Alberto Remedios (27 February 193511 June 2016) was a British operatic tenor, especially noted for his interpretations of

Wagner's Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...

heldentenor roles.

Biography

Alberto Remedios was born in Liverpool and began his working life as a shipyard

welder In a broad sense, a welder is anyone, amateur or professional, who uses welding equipment, perhaps especially one who uses such equipment fairly often. In a narrower sense, a welder is a tradesperson who specializes in fusing materials together ...

. He left school at 15 to play football semi-professionally for New Brighton at Wallasey. He also studied singing with Edwin Francis, who also taught

Rita Hunter Rita Hunter (15 August 193329 April 2001) was a British operatic dramatic soprano. Biography Rita Hunter was born in Wallasey, Merseyside and lived in Limekiln Lane. During her childhood, her parents, both fans of music hall, would take Rita ...

. Following National Service, he was offered a place at the Royal College of Music with Clive Carey, where he won the Queen's Prize in 1957. He sang a wide variety of roles with the Sadler's Wells Opera—the forerunner of English National Opera—including Alfredo in ''

La traviata ''La traviata'' (; ''The Fallen Woman'') is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on ''La Dame aux camélias'' (1852), a play by Alexandre Dumas ''fils'' adapted from his own 18 ...

'', the title role in Gounod's '' Faust'', Samson in Saint-Saëns' '' Samson and Delilah'', Bacchus in '' Ariadne auf Naxos'' and Max in '' Der Freischütz.'' Remedios went to Australia with the Sutherland- Williamson company in 1965. The company led by

Richard Bonynge Richard Alan Bonynge ( ) (born 29 September 1930) is an Australian conductor and pianist. He is the widower of Australian dramatic coloratura soprano Dame Joan Sutherland. Bonynge conducted virtually all of Sutherland's operatic performances ...

included Lauris Elms, John Alexander, and

Luciano Pavarotti Luciano Pavarotti (, , ; 12 October 19356 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor who during the late part of his career crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most acclaimed tenors of all time. He made numerou ...

. The offer to tour came about by chance. Remedios, dining in an Italian restaurant in London was offered a free meal if he sang; fortuitously

Joan Sutherland Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, (7 November 1926 – 10 October 2010) was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano known for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s. She possessed ...

was also in the restaurant that night. The tour included ''

'', '' Lucia di Lammermoor'', ''

Semiramide ''Semiramide'' () is an opera in two acts by Gioachino Rossini. The libretto by Gaetano Rossi is based on Voltaire's tragedy ''Semiramis'', which in turn was based on the legend of Semiramis of Assyria. The opera was first performed at La Fenice ...

'' and '' Faust''. A recording of Remedios singing Alfredo in ''La traviata'', with Joan Sutherland's Violetta, was released by Desiree Records in 2014. He is especially remembered for his performances in Wagner, especially as

Siegfried Siegfried is a German-language male given name, composed from the Germanic elements ''sig'' "victory" and ''frithu'' "protection, peace". The German name has the Old Norse cognate ''Sigfriðr, Sigfrøðr'', which gives rise to Swedish ''Sigfrid' ...

in the Glen Byam Shaw production of The Ring, conducted by

Reginald Goodall Sir Reginald Goodall (13 July 1901 – 5 May 1990) was an English conductor and singing coach noted for his performances of the operas of Richard Wagner and for conducting the premieres of several operas by Benjamin Britten. Early life Goodall ...

. He was the first English tenor to sing Siegfried at

Covent Garden Covent Garden is a district in London, on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist si ...

since

Walter Widdop Walter Widdop (19 April 1892 – 6 September 1949) was a British operatic tenor who is best remembered for his Wagnerian performances. His repertoire also encompassed works by Verdi, Leoncavallo, Handel and Bach. Career Widdop was born at N ...

in the 1930s. These performances were recorded in 1973, preserving Remedios' partnerships with Norman Bailey as

Wotan (''The Ring of the Nibelung''), WWV 86, is a cycle of four German-language epic music dramas composed by Richard Wagner. The works are based loosely on characters from Germanic heroic legend, namely Norse legendary sagas and the ''Nibelun ...

and

as Brünnhilde. He was also memorable as Walther von Stolzing in the ground-breaking 1968 Sadler's Wells ''

The Mastersingers of Nuremberg ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

'', also conducted by Reginald Goodall. Most remarkable of all was the occasion when Remedios, despite a slight chest infection, and due to the illness of another singer, played the roles of both Siegmund in '' Die Walküre'', the title role in ''

'', and also Siegfried in '' Götterdämmerung'', within a complete cycle of the Ring during one week, these being at the Empire Theatre, Liverpool performances of the tour. Remedios sang the role of Mark in the first recording of Tippett's ''

The Midsummer Marriage ''The Midsummer Marriage'' is an opera in three acts, with music and libretto by Michael Tippett. The work's first performance was at Covent Garden, on 27 January 1955, conducted by John Pritchard. The reception of the opera was controversial, o ...

''.Philips 670 3027: Alberto Remedios;

Joan Carlyle Joan Carlyle (6 April 1931 – 31 October 2021) was an English operatic soprano singer.Blyth, Alan"Carlyle, Joan" The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, accessed 12 January 2014 She was born in Upton o ...

;

Raimund Herincx Raimund Frederick Herincx (23 August 1927 in LondonGrove, ''Herincx, Raimund'' – 10 February 2018), was a British operatic bass-baritone. Through a varied international career, Herincx performed in most of the world's great opera houses and with ...

; Elizabeth Harwood;

Stuart Burrows Stuart Burrows (born 7 February, 1933) is a Welsh operatic tenor. Biography The Cilfynydd-born singer was born on William Street, the same birthplace as fellow opera star Sir Geraint Evans, Welsh rugby international Glyn Davies, and polit ...

; Helen Watts; Covent Garden Chorus and Orchestra;

Colin Davis Sir Colin Rex Davis (25 September 1927 – 14 April 2013) was an English conductor, known for his association with the London Symphony Orchestra, having first conducted it in 1959. His repertoire was broad, but among the composers with whom h ...

, conductor. Kemp, Ian, "Record Reviews: ''The Midsummer Marriage'' (May 1971). ''The Musical Times'', 112 (1539): pp. 454-55. Remedios performed in many of the world's leading operatic venues, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Seattle, Frankfurt, San Francisco and Buenos Aires. He was the subject of ''

This Is Your Life This Is Your Life may refer to: Television * ''This Is Your Life'' (American franchise), an American radio and television documentary biography series hosted by Ralph Edwards * ''This Is Your Life'' (Australian TV series), the Australian versio ...

'' in 1976 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews.

Recordings

Tippett Tippett is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Andre Tippett (born 1959), American Hall of Fame footballer *Clark Tippet (1954–1992), American dancer *Dave Tippett (born 1961), ice hockey coach * Keith Tippett (born 1947), Eng ...

: ''

'' Mark, in the first recording . *Excerpts from

, Faust,

La Traviata ''La traviata'' (; ''The Fallen Woman'') is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on ''La Dame aux camélias'' (1852), a play by Alexandre Dumas ''fils'' adapted from his own 18 ...

, La Sonnambula.

, Elizabeth Harwood,

Monica Sinclair Monica Sinclair (23 March 19257 May 2002) was a British operatic contralto, who sang many roles with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden during the 1950s and 1960s, and appeared on stage and in recordings with Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, ...

, Lauris Elms;

, John Alexander, Alberto Remedios, Opthof, Rouleau, Cross, others. Sutherland-Williamson Grand Opera Company Orchestra and Chorus, Bonynge/Weibel. Desirée Records CD 2965 (Norbeck, Peters & Ford, dist., 802-868-9300) * Bizet: ''

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the Carmen (novella), novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first perfo ...

'' (In English) - Pring, Remedios, Curphey, Chard; Braithwaite. London, 1975 *

Cilea Cilea or CILEA may refer to: * Consorzio Interuniversitario Lombardo per l'Elaborazione Automatica, academic consortium in Italy * Francesco Cilea Francesco Cilea (; 23 July 1866 – 20 November 1950) was an Italian composer. Today he is partic ...

: ''

Adriana Lecouvreur ''Adriana Lecouvreur'' () is an opera in four acts by Francesco Cilea to an Italian libretto by Arturo Colautti, based on the 1849 play ''Adrienne Lecouvreur'' by Eugène Scribe and Ernest Legouvé. It was first performed on 6 November 1902 at t ...

'' (In English) - Carlyle, Remedios, Bainbridge; Erede. London, 1971 * Massenet: ''

Manon ''Manon'' () is an ''opéra comique'' in five acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille, based on the 1731 novel '' L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut'' by the Abbé Prévost. It was first ...

'' (In English) - Harwood, Remedios, Chard, Blackburn, Dowling; Mackerras. London, 1974 * Wagner: '' Die Walküre'' (In English) - Hunter, June, Bailey, Remedios, Howard, Grant; Goodall. ENO, 1970 * Wagner: '' Götterdämmerung'' (In English) -

Hunter Hunting is the human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/hide (skin), hide, ...

, Remedios, Grant, Bailey, Hammond-Stroud; Goodall. ENO, 1971 * Wagner: '' Lohengrin'' (In English) - Remedios, Curphey, Turner, Sharpe, Herincx, Grant; Braithwaite. London, 1971 * Wagner: ''

'' (In English) - Remedios, Hunter, Garrard, Dempsey, Hammond-Stroud, Grant, Masterson; Goodall. London, 1973 * Wagner: ''

The Ring Cycle (''The Ring of the Nibelung''), WWV 86, is a cycle of four German-language epic music dramas composed by Richard Wagner. The works are based loosely on characters from Germanic heroic legend, namely Norse legendary sagas and the ''Nibelung ...

'' (In English)

, Remedios, Bailey/Garrard; Goodall/ Mackerras. London, 1970- 1973 * Wagner: '' Lohengrin'' sung in English; Lohengrin – Alberto Remedios, Elsa – Karen Bureau, Ortrud – Nance Grant, Telramund – Geoffrey Chard, King Henry – Noel Mangin, Herald – David Brennan; Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, conductor

Richard Divall Richard Sydney Divall (9 September 1945 – 15 January 2017) was an Australian conductor and musicologist. After nine years as a music producer at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, from 1972 on the invitation of Dame Joan Hammond he bec ...

. Australian Radio Broadcast November 1985. CD91241 *

Hector Berlioz In Greek mythology, Hector (; grc, Ἕκτωρ, Hektōr, label=none, ) is a character in Homer's Iliad. He was a Trojan prince and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. Hector led the Trojans and their allies in the defense o ...

: ''

Les Troyens ''Les Troyens'' (; in English: ''The Trojans'') is a French grand opera in five acts by Hector Berlioz. The libretto was written by Berlioz himself from Virgil's epic poem the ''Aeneid''; the score was composed between 1856 and 1858. ''Les Tro ...

'' – sung in English;

Margreta Elkins Margreta Elkins (born Margaret Ann Enid Geater; 16 October 19301 April 2009) was an Australian mezzo-soprano. She sang at The Royal Opera and with Opera Australia and other companies, but turned down offers to sing at the Metropolitan Opera, B ...

(Cassandre),

Robert Allman Robert Edward Joseph Allman (8 June 19274 December 2013) was an Australian operatic bass-baritone. Biography Robert Allman was born in Melbourne in 1927. He studied in Paris and sang at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden for three seasons from 1 ...

(Chorèbe), Alberto Remedios (Enée),

Suzanne Johnston Suzanne Johnston (born 1958) is an Australian operatic mezzo-soprano who first performed professionally in 1981. Born in the Melbourne suburb of Murrumbeena, Johnston attended Kilvington Grammar School. She then had singing lessons at the Victor ...

(Ascagne), Lauris Elms (Didon),

Heather Begg Dame Isoleen Heather Begg (1 December 1932 – 12 May 2009) was a New Zealand-born operatic mezzo-soprano who spent most of her career in the United Kingdom and Australia. She was renowned in roles such as the title role in Bizet's '' Carmen'' ...

(Anna), Richard Greager (Iopas/Helenus), Noel Mangin (Priam/Narbal), John Wood (Panthée); Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Chorale & Victoria State Opera Chorus, Richard Divall

Personal life, retirement, and death

He married his second wife, Judy Hosken, an Australian dancer, in 1965. Remedios performed regularly in Australia – he sang in concert performances of ''Götterdämmerung'' at the

Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney. Located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive buildings and a masterpiece of 20th-century architec ...

in the late 1970s with Rita Hunter, conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras, and sang Lohengrin for

Victoria State Opera The Victoria State Opera (VSO), based in Melbourne, Australia, was founded in Melbourne in 1962. The company, founded by Leonard Spira, was a move into grand opera by the then amateur Gilbert and Sullivan-oriented Victorian Light Opera Co. The n ...

in 1985 conducted by

, in a production by August Everding. His brother Ramon also had a singing career as a tenor; on many occasions they both appeared in performances by English National Opera of '' The Mastersingers.'' In 1999 Remedios emigrated to

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

, Australia. He died in Sydney on 11 June 2016, aged 81.

Awards

*Queen's Prize, Royal College of Music, 1957. *First prize in the Bulgarian International Opera Contest, 1963. *Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), 1981.

References

External links

The Royal Opera House website tributeSeen and Heard International tributeEnglish National Opera tribute
{{DEFAULTSORT:Remedios, Alberto 1935 births 2016 deaths English operatic tenors 20th-century British male opera singers 21st-century British male opera singers Alumni of the Royal College of Music Musicians from Liverpool Commanders of the Order of the British Empire English people of Spanish descent English emigrants to Australia