Norman Campbell

Campbell, Norman
Norman (Kenneth) Campbell. Producer, director, composer, b Los Angeles, of Canadian parents, 4 Feb 1924, d Toronto 12 Apr 2004; BA mathematics and physics (British Columbia) 1944. He joined CBC Vancouver as a radio producer in 1948, moving to Toronto in 1952 to produce some of the first CBC telecasts. His reputation was built as a producer of ballet for TV, notably with the National Ballet of Canada, beginning with Swan Lake 12 Dec 1956. He received the Prix René Barthélemy in 1966 for Romeo and Juliet and Emmy Awards in 1970 for Cinderella and in 1972 for The Sleeping Beauty. His other CBC-TV productions have included the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's The Nutcracker (1975), the National Ballet's Giselle (1976), and the music specials 'Percy Faith: Off the Record' (1966), 'Robert Farnon' (1970), and 'Music East, Music West - The Toronto Symphony in China' (1978). For the exchange programs of CBC, BBC, and NET he has produced the operas Hansel and Gretel (1970) and Puccini's La Rondine (1972). In 1963 for the Stratford Festival he directed a production of The Mikado that later was telecast on CBC's 'Festival.' He directed the TV coverage of the royal gala concert given at the NAC and of the gala opening of Roy Thomson Hall, both in 1982. He composed music for the CBC musical comedies Take to the Woods (1955), The Gay Deceivers (1958), and The Wonder of It All (1972). His CBC-TV musical Anne of Green Gables (1956) was adapted for a stage production (1965) at the Charlottetown Festival and became an annual presentation there. It also has been produced frequently in the USA and England. Campbell was the subject of a TVOntario program in 1987.

In 1972 he composed the music and his wife, Elaine, wrote the lyrics for The Wonder of it All, a musical drama based on the life of Emily Carr. He also produced Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and opera for television. His opera productions include Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel with Maureen Forrester in 1970 and Puccini's La Rondine with Teresa Stratas in 1972. Music East, Music West, Campbell's filmed account of the Toronto Symphony's historic tour through China, was honoured by the Canadian Music Council in 1978. In 1986 he won a Gemini for his 1985 CBC-TV version of the Stratford Festival's Pirates of Penzance. In 1986 as well, he produced and directed the CBC's version of the Canadian Opera Company's Onegin and the COC's Dialogue of the Carmelites.

Campbell also worked in the USA and directed TV specials for Diana Ross, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Andy Williams in addition to episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and All in the Family.

He was made a member of the Royal Canadian Academy in 1975 and appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1978.

Writings
Norman Campbell, 'Scrambled scores, solid sets and sandpaper soles,' OpCan, 65, Dec 1975

Bibliography

'Conquering China,' The Canadian, 30 Sep 1978

'Norman Campbell and television,' OpCan, Fall 1972

'Notes on a career in musicals and television,' CanComp, 89, Mar 1974

Batten, Jack. 'Cool hand Campbell,' The Canadian, 30 Sep 1978

Schulman, Michael. 'Interview,' The FM Guide, Jul-Aug 1982

Gilmour, Clyde. 'Norman Campbell hates hot-air hand dryers,' Toronto Star, 21 Aug 1982

Cuff, John Haslett. 'Making the cameras dance with the performers,' Toronto Globe and Mail, 1 Apr 1989

Links to Other Sites
Canadian Music Centre
Search the extensive CMC website for Canadian composer biographies and interviews, music scores, online newsletters, audio clips, podcasts, and more. Check out "CentreStreams" to listen to online archived recordings featuring outstanding Canadian composers.

The History of Canadian Broadcasting
This site is dedicated to the visionary pioneers who created Canada’s broadcasting industry. Features profiles of members of the CAB Hall of Fame and much more. From the Canadian Communications Foundation.

CBC: Norman Campbell
Norman Campbell reminisces about his prolific career in music and television in this 1982 audio clip from CBC Radio's "Variety Tonight."

Anne of Green Gables
A brief article about the many theatrical versions of Lucy Maude Montgomery's book “Anne of Green Gables.” From the “Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia.”

Beyond Green Gables: The Life of Lucy Maud Montgomery
Watch video clips the from the CBC Archives that focus on the life and literary legacy of author Lucy Maud Montgomery. Includes a CBC documentary clip about the creation of "Anne of Green Gables: The Musical" by Don Harron and Norman Campbell.