John Brecknock

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File:John-Brecknock-as-Werther.png]]

John Leighton Brecknock (29 November 1937 – 30 May 2017) was an English operatic tenor. He was born at Long Eaton, Derbyshire, joined the chorus of Sadler's Wells Opera in 1967 and graduated to small solo roles. He made his Covent Garden debut in 1974 as Fenton in Verdi's Falstaff with Tito Gobbi. In 1977 he co-starred at the Paris Opéra with Teresa Berganza in Rossini's La Cenerentola, and in 1978 sang Don Ottavio in Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, to the Donna Anna of Joan Sutherland, who wrote of his "beautiful glossy voice and easy technique". In London he performed at English National Opera, the Royal Opera and the Proms."John Brecknock: Tenor with the ENO known for his 'beautiful glossy voice", The Daily Telegraph, 16 June 2017, p. 29

Among Brecknock's Mozart roles were a priest and an armed man in The Magic Flute,Sadie, Stanley. [http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/9Vnh63 "Mackerras's serene, glowing Mozart"], The Times, 24 April 1969, p. 15 Ferrando in Così fan tutteBlyth, Alan. [http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/9Vni32 "A model comedy"] The Times, 26 March 1970, p. 14 and Belmonte in The Seraglio.Mann, William. [http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/9VnkR5 "The Seraglio"], The Times, 29 July 1971, p. 9 In the Italian repertoire, his roles included Alfredo in La traviata,Mann, William. [http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/9VnjQ8 "Vivid rhythm"']. The Times, 25 September 1970, p. 8 the Count in The Barber of Seville,Elvin, René. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/44201294 "Lettre de Londres"], La Nouvelle Revue des Deux Mondes, February 1981, p. 486 Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi[http://www.rohcollections.org.uk/performance.aspx?performance=15133&row=1&searchtype=workprodperf&person=John%20Brecknock "Gianni Schicchi"], Royal Opera House Performance Archive. Retrieved 18 March 2019 and the title role in Count Ory.Sadie, Stanley. [http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/9Vnm7X "Fine musical wit"], The Times, 19 February 1972, p. 9 Among his roles in French operas were the title role in Werther,Elvin, René. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/44201380 "Lettre de Londres"], La Nouvelle Revue des Deux Mondes, May 1977, p. 492 Iopas in Les Troyens,[http://www.rohcollections.org.uk/performance.aspx?performance=12135&row=2&searchtype=workprodperf&person=John%20Brecknock "The Trojans at Carthage"] Royal Opera House Performance Archive. Retrieved 18 March 2019 Romeo in Romeo and Juliet,Mann, William. [http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/9VnquX "Romeo and Juliet"] The Times, 15 January 1981, p. 11 Des Grieux in ManonHiggins, John. [http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/9Vnsd1 "Opera"], The Times, 26 February 1982, p. 13 and Bénédict in Béatrice et Bénédict.Finch, Hilary. [http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/9Vnvy1 "Opera"], The Times, 25 May 1983, p. 10.

Brecknock's repertoire included several opéras comiques and operettas. His Offenbach roles included the title characters in Bluebeard and Robinson Crusoe,Chissell, Joan. [http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/9VnhV2. Retrieved 18 March 2019 "Return of Bluebeard"], The Times, 12 November 1969, p. 14; and [http://www.jstor.org/stable/961180 "Music in London"], The Musical Times, October 1980, pp. 644–646 Paris in La belle Hélène,Mann, William. [http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/9Vnny3 "La belle Hélène]," The Times, 5 September. 1975, p. 7 and Pluto in Orpheus in the Underworld.Higgins, John. [http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/9Vnzy3 "Hell for leather"], The Times, 12 February 1988, p. 16 In Gilbert and Sullivan he sang the Defendant in Trial by Jury,[http://www.jstor.org/stable/963274,"London Diary for August"], The Musical Times, July 1982, pp. 518–519 and Tolloller in Iolanthe.Sadie, Stanley. [http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/9VngT3 "A spirited Iolanthe"]The Times, 3 April 1969, p. 14

In less-frequently performed operas Brecknock's roles included the Page in Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea,Mann, William. [http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/9Vnkh5 "The Coronation of Poppea"], The Times, 25 November 1971, p. 20 Jupiter in Handel's Semele,[http://www.jstor.org/stable/957238 "Sadler's Wells Opera"], The Musical Times, October 1970, p. 991 and Adriano in Meyerbeer's Il crociato in Egitto.Klein, John W. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/957622 "Meyerbeer and 'Il Crociato'"], The Musical Times, January 1972, p. 40