Peter Glossop

Peter Glossop (6 July 1928 – 7 September 2008) was an English baritone who was the only Englishman to have sung Verdi's great tragic baritone roles at La Scala, Milan. He rose from humble beginnings in Yorkshire to become a leading performer in London and in the major opera houses of Europe and America.

Early life and career

Peter Glossop was born in the Wadsley suburb of Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, the son of Cyril Glossop, a manager at a cutlery factory. He was educated at High Storrs Grammar School and was introduced to opera by his mother Violet, who smuggled him into the Lyceum Theatre where she was working as a secretary. After National Service, he joined the National Provincial Bank as a clerk, and in his spare time sang with the Sheffield Operatic Society. He studied locally with Joseph Hislop He joined the chorus of Sadler's Wells Opera the same year and continued his studies with Leonard Mosley. In 1955 Glossop was appointed as a company principal. During the next five years he sang most of the leading Verdi baritone roles, and was especially known for the title role in Rigoletto and for Di Luna in Il trovatore.

Qualities and personality

Alan Blyth in Grove states "Although he was not the subtlest of actors, his portrayals were always sung and projected with eager conviction". Comments made elsewhere include that he was a "rumbustious Yorkshireman" who was "blessed with a booming, powerful voice and an occasionally coarse temperament". "He brought conviction to everything he sang, and his extrovert personality enhanced all his stage performances". "On stage he combined a rugged boldness with a robust vocal delivery".

Personal life and retirement

In 1955 Peter Glossop married Joyce Blackham, an operatic soprano. This marriage was dissolved in 1977 and in that year he married Michelle Amos, a much younger ballet dancer. This marriage ended in divorce in 1986. Glossop decided to retire in 1986 following a performance as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly in Los Angeles. He retired to a village near Axminster, Devon. In his retirement he did some teaching and lecturing. He was made an honorary doctor of music by Sheffield University. He was passionately interested in jazz and compiled a large collection of Dixieland jazz records. Towards the end of his life he developed throat cancer. Peter Glossop is survived by two daughters from his second marriage.

Discography