Charles Craig (tenor)

Charles James Craig (3 December 1919 – 23 January 1997) was an English operatic tenor. He was known as one of "the most Italianate of English operatic tenors".^[1] From 1957 to 1980 he performed leading tenor roles at London's Royal Opera House and English National Opera. One of most famous roles was Verdi's Otello, which he sang in Chicago, Vienna, Berlin, Naples, Munich, Venice, Salzburg, Turin, Lisbon, Düsseldorf.

Biography

Early life

Charles Craig was born in London, the youngest of 15 children. His parents were shopkeepers. Only an elder brother who owned a few opera records was interested in music. Craig first learned singing by listening to Caruso's recording of ""Vesti la giubba" from Pagliacci.

Recordings

• Charles Craig - Operatic Arias and Italian Songs. Label: Testament 1152.
• Joan Hammond and Charles Craig Sing Opera Arias and Duets. Label: Testament 1153.
• Verdi: Otello – Charles Craig (Otello), Rosalind Plowright (Desdemona), Neil Howlett (Iago), Shelagh Squires (Emilia), Bonaventura Bottone (Cassio); English National Opera Orchestra and Chorus; Mark Elder (conductor). Live recording, London 1983; remastered release 2001. Label: Chandos Records CD

Charles Craig also recorded Il trovatore, The Land of Smiles, Un ballo in maschera, and The Student Prince (highlights).

References

1. ^ Forbes, Elizabeth, Obituary: Charles Craig, The Independent, 25 January 1997

Persondata
Name	Craig, Charles
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1910
Place of birth
Date of death	23 January 1997
Place of death