George B. Mead was an American

conductor Conductor or conduction may refer to: Music * Conductor (music), a person who leads a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra. * ''Conductor'' (album), an album by indie rock band The Comas * Conduction, a type of structured free improvisation ...

, organist, and opera translator. He was organist and choirmaster of Trinity Church in Manhattan for 27 years. '' The New York Times'' stated that, "In the 1940's and 50's, Mr. Mead was one of the most celebrated choral conductors in New York City."

Life and career

Born in Manhattan, Mead graduated from Columbia University with a bachelor's degree (1923) and a master's degree (1925). He was assistant organist at Trinity Church in Manhattan from 1925 to 1936, before he served as organist at Central Congregational Church in Brooklyn from 1936 through 1941. In 1941 he returned to Trinity Church to serve as organist and choirmaster; a role he remained in until his retirement in 1968. During this time, he led the choir in their own weekly radio program. In collaboration with his wife, Phyllis Reid, Mead co-authored many English language translations of foreign language opera libretti; among them translations of '' Ariadne auf Naxos'', '' Cavalleria Rusticana'', ''

Così fan tutte (''All Women Do It, or The School for Lovers''), K. 588, is an opera buffa in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was first performed on 26 January 1790 at the Burgtheater in Vienna, Austria. The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte w ...

'', '' Die Entführung aus dem Serail'', '' Il turco in Italia'', '' Martha'', '' Rita'', '' The Barber of Seville'', '' The Gypsy Baron'', and ''

Pagliacci ''Pagliacci'' (; literal translation, "Clowns") is an Italian opera in a prologue and two acts, with music and libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo. The opera tells the tale of Canio, actor and leader of a commedia dell'arte theatrical company, who m ...

''. Their English language libretti were used for performances by several institutions, including the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera, the Juilliard School, the Mannes College of Music and the

Little Orchestra Society :''Not to be confused by The Little Orchestra of London'' The Little Orchestra Society is an American orchestra based at 630 9th Avenue, Suite 807 in New York City. It was founded in 1947 by Thomas Scherman, who served as its conductor until his ...

. Nine of their translations were published in ''A Treasury of Grand Opera'' by Simon & Schuster in 1946 and again in 1965.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mead, George B. Year of birth missing 1995 deaths 20th-century American conductors (music) American male conductors (music) 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century American translators Musicians from Manhattan Classical musicians from New York (state) Columbia University alumni American male organists American classical organists 20th-century organists American choral conductors