Richard Van Allan, a British bass-baritone who was a commanding presence on the world’s opera stages, died on Dec. 4 in London. He was 73. The National Opera Studio, which Mr. Van Allan directed from 1986 to 2001, announced his death. He learned he had lung cancer two years ago.
Mr. Van Allan’s roles included Pooh-Bah in Jonathan Miller’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” at the English National Opera. He sang the lead in Don Giovanni with the Sadler’s Wells Opera company in 1969, and in 1971 made his debut at the Royal Opera in London as the Mandarin in “Turandot.” The Count in “Manon” was his debut role at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1987.
Born Alan Jones, he was a miner’s son who grew up in central England, getting his first musical experience in a church choir and in grade-school productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.
Mr. Van Allan made his professional debut with Sussex Opera in England in 1964, and had his first major role at the British Glyndebourne Festival in 1967 in Francesco Cavalli’s “Ormindo.” He made his final appearance in 2006 at Glyndebourne, taking the speaking role of Frosch in “Die Fledermaus.”
Mr. Van Allan’s roles included Pooh-Bah in Jonathan Miller’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” at the English National Opera. He sang the lead in Don Giovanni with the Sadler’s Wells Opera company in 1969, and in 1971 made his debut at the Royal Opera in London as the Mandarin in “Turandot.” The Count in “Manon” was his debut role at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1987.
Born Alan Jones, he was a miner’s son who grew up in central England, getting his first musical experience in a church choir and in grade-school productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.
Mr. Van Allan made his professional debut with Sussex Opera in England in 1964, and had his first major role at the British Glyndebourne Festival in 1967 in Francesco Cavalli’s “Ormindo.” He made his final appearance in 2006 at Glyndebourne, taking the speaking role of Frosch in “Die Fledermaus.”
