John Mitchinson (tenor)
Encyclopedia
John Mitchinson is an English operatic tenor
. He made his début singing the role of Jupiter in Handel
's Semele. From 1972 to 1978, he was associated with the Sadler's Wells
opera company; during that time, he created the role of the Poet in Joseph Tal
's opera Massada 967. In 1978 he joined the Welsh National Opera
, with whom he worked for four years. Able to sing a variety of roles, he was perhaps most notable for his portrayals of Peter Grimes
and Tristan
. He is also remembered for having sung the title role of Wagner's Rienzi
in a 1976 BBC broadcast of one of the rare performances (possibly the only performance) in recent history of the complete opera; a recording of this broadcast survives and has circulated.
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
. He made his début singing the role of Jupiter in Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
's Semele. From 1972 to 1978, he was associated with the Sadler's Wells
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington. The present day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500 seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio, with extensive...
opera company; during that time, he created the role of the Poet in Joseph Tal
Joseph Tal
Josef Tal , was an Israeli composer. He wrote three Hebrew operas; four German operas; dramatic scenes; six symphonies; thirteen concerti; chamber music, including three string quartets; instrumental works; and electronic compositions...
's opera Massada 967. In 1978 he joined the Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera is an opera company founded in Cardiff, Wales in 1943. The WNO tours Wales, the United Kingdom and the rest of the world extensively. Annually, it gives more than 120 performances of eight main stage operas to a combined audience of around 150,000 people...
, with whom he worked for four years. Able to sing a variety of roles, he was perhaps most notable for his portrayals of Peter Grimes
Peter Grimes
Peter Grimes is an opera by Benjamin Britten, with a libretto adapted by Montagu Slater from the Peter Grimes section of George Crabbe's poem The Borough...
and Tristan
Tristan und Isolde
Tristan und Isolde is an opera, or music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Straßburg. It was composed between 1857 and 1859 and premiered in Munich on 10 June 1865 with Hans von Bülow conducting...
. He is also remembered for having sung the title role of Wagner's Rienzi
Rienzi
Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen is an early opera by Richard Wagner in five acts, with the libretto written by the composer after Bulwer-Lytton's novel of the same name . The title is commonly shortened to Rienzi...
in a 1976 BBC broadcast of one of the rare performances (possibly the only performance) in recent history of the complete opera; a recording of this broadcast survives and has circulated.
Sources
External links
- "The First Digital Tristan – a talk with the Maestro, the Hero and the Boss" by Bruce Duffie. Wagner News, February 1982.