Welsh Tenor Stuart Burrows has Died, Aged 92

Burrows had roles at all the major opera houses, and also hosted his own BBC Two series, "Stuart Burrows Sings"

The prominent Welsh tenor Stuart Burrows has passed away at the age of 92.

Born in 1933 in Cilfynydd, Wales, Burrows first began singing as a child. Also a prominent rugby player, he turned down the offer of a professional contract from Leeds Rugby League Club and became a teacher instead. After just two years, he began to appear as a professional singer, taking roles with the Welsh National Opera such as Ismael in Verdi’s Nabucco in 1963.

His international breakthrough arrived in 1965, when Igor Stravinsky invited Burrows to sing the title role in his opera Oedipus Rex in Athens.

Over the next three decades, Burrows developed a career that included appearances at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, as well as opera houses in San Francisco, Vienna, La Scala, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Burrows mostly sang repertoire by Mozart and Donizetti, as well as French composers, including Berlioz and Massenet. At one stage, Sir Georg Solti attempted to persuade Burrows to sing Wagner, but he declined, standing firm in his opinion that heavier repertoire would not suit him.

Burrows had his own popular television series on BBC Two, titled Stuart Burrows Sings. The show ran for eight years, and included performances of opera and oratorio alongside Victorian song and folk songs.

"He was one of the greatest Mozart tenors in the world, from La Scala to the Met and Covent Garden," said the Welsh operatic and concert soprano Beverley Humphreys. "The beauty of his voice, his sensitivity, lyricism and refined musicianship was unsurpassed."

"His voice and warm personality touched hearts all over the world."

"Stuart Burrows had an amazing voice, he was an internationally renowned singer and very remarkable individual who came from this south Wales valleys village which has produced so many extraordinary people from rugby players to politicians," said Kim Howells, former UK government culture minister.

"We've lost a great here and I send my condolences to his family."

Our condolences to Mr. Burrows' family, friends, and colleagues.