Norman Bailey

Norman Stanley Bailey (23 March 1933 – 15 September 2021) was a British operatic bass-baritone who appeared in leading roles in major opera venues. After an early career in Austria and Germany, he settled in England and was associated with the English National Opera. One of his signature roles was Hans Sachs in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, which he performed at La Scala in Milan in 1968 and at the Bayreuth Festival the following year. Later that year he was called upon at the last minute to play the part at the Royal Opera House in London when Hubert Hoffman had to pull out with a sore throat. He also played this part in his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1976. Career Bailey was born in Birmingham, England on 23 March 1933. He emigrated to South Africa with his parents after the Second World War. His talent was first recognised when he was studying theology at Rhodes University in Grahamstown. He changed to music on the advice of his singing teacher after only 2 lessons. Bailey later received vocal training at the Vienna Music Academy. He finished his studies with Josef Witt, Adolf Vogel and Julius Patzak in Vienna, with F. Carvino in Düsseldorf and in Essen. In 1959, he made his stage debut as Tobias Mill in Rossini's La cambiale di matrimonio at the Vienna Chamber Opera. He was engaged at the Landestheater Linz from 1960 until 1963. From 1964 to 1967, he was a member of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein. He appeared in the title roles of Verdi's Rigoletto, Nabucco and Simon Boccanegra, among others. In 1967, he first performed at La Scala in Milan, in the title role of Dallapiccola's Job, followed by Hans Sachs in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg the following year. He first performed in the UK in Manchester in 1967, as the Count in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, and appeared the same year in London as Figaro in the same opera at the Sadler's Wells Theatre (later English National Opera or ENO).