Peter Allen

Peter Allen (born Harold Levy; September 17, 1920 – October 8, 2016) was a Canadian-born American broadcaster and radio announcer, noted for hosting the Saturday afternoon radio broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera for some 29 years.

Early years Allen was born Harold Levy in Toronto, Ontario, Canada He later moved with his parents to the United States, and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Allen was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Ohio State University. His connection with the Metropolitan Opera began in 1973 when he served as the backup for Milton Cross who had been announcing the Met's Saturday afternoon broadcasts since their inception in 1931.

In 1975, after Cross's sudden death, Allen took over as announcer for the Met and continued in the job until 2004. The smooth, intelligent delivery and warmth of Allen's on-air persona endeared him to millions of opera listeners during his long tenure at the Met. Allen retired in May 2004 after 29 seasons and was succeeded by Margaret Juntwait.

Allen was also the announcer for Live from the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts on television.

Other professional activities In addition to his live radio career, Allen recorded a popular series of spoken analyses and introductions to the four operas of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen and other operas. Several popular books about opera published for the Metropolitan were also edited and introduced by Allen.

He also narrated more than 100 films.

Allen lived in Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village in Manhattan, residing in the same apartment for over 70 years. He died there on October 8, 2016, aged 96.