The first tenor to sing German at English National Opera
RIPJohn Dobson, who has died aged 92, was a stalwart of British opera companies for just under half a century.
After making his debut at Bergamo in 1946, he joined the Royal Opera House as a comprimario and sang more than 2,000 performances there until he retired in 1995.
On one celebrated occasion he was released to stand in as Mime in Siegfried at the Coliseum for English National Opera. As an international artist, he knew the role only in German. Such was his commanding presence that two other singers joined him in the original language.
The announcement and performance can be heard here.
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