Sir Donald McIntyre | |
|---|---|
 McIntyre in 1974 | |
| Born | Donald Conroy McIntyre (1934-10-22)22 October 1934 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Died | 13 November 2025(2025-11-13) (aged 91) Munich, Bavaria, Germany |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Operaticbass-baritone |
| Organizations | |
Sir Donald Conroy McIntyreCBE (22 October 1934 – 13 November 2025) was a New Zealand operaticbass-baritone who made an international career, based at theRoyal Opera House in London from 1967. He was a versatile singer but became best-known for portrayingWagner characters, especially Wotan in the BayreuthJahrhundertring in 1976.
Born inAuckland on 22 October 1934, McIntyre was the son of Hermyn and George McIntyre.[1] His mother played violin, and he listened to music on radio and records.[2] He was educated atMount Albert Grammar School, and went on to study atAuckland Teachers' Training College to be a teacher.[3] Simultaneously he took singing lessons with Hubert Milverton-Carva in Auckland.[3] and began to perform inoratorios.[2][4] At age 21, he first watched an opera performance and wanted to become an opera singer. His singing teacher got him a scholarship in England at theGuildhall School of Music in London;[1][2] he studied with Ellis Keeler, and with Clemens Kaiser-Breme inEssen.[3]
McIntyre made his formal stage debut as Zaccaria in Verdi'sNabucco at theWelsh National Opera in 1959.[3][4] He belonged to the ensemble of theSadler's Wells Opera from 1960 to 1967, where he appeared in the title role of Verdi'sAttila, as Kaspar in Weber'sDer Freischütz and in bass roles ofMozart operas,[3] sung in English.[4] In 1964 he created the role of the Stranger in Menotti'sMartin's Lie at theBath International Music Festival. He joined theRoyal Opera House in 1967, performing first as Pizarro in Beethoven'sFidelio. He took part in the world premiere ofBennett'sVictory on 13 April 1970. He was successful as Jochanaan inSalome, Barak inDie Frau ohne Schatten, both by R. Strauss, as Scarpia in Puccini'sTosca, and in the title roles of Verdi'sRigoletto and Alban Berg'sWozzeck.[3]
Wolfgang Wagner watched McIntyre in London and engaged him for theBayreuth Festival,[2] where he first appeared in 1967, as Telramund inLohengrin.[3][5] He returned to the festival over twenty years, also in the title role ofDer fliegende Holländer, as Klingsor and later Amfortas inParsifal, as Kurwenal inTristan und Isolde and as Wotan/Wanderer inDer Ring des Nibelungen.[3] A major accomplishment was his Wotan/Wanderer at Bayreuth in theJahrhundertring (Centenary Ring) in 1976, celebrating the centenary of both the festival and the first performance of the complete cycle, conducted byPierre Boulez and staged byPatrice Chéreau, recorded and filmed in 1979 and 1980.[3][4] He portrayed the character with "vocal greatness from the warm-hearted father to the heroic-ruler failure, always paired with the usuall outstanding stage appearance".[2]
WhenPierre Boulez conducted a recording of Debussy'sPelléas et Mélisande in 1969/70, he engaged McIntyre among world stars for the dark role of Golaud.[2] He first appeared at theMetropolitan Opera in New York City in 1975, as Wotan inDas Rheingold, and performed there until 1996, appearing as Pizarro inFidelio, as Sarastro in Mozart'sDie Zauberflöte and as Orest inElektra by R. Strauss.[3] He performed in the opening performance of the restored Zürich Opernhaus in 1984 as Hans Sachs in Wagner'sDie Meistersinger von Nürnberg, a role that he repeated successfully at theWellington Opera House. He appeared in 1989 at the Royal Opera House in Berio'sUn re in ascolto, repeated in 1991 at theOpéra Bastille. He performed as Telramund at the Teatro San Carlos in Lisbon in 1991, and as Moses in Schoenberg'sMoses und Aron in London in 1992, as Sachs at the Metropolitan Opera in 1992, as Gurnemanz inParsifal at the Antwerp Opera in 1996, and as Trulove in Stravinsky'sThe Rake's Progress at theThéâtre du Châtelet.[3] He performed atLa Scala in Milan as the Old Servant inElektra in 2014, making the scene of recognising Orest a stunning moment.[2]
In 1961, McIntyre married Jill Redington; the couple had three children.[1]
McIntyre died inMunich on 13 November 2025, at the age of 91.[2][4][5]
McIntyre was appointed anOfficer of the Order of the British Empire in the1977 New Year Honours, for services to opera.[6] In the1985 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was promoted to Commander of the order.[7] In 1990, McIntyre received theNew Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[1] He was appointed aKnight Bachelor, for services to opera, in the1992 Queen's Birthday Honours.[4][8] Also in 1992, McIntyre was awarded an honoraryDoctor of Music degree by theUniversity of Auckland.[9]
He won aGrammy Award in 1982 for recording the role of Wotan/Wanderer, in the category Best opera recording.[10] In 1989, he was awarded the Fidelio Medal.[1]
In 2004, McIntyre received an Icon Award from theArts Foundation of New Zealand, an honour limited to 20 living New Zealanders.[11]
His discography includes Golaud in Debussy'sPelléas et Mélisande, alongsideGeorge Shirley andElisabeth Söderström, conducted byPierre Boulez, recorded in 1969.[12] He recorded Klingsor in Wagner'sParsifal, withGwyneth Jones as Kundry, in 1970.[13] He recorded Telramund inLohengrin, conducted byRudolf Kempe,[14] took part in Stravinsky'sOedipus rex, conducted byGeorg Solti, withPeter Pears in the title role, in 1976,[15] and performed as Gurnemanz inParsifal, conducted byReginald Goodall, in a 1984 recording.[16] He also recorded oratorios by Handel,Messiah[17] andSaul.[18]
Also on DVD are his performances of the title role ofDer fliegende Holländer, conducted byWolfgang Sawallisch in 1974,[19] Orest inElektra, alongsideBirgit Nilsson in the title role, conducted byJames Levine and directed byHerbert Graf in 1980,[20] Wagner'sDie Meistersinger von Nürnberg, conducted byCharles Mackerras in 1988,[21]Arabella by R. Strauss, alongsideKiri Te Kanawa in the title role, in 1994,[22] as well as anotherElektra, conducted by Levine the same year.[23]
