1904-1983
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| Barre Hill 1904-1983 |
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| Opera singer, voice teacher, humanitarian. | 
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Hill's marked success in the last two seasons has brought him to the pinnacle of concert popularity. |
| The rise of Barre Hill from an unknown singer to one of the most promising younger artists of the country's second opera organization -- this within a period of three years -- is an unusual chronicle of success, made possible by unusual natural gifts of voice and personality. | Chicago youth wins cheers of audience in debut with Civic Opera -- BARRE-HILL is superb in 'Pagliacci' | |
| The voice which has made him so pronounced a success in the concert hall is entirely adequate for many roles in major opera. It has a fine and virile resonance. It is admirably controlled and is used with intelligence and musicianship. | In 'Pagliacci' Barre-Hill made his debut with the company as Silvio and scored a first grade and well deserved hit, singing the role as it has not been sung in years. | |
| Barre Hill, who upset operatic tradition by looking like the slender, handsome and youthful characters he portrayed, and who somehow avoided the swelled head and chest so frequently encountered in the sweet singers of grand opera, is having a swell time singing with the Follies. He believes it has given him a valuable opportunity to reach a larger audience and to become known in a new field. | It is not every operatic singer who can step down from the stage and perform as effectively without the help of orchestra, trappings, and story. Simplicity is not given to all who respond readily and powerfully to the excitement of the heights. Barre-Hill, however, without disguising his availability for opera, leaves violence, stance and mannerisms behind when he makes himself at home on the concert platform. | |
| Barre Hill, by many considered our country's best "Elijah" and by Mary Garden as the ideal "Pelleas" for her "Melisande" (Debussey's only opera), was an ideal Matinee idol, for he was tall, handsome and practicing charming manners. | Barre Hill is an unusual man. A humorist, scholar, and afficionado of life, he is a true gentleman in an age when manners and grooming are but remnants of the past. |
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When I retired to a log cabin deep in the woods of Interlochen, Michigan a
couple of years ago I was surprised to find myself in the middle of a
neighborhood dripping with rich and colorful history. Just across the road
was Orchestra Camp Colony, with rustic cabins that housed summer faculty of
Dr. Joseph Maddy's National Music Camp (now the Interlochen Center for the
Arts) as early as 1930. Its roads bear the names of the founders of that
camp, and some of their descendants still return every year to spend summers
relaxing on the shores of Duck Lake.
Northwood on the Lake was home to three remarkable men whose lives and talents intertwined over the course of many years. Opera singer, voice teacher and humanitarian Barre Hill was the oldest and best known of the trio, but architect Bill Graheck and pianist/organist Albert Jordan each brought to the household unique gifts of their own. In its prime, peacocks roamed the grounds, prize-winning orchids and exotic birds filled the greenhouse/aviary, and champion show dogs were bred with pride. Even though his health was failing, Albert's photographic memory of the events of their lives remained astonishingly intact right up to the end of his life. He was eager in his final days to share their stories through photos, diaries, letters and oral history. This site contains some of the wealth of material that he preserved, with much more to be added over time. If you were fortunate enough to have been a part of the lives of any of these three gentlemen and have your own stories to tell, I would love to hear from you.
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| Barre Hill Autobiography | ||
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Barre Hill - Record
Eagle - 1976
At 73, another door swings open |
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Barre Hill - Record Eagle - 1978
Household goes to the dogs |
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| Barre Hill Publicity | ||
| Bill Graheck Obituary | ||
| Albert Jordan Obituary | ||
Barre Hill Photos
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Bill Graheck Photos
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Barre and Bill Photos
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Albert Jordan Photos
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Mary Garden
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Barre's Friends
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| Barre Hill Obituary | |
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But even more intriguing to me was the mysterious house nestled in a dark
canopy of trees back on its high perch overlooking the lake, the top of its
roof barely visible above the expansive and opaque wooden wall that shields it
from public view. I sensed right away that it had a story to tell, and have
since then been lucky enough to have been in the right place at the right time
to hear its tales unfold.