Anthony Rolfe Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anthony Rolfe Johnson
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| Born | 5 November 1940 Tackley, Oxfordshire, UK
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| Died | 21 July 2010 (aged 69) London, UK
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| Occupation | Opera singer (tenor) |
| Years active | 1972–2006 |
Anthony Rolfe Johnson CBE (born November 5, 1940 – died July 21, 2010) was a famous English opera singer. He was known for his beautiful tenor voice. A tenor is a male singer with a high vocal range. He performed in many important operas and concerts around the world.
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Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Anthony Rolfe Johnson grew up in Tackley, Oxfordshire, England. From a young age, he showed a natural talent for music. He sang as a boy soprano and even made a record!
Despite his musical gifts, he didn't plan to be a singer at first. He studied agriculture at college and worked as a farm manager. He would even sing church hymns to his cows!
Later, he joined a choir in Crawley, West Sussex. Other choir members encouraged him to become a professional singer.
Becoming an Opera Star
Anthony Rolfe Johnson decided to follow his passion for music. He studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He also learned from famous singers like Peter Pears.
First Steps in Opera
He started his opera career in the chorus at the Glyndebourne Festival from 1972 to 1976. His first big role was in Tchaikovsky's opera Iolanta in 1973. That same year, he gave his first professional concert.
In 1975, he sang the role of Lensky in Eugene Onegin at Glyndebourne. This performance was a big success, and he won an award for it. In 1978, he joined the English National Opera, singing Tamino in The Magic Flute.
Worldwide Performances
Anthony Rolfe Johnson had a long and successful career. He sang in many different types of music, including Handel's oratorios. He was also known for singing the Evangelist in J. S. Bach's St John Passion and St Matthew Passion.
He performed in many famous operas, such as Mozart's The Magic Flute and Idomeneo. He also sang in Britten's Peter Grimes and Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. Many of his recordings were made with the famous conductor John Eliot Gardiner.
He sang at the world's most important opera houses. These included the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London, La Scala in Milan, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
He also performed in concerts with major symphony orchestras like the New York Philharmonic. He worked with famous conductors such as Mstislav Rostropovich. He also gave many song recitals with pianist Graham Johnson.
Later Career and Recognition
In 1988, he helped restart the Gregynog Music Festival and was its artistic director until 2006. In 1990, he became the Director of Singing Studies at the Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies. He also started teaching other singers, including the tenor John Mark Ainsley.
In 1992, he was honored by the Queen. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his contributions to music.
Family Life
Anthony Rolfe Johnson had children from his marriages. He had two sons from his first marriage. Later, he married Elisabeth Jones Evans, and they had a son and two daughters.
Later Years and Passing
Around the year 2000, Anthony Rolfe Johnson began to suffer from Alzheimer's disease. This illness made him stop singing professionally. He passed away on July 21, 2010, due to complications from Alzheimer's. He is remembered with a memorial in London.
Selected Discography
- Bach: Mass in B minor – English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir/John Eliot Gardiner (Archiv, 1985)
- Bach: St John Passion – Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists/Sir John Eliot Gardiner (Archiv, 1986)
- Bach: St Matthew Passion – London Oratory Junior Choir, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists/Sir John Eliot Gardiner (Archiv, 1986)
- Schubert: The Hyperion Schubert Edition, Vol 06 with Graham Johnson (Hyperion, 2006)
- Handel: Solomon – The Monteverdi Choir/John Eliot Gardiner (Decca, 2006)
- Britten: Peter Grimes – Orchestra of the Royal Opera House/Bernard Haitink (EMI, 2008)
- Verdi: Otello – Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Georg Solti (Decca, 2011)
- Handel: Saul Jonathon – Concentus Musicus Wien /Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Teldec/Das Alte Werk, recorded live at the Musikvereinssaal, Vienna, April 1985)
- Handel: Belshazzar – The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock (Recording Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London, 1990-07-11)
- Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Huddersfield Choral Society/Vernon Handley, (EMI Eminence, 1993)
See also
In Spanish: Anthony Rolfe-Johnson para niños
- Haydn: Il mondo della luna (Antal Doráti recording)
