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{{Short description|British operatic bass singer}}
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'''Richard Van Allan''' [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] (28 May 1935 – 4 December 2008) was a versatile British operatic [[bass (voice type)|bass]] singer who had a lengthy career.
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
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'''Richard Van Allan''' [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] (28 May 1935 – 4 December 2008) was a versatile British operatic [[bass (voice type)|bass]] singer who had a lengthy career.


He sang varied repertoire at [[Royal Opera House|Covent Garden]] and [[English National Opera]], as well as at numerous important houses worldwide. With his distinctive profile and memorable stage presence, he made a powerful impression in many roles, from [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]], [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]] and [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]], to [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]. ''[[The Times]]'' wrote that he embodied "all the virtues that make the complete artist — vocal beauty and technique, musicianship, language, dramatic ability, stylistic authority".<ref name=Timesobit>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5309150.ece "Richard Van Allan: versatile operatic bass",] ''[[The Times]]'', 9 December 2008</ref>
He sang varied repertoire at [[Royal Opera House|Covent Garden]] and [[English National Opera]], as well as at numerous important houses worldwide. With his distinctive profile and memorable stage presence, he made a powerful impression in many roles, from [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]], [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]] and [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]], to [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]. ''[[The Times]]'' wrote that he embodied "all the virtues that make the complete artist – vocal beauty and technique, musicianship, language, dramatic ability, stylistic authority".<ref name=Timesobit>[https://archive.today/20100523204957/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5309150.ece "Richard Van Allan: versatile operatic bass"], ''[[The Times]]'', 9 December 2008</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
Richard Van Allan was born in [[Clipstone]], [[Nottinghamshire]], on 28 May 1935. He grew up in [[Derbyshire]], singing in the church choir in [[Bolsover]] and participated in [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] operas at Brunts grammar school in [[Mansfield]]. He left school without finishing, becoming a police cadet, and became a constable after completing military service in Germany, where he became more interested in singing. He studied at [[Worcester]] Teacher Training College, during which he sang in concerts and performed in more amateur Gilbert and Sullivan productions.<ref name=Guardianobit>O'Connor, Patrick. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/dec/10/richard-van-allan-obituary "Versatile bass whose opera career spanned more than 40 years",] ''The Guardian'', 10 December 2008</ref>
Richard Van Allan was born in [[Clipstone]], Nottinghamshire, on 28 May 1935. He grew up in [[Derbyshire]], singing in the church choir in [[Bolsover]] and participated in [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] operas at Brunts grammar school in [[Mansfield]]. He left school without finishing, becoming a police cadet, and became a constable after completing military service in Germany, where he became more interested in singing. He studied at [[Worcester Teacher Training College]], during which he sang in concerts and performed in more amateur Gilbert and Sullivan productions.<ref name=Guardianobit>O'Connor, Patrick. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/dec/10/richard-van-allan-obituary "Versatile bass whose opera career spanned more than 40 years"], ''The Guardian'', 10 December 2008</ref>


===Career===
===Career===
Van Allan taught science in Birmingham while studying voice with [[David Franklin (broadcaster)|David Franklin]] at the [[Birmingham Conservatoire|Birmingham School of Music]]. In 1964, he joined the chorus of [[Glyndebourne Festival Opera]], then [[Sadler's Wells Theatre|Sadler's Wells]]. He also toured with Opera for All.<ref name=Timesobit/> Van Allan made his solo debut at Glyndebourne in 1966 as Second Priest and Second Armoured Man in [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]]'s ''[[The Magic Flute]]''. In 1967, he appeared as Osmano in [[Francesco Cavalli]]'s ''[[Ormindo|L'Ormindo]]'' at Glyndebourne under [[Raymond Leppard]]. He sang the roles of the Speaker in ''The Magic Flute'', Johann in [[Jules Massenet|Massenet]]'s ''[[Werther]]'', and in 1969 he alternated in the title role and as Leporello in ''[[Don Giovanni]]'' for Sadler's Wells at the London Colliseum. In 1970 he created the role of Colonel Lord Francis Jowler in the premiere of [[Nicholas Maw]]’s ''The Rising of the Moon'' at Glyndebourne.<ref name=Guardianobit/>
Van Allan taught science in Birmingham while studying voice with [[David Franklin (broadcaster)|David Franklin]] at the [[Birmingham Conservatoire|Birmingham School of Music]]. In 1964, he joined the chorus of [[Glyndebourne Festival Opera]], then [[Sadler's Wells Theatre|Sadler's Wells]]. He also toured with Opera for All.<ref name=Timesobit/> Van Allan made his solo debut at Glyndebourne in 1966 as Second Priest and Second Armoured Man in [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]]'s ''[[The Magic Flute]]''. In 1967, he appeared as Osmano in [[Francesco Cavalli]]'s ''[[Ormindo|L'Ormindo]]'' at Glyndebourne under [[Raymond Leppard]]. He sang the roles of the Speaker in ''The Magic Flute'', Johann in [[Jules Massenet|Massenet]]'s ''[[Werther]]'', and in 1969 he alternated in the title role and as Leporello in ''[[Don Giovanni]]'' for Sadler's Wells at the [[London Coliseum]]. In 1970 he created the role of Colonel Lord Francis Jowler in the premiere of [[Nicholas Maw]]'s ''[[The Rising of the Moon (opera)|The Rising of the Moon]]'' at Glyndebourne.<ref name=Guardianobit/>


He made his 1971 [[Royal Opera House|Covent Garden]] debut as the Mandarin in [[Giacomo Puccini|Puccini]]'s ''[[Turandot]]''. He became a regular artist at the Royal Opera House in the 1970s and 1980s in the Mozart/[[Lorenzo Da Ponte|Da Ponte]] operas, as well as ''[[Fidelio]]'', ''[[Nabucco]]'', ''[[Carmen]]'' and ''[[La bohème]]''. He sang Leporello in ''[[Don Giovanni]]'' with Glyndebourne Touring Opera. He also sang with [[Welsh National Opera]], beginning in 1969, in the leading bass roles in ''[[La Cenerentola]]'', ''[[Rigoletto]]'', ''[[Macbeth (opera)|Macbeth]]'', ''Nabucco'', ''[[The Barber of Seville]]'', ''[[Aida]]'' and ''[[Ernani]]''.<ref name=Timesobit/>
He made his 1971 [[Royal Opera House|Covent Garden]] debut as the Mandarin in [[Giacomo Puccini|Puccini]]'s ''[[Turandot]]''. He became a regular artist at the Royal Opera House in the 1970s and 1980s in the Mozart/[[Lorenzo Da Ponte|Da Ponte]] operas, as well as ''[[Fidelio]]'', ''[[Nabucco]]'', ''[[Carmen]]'' and ''[[La bohème]]''. He sang Leporello in ''[[Don Giovanni]]'' with Glyndebourne Touring Opera. He also sang with [[Welsh National Opera]], beginning in 1969, in the leading bass roles in ''[[La Cenerentola]]'', ''[[Rigoletto]]'', ''[[Macbeth (Verdi)|Macbeth]]'', ''Nabucco'', ''[[The Barber of Seville]]'', ''[[Aida]]'' and ''[[Ernani]]''.<ref name=Timesobit/>


Van Allan returned to Sadler's Wells in the title role of ''Don Giovanni'', in [[John Gielgud]]'s production. He later sang Leporello with English National Opera (Sadler's Wells's new name), as well as the Grand Inquisitor and later King Philip II in ''[[Don Carlos]]'' (Verdi), the title role in ''[[Boris Godunov (opera)|Boris Godunov]]'' ([[Modest Mussorgsky|Mussorgsky]]), Baron Ochs in ''[[Der Rosenkavalier]]'' ([[Richard Strauss]]), the title role in ''[[Don Quichotte]]'' (Massenet), Count Almavivia in ''[[The Marriage of Figaro]]'' (Mozart), Procida in ''[[Les vêpres siciliennes|I Vespri Siciliani]]'' (Verdi), [[Mazeppa (opera)|Mazeppa]] (Tchaikovsky), Padre Guardiano in ''[[La forza del destino]]'' (Verdi), Mephistofeles in both Gounod's and Berlioz's versions of ''Faust'', Mustafà (Rossini), and one of his most admired parts, Claggart in [[Benjamin Britten]]'s ''[[Billy Budd (opera)|Billy Budd]]'', among many other roles. He was the original Pooh Bah in ENO's acclaimed version of ''[[The Mikado]]'', one of his favourite parts at ENO.<ref name=Guardianobit/>
Van Allan returned to Sadler's Wells in the title role of ''Don Giovanni'', in [[John Gielgud]]'s production. He later sang Leporello with English National Opera (Sadler's Wells's new name), as well as the Grand Inquisitor and later King Philip II in ''[[Don Carlos]]'' (Verdi), the title role in ''[[Boris Godunov (opera)|Boris Godunov]]'' ([[Modest Mussorgsky|Mussorgsky]]), Baron Ochs in ''[[Der Rosenkavalier]]'' ([[Richard Strauss]]), the title role in ''[[Don Quichotte]]'' (Massenet), Count Almavivia in ''[[The Marriage of Figaro]]'' (Mozart), Procida in ''[[Les vêpres siciliennes|I Vespri Siciliani]]'' (Verdi), [[Mazeppa (opera)|Mazeppa]] (Tchaikovsky), Padre Guardiano in ''[[La forza del destino]]'' (Verdi), Mephistofeles in both Gounod's and Berlioz's versions of ''Faust'', Mustafà (Rossini), and one of his most admired parts, Claggart in [[Benjamin Britten]]'s ''[[Billy Budd (opera)|Billy Budd]]'', among many other roles. He was the original Pooh Bah in ENO's acclaimed version of ''[[The Mikado]]'', one of his favourite parts at ENO.<ref name=Guardianobit/>


Overseas, he appeared at the [[Opéra National de Paris]] and elsewhere in France, [[La Monnaie]] in [[Brussels]], the [[Wexford Festival Opera|Wexford Festival]] in [[Ireland]], [[Teatro Colón]] in [[Buenos Aires]], [[San Diego Opera]] (where he sang his first Baron Ochs in ''Der Rosenkavalier'' in 1976), the [[Metropolitan Opera]] (where he finally made his debut in 1987 as Count des Grieux in Massenet's ''[[Manon]]''), [[Boston]], [[Miami]] and [[Seattle]].<ref name=Timesobit/>
Overseas, he appeared at the [[Opéra National de Paris]] and elsewhere in France, [[La Monnaie]] in Brussels, the [[Wexford Festival Opera|Wexford Festival]] in Ireland, [[Teatro Colón]] in Buenos Aires, [[San Diego Opera]] (where he sang his first Baron Ochs in ''Der Rosenkavalier'' in 1976), the [[Metropolitan Opera]] (where he finally made his debut in 1987 as Count des Grieux in Massenet's ''[[Manon]]''), [[Boston]], Miami and [[Seattle]].<ref name=Timesobit/>


His concert performances included [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s [[Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)|Ninth symphony]], [[Anton Bruckner|Bruckner]]'s Mass in F minor, [[Antonín Dvořák|Dvořák]]'s ''[[Te Deum]]'', and [[Hector Berlioz|Berlioz]]'s ''[[L'enfance du Christ]]'' and ''[[La damnation de Faust|The Damnation of Faust]]'' (with Sir [[Simon Rattle]]). From 1986 to 2001 Van Allan was director of the National Opera Studio (succeeding [[Michael Langdon]]). He was appointed a [[Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in 2001.<ref name=Timesobit/>
His concert performances included [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]]'s [[Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)|Ninth symphony]], [[Anton Bruckner|Bruckner]]'s Mass in F minor, [[Antonín Dvořák|Dvořák]]'s ''[[Te Deum]]'', and [[Hector Berlioz|Berlioz]]'s ''[[L'enfance du Christ]]'' and ''[[La damnation de Faust|The Damnation of Faust]]'' (with Sir [[Simon Rattle]]). From 1986 to 2001 Van Allan was director of the National Opera Studio (succeeding [[Michael Langdon]]). He was appointed a [[Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in 2001.<ref name=Timesobit/>


===Later years===
===Later years===
In his later career, his performances became less frequent. However, he continued to tackle new roles. He created the role of Tiresias in the world premiere of [[John Buller (composer)|John Buller]]'s ''[[The Bacchae]]'' (1992) with English National Opera. Also in 1992, he sang the role of Davenant in ''[[The Vampyr: A Soap Opera]]'', a television miniseries based on [[Heinrich Marschner]]'s opera ''[[Der Vampyr]]''. In 1994 at the English National Opera, he sang the title role in [[Jules Massenet|Massenet]]'s ''[[Don Quichotte]]'' for the first time. Also at ENO, he sang the Man Without a Conscience in [[Nigel Osborne]]'s Goya opera ''[[Terrible Mouth]]'', and King Hildebrand in Ken Russell's much criticised production of Gilbert and Sullivan's ''[[Princess Ida]]''.<ref name=Guardianobit/> He performed in [[Madrid]] as Don Jerome in the first staged performances of [[Robert Gerhard]]’s ''[[The Duenna (Gerhard)|The Duenna]]'', and in [[Florence]] as Swallow in ''[[Peter Grimes]]''. At Glyndebourne, he played the comic speaking role of Frosch in ''[[Die Fledermaus]]'' in the autumn of 2006. His last performance was as Folz in [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]'s ''[[Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg]]'' at the 2006 [[Edinburgh Festival]].<ref name=Timesobit/>
In his later career, his performances became less frequent. However, he continued to tackle new roles. He created the role of Tiresias in the world premiere of [[John Buller (composer)|John Buller]]'s ''[[The Bacchae]]'' (1992) with English National Opera. Also in 1992, he sang the role of Davenant in ''[[The Vampyr: A Soap Opera]]'', a television miniseries based on [[Heinrich Marschner]]'s opera ''[[Der Vampyr]]''. In 1994 at the English National Opera, he sang the title role in [[Jules Massenet|Massenet]]'s ''[[Don Quichotte]]'' for the first time. Also at ENO, he sang the Man Without a Conscience in [[Nigel Osborne]]'s Goya opera ''[[Terrible Mouth]]'', and King Hildebrand in [[Ken Russell]]'s much criticised production of Gilbert and Sullivan's ''[[Princess Ida]]''.<ref name=Guardianobit/> He performed in [[Madrid]] as Don Jerome in the first staged performances of [[Robert Gerhard]]'s ''[[The Duenna (Gerhard)|The Duenna]]'', and in [[Florence]] as Swallow in ''[[Peter Grimes]]''. At Glyndebourne, he played the comic speaking role of Frosch in ''[[Die Fledermaus]]'' in the autumn of 2006. His last performance was as Folz in [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]'s ''[[Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg]]'' at the 2006 [[Edinburgh Festival]].<ref name=Timesobit/>


Van Allan died of [[lung cancer]] on 4 December 2008, aged 73, survived by his wife, Rosemary, and children Guy and Emma. Another son, Robert, predeceased him.<ref name=Guardianobit/>
Van Allan died of lung cancer on 4 December 2008, aged 73, survived by his wife, Rosemary, and children Guy and Emma. Another son, Robert, predeceased him.<ref name=Guardianobit/>


==Discography==
==Discography==
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* [[Rutland Boughton]]: ''Bethlehem''
* [[Rutland Boughton]]: ''Bethlehem''
* [[Jonathan Dove]]: ''[[Flight (opera)|Flight]]''
* [[Jonathan Dove]]: ''[[Flight (opera)|Flight]]''
* [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]: ''[[The Mikado]]'', as Pooh Bah with ENO (1986) and Telarc (1992), and the title role with BBC (1989)<ref>Shepherd, Marc. [http://www.cris.com/~oakapple/gasdisc/artist/artist.htm Artist Listing] at ''A Gilbert and Sullivan Discography''</ref>
* [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]: ''[[The Mikado]]'', as Pooh Bah with ENO (1986) and Telarc (1992), and the title role with BBC (1989)<ref>Shepherd, Marc. [http://www.cris.com/~oakapple/gasdisc/artist/artist.htm Artist Listing] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703011452/http://www.cris.com/~oakapple/gasdisc/artist/artist.htm |date=3 July 2008 }} at ''A Gilbert and Sullivan Discography''</ref>
* Gilbert and Sullivan: ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'', as the Sergeant of Police (1993, Telarc)
* Gilbert and Sullivan: ''[[The Pirates of Penzance]]'', as the Sergeant of Police (1993, Telarc)
* Gilbert and Sullivan: ''[[H.M.S. Pinafore]]'', as Bill Bobstay (1994, Telarc)
* Gilbert and Sullivan: ''[[H.M.S. Pinafore]]'', as Bill Bobstay (1994, Telarc)
* [[Franco Leoni]]: ''L’Oracolo'' (with [[Tito Gobbi]] and [[Joan Sutherland]])
* [[Franco Leoni]]: ''L'Oracolo'' (with [[Tito Gobbi]] and [[Joan Sutherland]])
* [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]]: ''[[Così fan tutte]]'' (with [[Montserrat Caballé]], [[Janet Baker]] and [[Ileana Cotrubaş]] conducted by Sir [[Colin Davis]]; [[Grammy Award]], 1976)
* [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]]: ''[[Così fan tutte]]'' (with [[Montserrat Caballé]] and [[Janet Baker]], conducted by Sir [[Colin Davis]]; [[Grammy Award]], 1976)
* Mozart: ''[[Don Giovanni]]'' twice (under Colin Davis and [[Bernard Haitink]])
* Mozart: ''[[Don Giovanni]]'' twice (under Colin Davis and [[Bernard Haitink]])
* [[Gioachino Rossini|Rossini]]: ''[[Il Turco in Italia]]'' (with [[Mirella Freni]] and James Morris, conducted by [[Leonard Bernstein]], 1983)
* [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]]: ''[[Eugene Onegin (opera)|Eugene Onegin]]''
* [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky]]: ''[[Eugene Onegin (opera)|Eugene Onegin]]''
* [[Ralph Vaughan Williams|Vaughan Williams]]: ''[[Hugh the Drover]]''
* [[Ralph Vaughan Williams|Vaughan Williams]]: ''[[Hugh the Drover]]''
* [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]]: ''[[Luisa Miller]]'' (with Montserrat Caballé and [[Luciano Pavarotti]])
* [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]]: ''[[Luisa Miller]]'' (with Caballé and [[Luciano Pavarotti]])
* [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]]: ''[[La traviata]]'', as Marchese d'Obigny (with [[Beverly Sills]] and [[Nicolai Gedda]])
* [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]]: ''[[La traviata]]'', as Marchese d'Obigny (with [[Beverly Sills]] and [[Nicolai Gedda]])
* [[William Walton]]: ''[[Troilus and Cressida (opera)|Troilus and Cressida]]'' (with [[Janet Baker]])
* [[William Walton]]: ''[[Troilus and Cressida (opera)|Troilus and Cressida]]'' (with Janet Baker)
* [[Kurt Weill]]: ''[[Street Scene (opera)|Street Scene]]''
* [[Kurt Weill]]: ''[[Street Scene (opera)|Street Scene]]''
* other operas of [[Hector Berlioz|Berlioz]], [[Georges Bizet|Bizet]], [[Benjamin Britten|Britten]], [[Gaetano Donizetti|Donizetti]], [[Jacques Offenbach|Offenbach]], [[Giacomo Puccini|Puccini]] [[Gioachino Rossini|Rossini]], and Verdi
* other operas of [[Hector Berlioz|Berlioz]], [[Georges Bizet|Bizet]], [[Benjamin Britten|Britten]], [[Gaetano Donizetti|Donizetti]], [[Jacques Offenbach|Offenbach]], [[Giacomo Puccini|Puccini]], [[Gioachino Rossini|Rossini]], and Verdi
* ''[[Kismet (musical)|Kismet]]''
* ''[[Kismet (musical)|Kismet]]''
* ''[[Oliver!]]''
* ''[[Oliver!]]''
Line 50: Line 54:
* Britten: ''[[Gloriana]]'' (1984; as [[Walter Raleigh|Raleigh]]; conducted by Sir [[Charles Mackerras]])
* Britten: ''[[Gloriana]]'' (1984; as [[Walter Raleigh|Raleigh]]; conducted by Sir [[Charles Mackerras]])
* Britten: ''[[The Rape of Lucretia]]'' (1987; ENO, as Junius; with [[Anthony Rolfe Johnson]], [[Jean Rigby]], and [[Alan Opie]]; conducted by Lionel Friend; directed by Michael Simpson)
* Britten: ''[[The Rape of Lucretia]]'' (1987; ENO, as Junius; with [[Anthony Rolfe Johnson]], [[Jean Rigby]], and [[Alan Opie]]; conducted by Lionel Friend; directed by Michael Simpson)
* Britten: ''[[Billy Budd]]''
* Britten: ''[[Billy Budd (opera)|Billy Budd]]''
* Britten: ''[[Albert Herring]]'' (1985; as Mr Budd)
* Britten: ''[[Albert Herring]]'' (1985; as Mr Budd)
* Gilbert and Sullivan: ''The Mikado'' (1986; ENO, as Pooh Bah)
* Gilbert and Sullivan: ''The Mikado'' (1986; ENO, as Pooh Bah)
Line 66: Line 70:


==References==
==References==
*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/3703330/Richard-Van-Allan.html "Richard Van Allan – Bass-baritone who excelled in Don Giovanni and was a stalwart of British opera for more than 40 years",] ''The Telegraph'', 10 December 2008
*[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/3703330/Richard-Van-Allan.html "Richard Van Allan – Bass-baritone who excelled in Don Giovanni and was a stalwart of British opera for more than 40 years"], ''The Telegraph'', 10 December 2008


==External links==
==External links==
*{{imdb name|0885568}}
*{{IMDb name|0885568}}
*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5309150.ece Times online]
*[https://archive.today/20100523204957/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5309150.ece Times online]
*[http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/a.asp?a=A1473 Hyperion Records]
*[http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/a.asp?a=A1473 Hyperion Records]
*[http://sounds.bl.uk/Classical-music/Oral-history-of-Glyndebourne-opera/026M-C0511X0006XX-0001V0 An interview with Richard Van Allan recorded in 1991] - a British Library sound recording
*[http://sounds.bl.uk/Classical-music/Oral-history-of-Glyndebourne-opera/026M-C0511X0006XX-0001V0 An interview with Richard Van Allan recorded in 1991] – a British Library sound recording
*[http://www.bruceduffie.com/vanallan.html Interview with Richard Van Allan], January 18, 1987

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{{Authority control}}


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{{Authority control|VIAF=113857019}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Van Allan, Richard
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = British opera singer
| DATE OF BIRTH = 28 May 1935
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 4 December 2008
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Allan, Richard}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Allan, Richard}}
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[[Category:Operatic basses]]
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[[Category:British opera singers]]
[[Category:British basses]]
[[Category:Gilbert and Sullivan performers]]
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[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer]]
[[Category:Cancer deaths in England]]
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[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:Honorary Members of the Royal Academy of Music]]
[[Category:20th-century British male opera singers]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Birmingham School of Music]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Worcester]]
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[[Category:British operatic basses]]
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[[Category:British basses]]
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[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
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[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in England]]
[[Category:Musicians from Nottinghamshire]]
[[Category:Honorary members of the Royal Academy of Music]]
[[Category:People from Newark and Sherwood (district)]]
[[Category:People from Newark and Sherwood (district)]]

Latest revision as of 02:54, 27 September 2024

Richard Van Allan CBE (28 May 1935 – 4 December 2008) was a versatile British operatic bass singer who had a lengthy career.

He sang varied repertoire at Covent Garden and English National Opera, as well as at numerous important houses worldwide. With his distinctive profile and memorable stage presence, he made a powerful impression in many roles, from Wagner, Verdi and Mozart, to Gilbert and Sullivan. The Times wrote that he embodied "all the virtues that make the complete artist – vocal beauty and technique, musicianship, language, dramatic ability, stylistic authority".[1]

Biography

[edit]

Richard Van Allan was born in Clipstone, Nottinghamshire, on 28 May 1935. He grew up in Derbyshire, singing in the church choir in Bolsover and participated in Gilbert and Sullivan operas at Brunts grammar school in Mansfield. He left school without finishing, becoming a police cadet, and became a constable after completing military service in Germany, where he became more interested in singing. He studied at Worcester Teacher Training College, during which he sang in concerts and performed in more amateur Gilbert and Sullivan productions.[2]

Career

[edit]

Van Allan taught science in Birmingham while studying voice with David Franklin at the Birmingham School of Music. In 1964, he joined the chorus of Glyndebourne Festival Opera, then Sadler's Wells. He also toured with Opera for All.[1] Van Allan made his solo debut at Glyndebourne in 1966 as Second Priest and Second Armoured Man in Mozart's The Magic Flute. In 1967, he appeared as Osmano in Francesco Cavalli's L'Ormindo at Glyndebourne under Raymond Leppard. He sang the roles of the Speaker in The Magic Flute, Johann in Massenet's Werther, and in 1969 he alternated in the title role and as Leporello in Don Giovanni for Sadler's Wells at the London Coliseum. In 1970 he created the role of Colonel Lord Francis Jowler in the premiere of Nicholas Maw's The Rising of the Moon at Glyndebourne.[2]

He made his 1971 Covent Garden debut as the Mandarin in Puccini's Turandot. He became a regular artist at the Royal Opera House in the 1970s and 1980s in the Mozart/Da Ponte operas, as well as Fidelio, Nabucco, Carmen and La bohème. He sang Leporello in Don Giovanni with Glyndebourne Touring Opera. He also sang with Welsh National Opera, beginning in 1969, in the leading bass roles in La Cenerentola, Rigoletto, Macbeth, Nabucco, The Barber of Seville, Aida and Ernani.[1]

Van Allan returned to Sadler's Wells in the title role of Don Giovanni, in John Gielgud's production. He later sang Leporello with English National Opera (Sadler's Wells's new name), as well as the Grand Inquisitor and later King Philip II in Don Carlos (Verdi), the title role in Boris Godunov (Mussorgsky), Baron Ochs in Der Rosenkavalier (Richard Strauss), the title role in Don Quichotte (Massenet), Count Almavivia in The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart), Procida in I Vespri Siciliani (Verdi), Mazeppa (Tchaikovsky), Padre Guardiano in La forza del destino (Verdi), Mephistofeles in both Gounod's and Berlioz's versions of Faust, Mustafà (Rossini), and one of his most admired parts, Claggart in Benjamin Britten's Billy Budd, among many other roles. He was the original Pooh Bah in ENO's acclaimed version of The Mikado, one of his favourite parts at ENO.[2]

Overseas, he appeared at the Opéra National de Paris and elsewhere in France, La Monnaie in Brussels, the Wexford Festival in Ireland, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, San Diego Opera (where he sang his first Baron Ochs in Der Rosenkavalier in 1976), the Metropolitan Opera (where he finally made his debut in 1987 as Count des Grieux in Massenet's Manon), Boston, Miami and Seattle.[1]

His concert performances included Beethoven's Ninth symphony, Bruckner's Mass in F minor, Dvořák's Te Deum, and Berlioz's L'enfance du Christ and The Damnation of Faust (with Sir Simon Rattle). From 1986 to 2001 Van Allan was director of the National Opera Studio (succeeding Michael Langdon). He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2001.[1]

Later years

[edit]

In his later career, his performances became less frequent. However, he continued to tackle new roles. He created the role of Tiresias in the world premiere of John Buller's The Bacchae (1992) with English National Opera. Also in 1992, he sang the role of Davenant in The Vampyr: A Soap Opera, a television miniseries based on Heinrich Marschner's opera Der Vampyr. In 1994 at the English National Opera, he sang the title role in Massenet's Don Quichotte for the first time. Also at ENO, he sang the Man Without a Conscience in Nigel Osborne's Goya opera Terrible Mouth, and King Hildebrand in Ken Russell's much criticised production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Princess Ida.[2] He performed in Madrid as Don Jerome in the first staged performances of Robert Gerhard's The Duenna, and in Florence as Swallow in Peter Grimes. At Glyndebourne, he played the comic speaking role of Frosch in Die Fledermaus in the autumn of 2006. His last performance was as Folz in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at the 2006 Edinburgh Festival.[1]

Van Allan died of lung cancer on 4 December 2008, aged 73, survived by his wife, Rosemary, and children Guy and Emma. Another son, Robert, predeceased him.[2]

Discography

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Richard Van Allan: versatile operatic bass", The Times, 9 December 2008
  2. ^ a b c d e O'Connor, Patrick. "Versatile bass whose opera career spanned more than 40 years", The Guardian, 10 December 2008
  3. ^ Shepherd, Marc. Artist Listing Archived 3 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine at A Gilbert and Sullivan Discography
  4. ^ Purcell, H.: Fairy Queen (The) (ENO, 1995) Naxos
  5. ^ Stravinsky: Rake's Progress (The) (Glyndebourne, 1975) Naxos

References

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