Robert Tear
While too much versatility can sometimes be a curse in forging a singing identity, Welsh tenor Robert Tear established a significant career by being able to master numerous areas of the tenor repertory. A similarity in vocal quality to Benjamin Britten's companion and singer of choice, Peter Pears, permitted Tear to perform the same works with authenticity and he worked often with the composer during Britten's later years. In fact, in two of Britten's "church operas, or parables," Tear appeared with Pears in the premieres, performing roles written particularly for him. Tear's voice is serviceable rather than sensuous, but his keen intelligence and sophistication in matters of style and stage deportment made him an invaluable artist in a wide range of settings. In addition to leading roles, Tear built a gallery of well-considered portraits in the character tenor category. He performed extensively in oratorio, as well, and appeared often in recitals covering territory from English song to Tchaikovsky.
Trained as a choral scholar at Kings College, Cambridge, Tear made his operatic debut as the Male Chorus in Britten's Rape of Lucretia in 1963 with the English Opera Group. This began an association with Britten leading next to roles in the second and third of the composer's church parables, The Burning Fiery Furnace (1966) and The Prodigal Son (1968). Subsequently, both of these works were recorded by Decca. Other significant premieres followed, including: Todd in Gordon Crosse's Grace of Todd (1969); the homosexual Dov in Michael Tippett's Knot Garden (1970); the Deserter in Hans Werner Henze's We Come to the River (1976); Rimbaud in John Tavener's poorly-received Therese at Covent Garden (1976); the Painter and the Negro in the Paris premiere of Friedrich Cerha's completion of the three-act version of Berg's Lulu (1979); and Ubu Rex in Krzysztof Penderecki's opera of the same name (1991).
Tear sang memorable performances of leading roles, parts as diverse as Rakewell in Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress; the title role in Peter Grimes; Aschenbach in Death in Venice; Captain Vere in Billy Budd; Lensky in Yevgeny Onegin; Jack in Tippett's Midsummer Marriage; and Paris in the same composer's King Priam; the eponymous hero in Handel's Samson; and (on record) Sali in Delius' A Village Romeo and Juliet. Character roles encompassed Wagner (Loge, Froh, and David), Mozart (Don Basilio in Le nozze di Figaro and Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte), Strauss' Herod, Emperor Altoum in Turandot, Shuisky in Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov (a singularly cunning and treacherous portrayal) and the Director in Lucio Berio's Un re in ascolto. Tear continued to include both Captain Vere and Don Basilio in his 21st century repertory.
In the concert realm, Tear performed live and recorded his distinguished reading of the tenor part in Britten's War Requiem. He embraced works as early as those of Monteverdi to compositions of the late 20th century, such as Tippett's Mask of Time. His performances of music by J.S. Bach and his Handel singing were liberally praised, and many samples of both were recorded. In earlier years, he included Beethoven's Missa Solemnis in his active repertory.
Robert Tear's discography is extensive. Among his outstanding recordings are Delius' Mass of Life, a solo disc of Tchaikovsky songs, Bach's St. John Passion (sung in English and conducted by Benjamin Britten), Tippett's Knot Garden and the Britten church parables.
In 1984, Tear was made a Commander of the British Empire.
© TiVo
Discography
15 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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The Dicky Bird & the Owl: Victorian Songs and Ballads
Benjamin Luxon, Robert Tear, André Previn
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 5 Mar 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Britten: Serenade for Tenor, Nocturne, Les Illuminations
Sir Neville Marriner, Jeffrey Tate, Robert Tear, Heather Harper
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 6 Feb 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Acis & Galatea
Jill Gomez, Philip Langridge, Robert Tear, Benjamin Luxon, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel : Cantatas - Arias
Raymond Leppard, Sir Neville Marriner, English Chamber Orchestra, Helen Watts, Robert Tear, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Cantatas (sacred) - Released by Decca on 1 Jan 1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Home, Sweet Home: Victorian Songs and Ballads, Vol. 2
Benjamin Luxon, Robert Tear, André Previn
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 27 Aug 2021
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Robert Tear sings Handel, Arne & Boyce
Robert Tear, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1970
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette
Sir Colin Davis, Patricia Kern, Robert Tear, John Shirley-Quirk, John Alldis Choir, London Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 5 Jul 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Finzi: Before and after Summer - Till Earth Outwears - I said to Love
John Carol Case, Robert Tear, Neil Jenkins, Howard Ferguson
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Lyrita on 1 Oct 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Britten: The Turn Of The Screw
Helen Donath, Heather Harper, Robert Tear, Ava June, Royal Opera House Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Canterbury Pilgrims - At the Tabard Inn - In Honour of the City
London Symphony Orchestra, Yvonne Kenny, Richard Hickox, Robert Tear, Stephen Roberts, London Symphony Chorus
Classical - Released by Chandos on 20 May 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2
The Philharmonia Orchestra, The Bach Choir, Judith Howarth, Robert Tear, Francesco D' Avalos, Edith Wiens
Classical - Released by imp on 1 Jan 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dring: The Far Away Princess and Other Songs
Classical - Released by Meridian Records on 4 Jan 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Die Winterreise
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on 1 Jan 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Holst: Savitri, Op. 25 & Choral Hymns [From the Rig Verda [3rd Group], Op. 26, No. 3
(Dame) Janet Baker, Robert Tear, Osian Ellis
Classical - Released by Sinetone PCA on 30 Nov 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mendelssohn Symphony No. 5
The Philharmonia Orchestra, Francesco D' Avalos, Robert Tear, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Richard Allan, The Philharmonia Chorus
Classical - Released by CarltonClassics on 1 Jan 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo