Joseph Ward (singer)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Ward is an English tenor, formerly a baritone, who created roles in operas by Benjamin Britten
and Michael Tippett
. He has also made a career as a singing teacher – his pupils include Jane Eaglen
– and opera producer.
As a baritone he created the role of Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
by Britten (1960), and in the same year sang the same composer's eponymous hero Billy Budd
in the radio-broadcast premiere of the revised two-act version. He became principal baritone at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
, making his debut there in 1962. He also created the role of Patroclus in Tippett's opera King Priam
. He recorded as a baritone the role of Sid in Britten's Albert Herring
, conducted by the composer. He subsequently transferred to the tenor repertoire and became Covent Garden's resident principal tenor.
A friend of Joan Sutherland
's, he was a principal tenor with the Sutherland-Williamson Grand Opera Company in a 1965 tour of Australia.
In 1966 he appeared in the sole recording of Bernard Herrmann
's only opera, Wuthering Heights
, conducted by the composer.
In 1972 he founded the Opera School at the Royal Northern College of Music
in Manchester and subsequently became Head of Vocal Studies there in 1986.
In Australia he has directed productions of Billy Budd and Ralph Vaughan Williams
's The Pilgrim's Progress
. He sang as a tenor in the first recording of the latter opera, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult
.
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
and Michael Tippett
Michael Tippett
Sir Michael Kemp Tippett OM CH CBE was an English composer.In his long career he produced a large body of work, including five operas, three large-scale choral works, four symphonies, five string quartets, four piano sonatas, concertos and concertante works, song cycles and incidental music...
. He has also made a career as a singing teacher – his pupils include Jane Eaglen
Jane Eaglen
Jane Eaglen is an English dramatic soprano particularly known for her interpretations of the works of Richard Wagner and the title roles in Bellini's Norma and Puccini's Turandot.-Background:...
– and opera producer.
As a baritone he created the role of Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream (opera)
A Midsummer Night's Dream is an opera with music by Benjamin Britten and set to a libretto adapted by the composer and Peter Pears from William Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream...
by Britten (1960), and in the same year sang the same composer's eponymous hero Billy Budd
Billy Budd (opera)
Billy Budd is an opera by Benjamin Britten, from a libretto by E. M. Forster and Eric Crozier, was first performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 1 December 1951. It is based on the short novel Billy Budd by Herman Melville....
in the radio-broadcast premiere of the revised two-act version. He became principal baritone at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, making his debut there in 1962. He also created the role of Patroclus in Tippett's opera King Priam
King Priam
King Priam is an opera by Michael Tippett, to his own libretto. The story is based on Homer's Iliad, except the birth and childhood of Paris, which are taken from the Fabulae of Hyginus.The premiere was on 29 May 1962, at Coventry...
. He recorded as a baritone the role of Sid in Britten's Albert Herring
Albert Herring
Albert Herring, Op. 39, is a chamber opera in three acts by Benjamin Britten.Composed in the winter of 1946 and the spring of 1947, this comic opera was a successor to his serious opera The Rape of Lucretia...
, conducted by the composer. He subsequently transferred to the tenor repertoire and became Covent Garden's resident principal tenor.
A friend of Joan Sutherland
Joan Sutherland
Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s....
's, he was a principal tenor with the Sutherland-Williamson Grand Opera Company in a 1965 tour of Australia.
In 1966 he appeared in the sole recording of Bernard Herrmann
Bernard Herrmann
Bernard Herrmann was an American composer noted for his work in motion pictures.An Academy Award-winner , Herrmann is particularly known for his collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock, most famously Psycho, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Vertigo...
's only opera, Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights (Herrmann)
Wuthering Heights is the sole opera written by Bernard Herrmann. He worked on it from 1943 to 1951. It is cast in a prologue, 4 acts, and an epilogue that repeats the music of the prologue...
, conducted by the composer.
In 1972 he founded the Opera School at the Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music
The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...
in Manchester and subsequently became Head of Vocal Studies there in 1986.
In Australia he has directed productions of Billy Budd and Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
's The Pilgrim's Progress
The Pilgrim's Progress (opera)
The Pilgrim's Progress is an opera by Ralph Vaughan Williams, based on John Bunyan's allegory The Pilgrim's Progress. The composer himself described the work as a 'Morality' rather than an opera, while nonetheless he intended the work to be performed on stage, rather than in a church or cathedral...
. He sang as a tenor in the first recording of the latter opera, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult
Adrian Boult
Sir Adrian Cedric Boult CH was an English conductor. Brought up in a prosperous mercantile family he followed musical studies in England and at Leipzig, Germany, with early conducting work in London for the Royal Opera House and Sergei Diaghilev's ballet company. His first prominent post was...
.