Opera Scotland

John Tomlinson Suggest updates

Sir John Tomlinson.

Born Oswaldwistle, 22 September 1946.

English bass.

Sir John Tomlinson has had an important international career over several decades. Particularly noted for his Wagner interpretations, he has sung Wotan throughout the runs of two different productions of the Ring at Bayreuth.

Further Wagner roles have included Hunding, Hagen, King Mark, Sachs, and Gurnemanz.

In addition to his Wagnerian repertoire Tomlinson has been a leading interpreter of Boris Godunov and Baron Ochs.

His range extends from baroque opera to new work, and Tomlinson created major roles in two of Sir Harrison Birtwistle's operas, Gawain and The Minotaur, both at Covent Garden.