Robert Radford (Bass)

Born: May 13, 1874 - Nottingham, England
Died: March 3, 1933 - London, England

The esteemed English bass, Robert Radford, was educated at London's Royal Academy of Music, taking voice lessons with Alberto Randegger. He also studied with Battison Haynes and Frederick King.

Robert Radford made his operatic debut at Covent Garden in London in 1904 as the Commendatore in Don Giovanni. In 1908 he sang Hagen and Hunding in the first English Ring Cycle under Hans Richter in London. He created Abbott Tunstall in Angelus (Naylor). In 1921 he became a founder, with Thomas Beecham, of the British National Opera Company. Later he became its director.

In 1929 Robert Radford was appointed to the faculty of his alma mater. His fame as an opera singer was great in England. In addition to singing opera, he greatly distinguished himself as a concert artist. His daughter, Winifred Radford (1901-1993), who had studied with him, became a singer and teacher. She was closely associated with Pierre Bernac and Francis Poulenc.

Source: Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Classical Musicians (1997); OPERAlmanac Mailing List (March 2003)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (October 2004); Manfred Krugmann (Photos 02-05, July 2011)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

George W. Byng

Bass

2 mvts. from BWV 211

Links to other Sites