Charles Craig (tenor)

Charles James Craig (3 December 1919 – 23 January 1997) was an English operatic tenor. He received early encouragement from Sir Thomas Beecham, and sang in his 1952 recording of A Mass of Life by Frederick Delius. He was known as one of "the most Italianate of English operatic tenors".^[1] From 1957 to 1980 he performed leading tenor roles at London's Royal Opera House and English National Opera. One of his most famous roles was Verdi's Otello, which he sang in Chicago, Vienna, Berlin, Naples, Munich, Venice, Salzburg, Turin, Lisbon, Düsseldorf.

Biography

Early life

Charles Craig was born in London, the youngest of 15 children. His parents were shopkeepers. Only an elder brother who owned a few opera records was interested in music. Craig first learned singing by listening to Caruso's recording of ""Vesti la giubba" from Pagliacci.

Recordings

• Charles Craig - Operatic Arias and Italian Songs. Label: Testament 1152.
• Joan Hammond and Charles Craig Sing Opera Arias and Duets. Label: Testament 1153.
• Verdi: Otello – Charles Craig (Otello), Rosalind Plowright (Desdemona), Neil Howlett (Iago), Shelagh Squires (Emilia), Bonaventura Bottone (Cassio); English National Opera Orchestra and Chorus; Mark Elder (conductor). Live recording, London 1983; remastered release 2001. Label: Chandos Records CD

Charles Craig also recorded Il trovatore, The Land of Smiles, Un ballo in maschera, and The Student Prince (highlights).

References