Jon Vickers |

Jon Vickers

He made his debut in 1956 (Toronto, part of the Duke). At the Stratford Festival the same year he performed the part of Jose. Since 1957 in Covent Garden (debut as Richard in Un ballo in maschera). In 1958, 1964 he sang at the Bayreuth Festival (parts of Sigmund in Valkyrie, Parsifal). From 1959 he performed at the Vienna Opera, in 1960 he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera (the part of Canio). In 1973, he sang here in the American premiere of Berlioz’s Les Troyens (Aeneas).

Among the best roles are Othello, Florestan in Fidelio, Tristan, Radames, Samson, Peter Grimes in Britten’s opera of the same name. He starred in opera films (including the role of Jose, directed by Karayan, 1967). Recordings include Florestan (conductor Klemperer, EMI), Tristan, Othello (both conductor Karajan, EMI).

E. Tsodokov