Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

May 10, 1914 in Manchester, England

Death

:

November 13, 1990 in Eastbourne, Sussex, England

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

Richard Lewis was a renowned British tenor who was born on August 10, 1914, in Liverpool, England. He was the youngest of three children born to a Welsh father and an English mother. Lewis grew up in a musical family, and his father was a church organist. He began singing in the choir at his father's church at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Lewis attended the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, where he continued to develop his musical skills. He sang in the school choir and performed in school productions. After graduating, he worked as a clerk in a shipping office while continuing to pursue his passion for music. In 1936, Lewis won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music in London. He studied under the renowned tenor Steuart Wilson and quickly established himself as a talented singer. He made his professional debut in 1939, singing the role of the First Armed Man in Mozart's "The Magic Flute" at the Glyndebourne Festival. During World War II, Lewis served in the Royal Air Force as a radar operator. After the war, he resumed his singing career and quickly became one of the most sought-after tenors in Britain. He made his debut at the Royal Opera House in 1947, singing the role of Tamino in "The Magic Flute." Lewis's career continued to flourish throughout the 1950s and 1960s. He performed in many of the world's leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Paris Opera, and the Vienna State Opera. He was particularly renowned for his performances in the operas of Mozart, Handel, and Britten. One of Lewis's most memorable performances was in Benjamin Britten's "Peter Grimes" at the Royal Opera House in 1947. He sang the role of the fisherman Peter Grimes, a part that was written specifically for him by Britten. The opera was a huge success, and Lewis's performance was widely praised. Lewis also had a successful career as a concert singer. He performed regularly with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He was particularly renowned for his performances of the oratorios of Handel and Bach. Throughout his career, Lewis received many awards and honors. In 1953, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to music. In 1963, he was awarded the Queen's Coronation Medal. He was also a Fellow of the Royal College of Music and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Lewis retired from singing in 1975, but he continued to be involved in the music world. He served as a judge for many singing competitions and was a regular guest on radio and television programs. He also wrote a book about his life and career, "A Life in Music," which was published in 1982. Richard Lewis died on January 13, 1990, at the age of 75. He was remembered as one of the greatest tenors of his generation, with a voice that was both powerful and expressive. His legacy lives on through his recordings and the many singers he inspired and mentored throughout his career.

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