John Alexander (tenor)

John Alexander (born October 21, 1923, Meridian, Mississippi; died December 8, 1990) was a Metropolitan Opera star for more than fifteen seasons. Also appearing with the New York City Opera, the tenor was much admired for his vocal longevity and brilliant top notes. He sang opposite many famous Metropolitan artists' debuts, including Renata Scotto's Metropolitan debut as Madama Butterfly, Montserrat Caballé's debut as Marguerite (in Gounod's "Faust") and, in the same night, Sherrill Milnes' debut in the same opera.

He may be seen on such videos as Mozart's "Idomeneo" (also starring Luciano Pavarotti, in Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's production, 1982) and Donizetti's "Roberto Devereux" (with Beverly Sills and Susanne Marsee, in Tito Capobianco's production, 1975). His discography includes recordings of Bellini's "Norma" (with Dame Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne, 1964) and Donizetti's "Anna Bolena" (opposite Elena Souliotis, 1968-69). Additionally, VAI has released his 1967 performance, in New Orleans, of Massenet's "Manon", with Caballé and Louis Quilico.

While most of his career was spent in lyric roles from the Italian and French repertory, Alexander had heft in his voice that made him an apt candidate for some of the lighter Heldentenor roles of Wagner and Strauss. At the New York City Opera in the 1970s he excelled as Walther in Wagner's Die Meistersinger and as Bacchus in Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos. James Levine cast him in the title role of Wagner's "Lohengrin" in a 1975 radio broadcast. Alexander sang one performance of Bacchus, astride Jessye Norman at the Metropolitan Opera House, however, his repertoire at the Metropolitan did not include heavier roles. Rather, he was known there for an expansive repertoire: Hoffmann, Pinkerton, Don Carlo, Idomeneo, Duke of Mantua, Alfredo, Rodolfo, Edgardo from Lucia di Lammermoor and many others.

Although he held an apartment on the West Side of Manhattan, John Alexander lived mainly in Cincinnati, Ohio. Alexander collapsed at the Temple Theater in Meridian, Mississippi, the city where he was born. He was 67 years of age, and still actively performing.