John Hargreaves Suggest updates
Born Colne, 10 March 1910.
Died London, 5 February 1991.
English baritone.
John Hargreaves studied in Manchester then with Frederic Austin at the Royal Academy of Music, making his debut at Sadler’s Wells as Valentin in Faust in 1936. He first appeared at Covent Garden in Pickwick (Albert Coates) the same year. He stayed a member of the Sadler's Wells company until he retired from the stage in 1965, but for a post-war West End run in Song of Norway.
He sang most of the major baritone roles in the Sadler’s Wells repertory from Mozart through to Onegin, Marcello, Rigoletto, Luna, Boccanegra, Scarpia and Jack Rance. Roles he created include Strickland in The Moon and Sixpence (Gardner 1957), and he sang Voltore in Volpone (Burt) when it was taken over by Sadler's Wells in 1964. He became manager of the Sadler's company (the company divided into two, alternating between London and tour - a "Sadler's" and a "Wells" company) from 1962, then became General Company Manager 1966-70. After his retirement, he continued to work as Vocal Consultant for the company as well as teaching.
Roles in Scotland
- Marcello a painter
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Bohème 1941
- Figaro the Count's valet
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Nozze di Figaro 1941
- Frank prison governor
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Fledermaus 1941
- Figaro a barber
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Barbiere di Siviglia 1942
- Guglielmo another officer, Ferrando's friend
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Così fan tutte 1944
- Baron Scarpia Chief of Police
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Tosca 1957
- Count Almaviva a Spanish grandee
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Nozze di Figaro 1957
Nozze di Figaro 1958
Nozze di Figaro 1959
Nozze di Figaro 1961
- Count Danilo Danilowitsch Secretary to the legation, reserve cavalry lieutenant
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Lustige Witwe 1959
- Rigoletto a jester
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Rigoletto 1959
- Earl of Essex
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Merrie England 1960
- Don Giovanni a young nobleman
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Don Giovanni 1960
- Miller a retired soldier
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Luisa Miller 1960
- Sharpless U S Consul in Nagasaki
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Madam Butterfly 1960
- Peter a broom maker and father of Hansel and Gretel
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Hansel and Gretel 1960
- Wolfram von Eschenbach a knight and minnesinger
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Tannhäuser 1961
- Mikado of Japan
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Mikado 1963
- Agamemnon King of Kings
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Belle Hélène 1965