Bass-baritone who excelled as Wagner’s Wotan, Hans Sachs and Flying Dutchman, and in big Verdi roles
The generation of British opera lovers who got to know Wagner’s works in the late 1960s and 70s was fortunate indeed that Sadler’s Wells (from 1974 English National) Opera was mounting its Ring cycle under the musical direction of Reginald Goodall. The company of singers he coached was spearheaded by Rita Hunter as Brünnhilde and Alberto Remedios as Siegmund/Siegfried, while the part of Wotan/Wanderer was taken by Norman Bailey, who has died aged 88.
These were all performances of the highest calibre, Bailey bringing to his role a remarkable vocal and dramatic authority, animated projection and exemplary enunciation. The distinctive grain of his timbre could be deployed to evoke anger, tenderness, scorn or impassioned fervour: the ability to convey suppressed or conflicted emotions was a particular feature of his delivery.