the highlight of the concert were several arrangements by David Edgar Walther, a composer who doubles as one of the group's vocalists. Especially satisfying was Walther's setting of three familiar folk songs, a medley that managed to sidestep all the stereotypes with a version of Simple Gifts that owed absolutely nothing to Aaron Copeland's. Walther's touching arrangements of Long Time Ago set Mary Saunders' rich, soprano peeping through the lush harmonic haze of flute and guitar like the sun through the clouds.' George W. Harper, Beverly Times.

"I enjoyed your web site - Good Work!!!" Drew Hubbard, president of The Acting Singers Project.

"- I checked out your website and think it is lovely. It is very warm and friendly and says "I am interested in everything" - very YOU!" Melissa Hubbard, soprano and computer analyst.

"This web site is fabulous, Dave. I'm so very impressed by each facet of it; your bio page reads as impressive and liltingly engaging and easy to read. Well done! And your two excerpts are gorgeous. WAY TO GO!!! yours, bj." Brett Johnson, baritone and voice teacher.

"Your website is most impressive! Thank you for being in touch. I, too, hope that we will have the opportunity to work together at some point. I wish you all the best," Thomas Jones, baritone.

"David, It was a great performance and we thoroughly enjoyed it." Brad Lewis, Business Systems Manager; MFA Theater Management, Yale Drama School; and Jo Lewis, Pharmaceutical Market Research Analyst.

"Website looks great! I need to get on the stick and do mine over. You have inspired me!" Beth MacLeod, mezzo-soprano and artistic director of Opera by the Bay.

"Hello, thank you for writing me and letting me know about your website. BORIS is a role I hope to perform one day, I see you've enjoyed that privilege already; sounds great!" Dominique Rosoff, bass.

“Dear Mr. Walther, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed ASP's performance on Sunday. The high level of musicianship and dramatic commitment was impressive. I totally support the work that you do and look forward to working with you soon.” Chung-Un Seo, high soprano.

"Dear David, Congratulations on your wonderful performance last Sunday! I loved your work and your casting was terrific! ... I was so impressed with your collaborative staging, too. It really came off very well in that space. You all looked and sounded very comfortable and very happy, I must say. I just can't say enough good things. The talent and management were top notch and did justice to your beautiful writing. CONGRATULATIONS! And thank you for a lovely afternoon." Lynn Shane, founder of The Boston Singers Resource.

"The web site is very impressive. Congratulations. You are very talented and a wonderful friend and person." James Spellman, dancer, teacher and choreographer.

“Hi Dave, Your website is really turning out well. I liked your bio a lot. It was interesting, concise and well-organized. I know it must have taken you a lot of time and effort to get it there. I think the end result was well worth it! I thought your sound clips were great. They were beautifully sung and very sensitive. They were nicely contrasted, musically rich and not too long. I'm glad that you used some of your own music. That was a nice touch. I also liked the contrast of voices in the duet. Great job. I book-marked your website, so I could find it again. I saw your picture. It is great. You look very friendly and handsome. I like it a lot. I also like the performance pictures. I thought that the little comments you made were cute and humorous. Your personality really shines through. I think visitors to your site will really enjoy that. I'll bet that you are glad that the bulk of the work is done. It is very time consuming, but worth it. Just wanted to let you know. Take care.” Angeliki Theoharis, opera singer, voice teacher and artistic director of Mass Theatrica.

"I enjoyed your website and audio selection. You sounded great." Denise Thibeault, mezzo-soprano.

“Dear David, Wonderful work! Bravo on your accomplished life. " Dorothy Yanish, soprano and artistic director of The Raylynmor Opera.

"You sound like an angel... a very big angel... a cherubim." Anonymous