Professor Hamilton's Diary: Jan. 5, 1935

He lectures on Renaissance art and listens to opera; who was Lawrence Tibbet?

Apparently classes met even on Saturdays at Albright College in the 1930s. Professor Hamilton gave back-to-back lectures on Renaissance art to two sections of freshman history students, with slides to illustrate his words. He brought his daughter Gwennie along to see the pictures, but had to send her home with a house key when his wife Margaret got locked out. “I was quite tired after two hours of this lecturing and operating projector at the same time,” he confessed.

That evening, he listened to the Metropolitan Opera Company performing Verdi’s “La Traviata” on the radio, featuring the voices of baritone Lawrence Tibbett, tenor Frederick Jagel, and soprano Rosa Ponselle.

You can hear the performance on YouTube by clicking here.

Of the three, Tibbett was the only one to cross the line between opera and the movies, where he found great success. His life story was an unusual one.

Paid subscribers can read on about this talented and unfortunate man.