Thomas Stewart

American bass-baritone Thomas Stewart died suddenly on 24 September 2006, aged 78, whilst playing golf with his wife.

Born on 29 August 1928 in Texas, Stewart graduated from Juilliard where he met and married soprano Evelyn Lear. In 1954 he made his professional début at the Chicago Lyric Opera. He received a Fullbright scholarship to study in Germany and in 1958 he débuted at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

In 1966 he made his Met Opera début and proceeded to sing the major Wagner baritone roles there, as well as other parts including: Mozart's Don Giovanni, Ford in Verdi's Falstaff, the Villains in Offenbach's Tales of Hoffman, Orest in Strauss's Elektra and Jokanaan in the same composer's Salomé.

Stewart sang at the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth for thirteen seasons and performed Wagner's Ring at Buenos Aires, Vienna, Hamburg, Berlin, Paris, San Francisco and the Met.

The Emerging Singers Program helps Wagnerian singers early in their careers by giving them exposure through performances and furthering their vocal education.

Thomas Stewart and Evelyn Lear generously donated their time and influence to the Wagner Society of Washington DC in order to make this program a success. The program has already sponsored multiple concerts and helped a number of young singers. The Stewarts coached these singers and frequently contacted opera directors in Europe to secure positions for them.

Information: www.classicalmusicdaily.com/articles/s/t/thomas-stewart.htm

Posted: 26 September 2006

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