BISPHAM, DAVID

(1857-1921), Am. baritone singer. He was born in Philadelphia and educated in Haver ford College, He studied voice production in Florence under Vannuccini, and in London under William Shakespeare. In 1891 he made his début at the Royal English Opera, London, taking the réle of the Duc de Longueville in La Basoche. Later he sang the chief baritone réles at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, and at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. where he appeared in many Wagner i an réles. He attained enormous succe on the concert stage, this leading him to abandon his operatic career. He vigorously supported the use of the English language in singing and was the first well-known singer to use English translation in his recitals of German songs.