Opera Scotland

Richard Van Allan Suggest updates

Alan Philip Jones.

Born Nottingham, 28 May 1935.

Died London, 4 December 2008.

English bass.

Richard Van Allan was an excellent singing actor able to range from comedy to tragedy with ease.  He studied at the Birmingham School of Music, then with David Franklin and Jani Strasser.  He joined the Glyndebourne Chorus in 1964, making his first solo appearance in 1966 as Second Priest and Armed Man (Die Zauberflöte).

He joined the Scottish Opera group of Opera For All in autumn 1966, immediately singing Don Alfonso, and Don Magnifico - roles that he would continue to sing throughout his career.

Early solo parts with the Glyndeboure tour included Selim Il turco in Italia.

He worked regularly at Glyndebourne, Covent Garden (from 1971) and Sadler's Wells/ENO (from 1969).  Appearances with Scottish Opera were less common, but he did return for The Marriage of Figaro (both Bartolo and Figaro).

Appearances abroad included Ireland (Wexford); France (Paris); USA (Boston,  San Diego).

He created the part of Colonel Jowler in Nicholas Maw's The Rising of the Moon (Glyndebourne 1970).

His repertoire included Mozart (Osmin,  Figaro,  Don Giovanni,  Leporello,   Don Alfonso);  Rossini (Don Magnifico);  Verdi (Zaccaria,  Padre Guardiano,  Grand Inquisitor);  Strauss (Ochs).