Peter James Hay (21 August 1885 – 1 July 1958) was an Australian tenor, noted for appearances in Gilbert and Sullivan operas. He alternated membership of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in England with Australian tours, mostly for J. C. Williamson's. History Hay was born at Donnybrook, near Clare, South Australia, a son of Peter Hay, a Scottish limeburner, himself a fine tenor, bringing up his son with a love of singing. Hay left with his family for Perth, Western Australia, at age twelve, and at some stage began singing with the Anglican cathedral choir, and at age 17 commenced study with Signor Lardelli, then for two years with J. B. Huntington. He had been in and out of business in Perth for eight years, and left for Melbourne with an introduction to a Scottish businessman. but his music came first; he secured singing engagements with the Philharmonic and the Liedertafel. The businessman took him to Marshall-Hall, who advised him to seek the best teachers in France and England. Sponsored by the businessman, he left for England where he was a fellow-student of Fraser Gange, a Scottish baritone who later had a career with Amy Evans. He studied German Lieder under Amy Sherwin and then went to Paris, studying under Bouhy and Jean de Reszke. He joined the Chappell Ballad Singers and sang for Sir Henry Wood in six promenade concerts ("The Proms"). In 1909 he gave a successful recital in London. He then sang with the Royal Choral Society in Beethoven's Missa Solemnis and in Berlioz's Faust, under Hans Richter and toured with Ada Crossley and Tetrazzini. He studied oratorio under Alberto Randegger. He deputised for Gervase Elwes in the name part of Elgar's Gerontius. Gilbert and Sullivan Around July 1913 he joined D'Oyly Carte's Principal Repertory Opera Company, initially in the chorus, then making his stage debut as Fairfax in The Yeomen of the Guard. He played various other tenor parts until March 1915: Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore, Prince Hilarion in Princess Ida, Nanki-Poo in The Mikado and his favorite part, Earl Tolloller in Iolanthe. He alternated with Dewey Gibson as Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance 1913–14. After The Great War he rejoined D'Oyly Carte's Repertory Company for the 1919–1920 revivals, leaving in March for La Cigale at King's Theatre, Hammersmith. He then joined J. C. Williamson's Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company as principal tenor, touring Australia.

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Peter James Hay (21 August 1885 – 1 July 1958) was an Australian tenor, noted for appearances in Gilbert and Sullivan operas. He alternated membership of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in England with Australian tours, mostly for J. C. Williamson's.

Overview

Peter James Hay (21 August 1885 – 1 July 1958) was an Australian tenor, noted for appearances in Gilbert and Sullivan operas. He alternated membership of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in England with Australian tours, mostly for J. C. Williamson's. History Hay was born at Donnybrook, near Clare, South Australia, a son of Peter Hay, a Scottish limeburner, himself a fine tenor, bringing up his son with a love of singing. Hay left with his family for Perth, Western Australia, at age twelve, and at some stage began singing with the Anglican cathedral choir, and at age 17 commenced study with Signor Lardelli, then for two years with J. B. Huntington. He had been in and out of business in Perth for eight years, and left for Melbourne with an introduction to a Scottish businessman. but his music came first; he secured singing engagements with the Philharmonic and the Liedertafel. The businessman took him to Marshall-Hall, who advised him to seek the best teachers in France and England. Sponsored by the businessman, he left for England where he was a fellow-student of Fraser Gange, a Scottish baritone who later had a career with Amy Evans. He studied German Lieder under Amy Sherwin and then went to Paris, studying under Bouhy and Jean de Reszke. He joined the Chappell Ballad Singers and sang for Sir Henry Wood in six promenade concerts ("The Proms"). In 1909 he gave a successful recital in London. He then sang with the Royal Choral Society in Beethoven's Missa Solemnis and in Berlioz's Faust, under Hans Richter and toured with Ada Crossley and Tetrazzini. He studied oratorio under Alberto Randegger. He deputised for Gervase Elwes in the name part of Elgar's Gerontius. Gilbert and Sullivan Around July 1913 he joined D'Oyly Carte's Principal Repertory Opera Company, initially in the chorus, then making his stage debut as Fairfax in The Yeomen of the Guard. He played various other tenor parts until March 1915: Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore, Prince Hilarion in Princess Ida, Nanki-Poo in The Mikado and his favorite part, Earl Tolloller in Iolanthe. He alternated with Dewey Gibson as Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance 1913–14. After The Great War he rejoined D'Oyly Carte's Repertory Company for the 1919–1920 revivals, leaving in March for La Cigale at King's Theatre, Hammersmith. He then joined J. C. Williamson's Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company as principal tenor, touring Australia.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).