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Stuart BurrowsBritish operatic lyric tenor of Welsh origin
Date of Birth: 07.02.1933
Country:  Great Britain |
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Biography of Stuart Burrows
Stuart Burrows is a British operatic lyric tenor of Welsh descent. He is also an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Throughout his long and fruitful career, Burrows has reached the pinnacle of mastery and fame, transitioning from a humble teacher to a renowned opera singer. He was born on February 7, 1933, in Cilfynydd, a village located 13 miles north of the Welsh capital, Cardiff. Interestingly, Cilfynydd has also been the birthplace of another opera star, Sir Geraint Evans, a famous baritone. Additionally, notable figures such as international rugby player Glyn Davies and politician Baron Merlyn-Rees were also born there.
Early Life and Musical Talent
After completing college, Stuart Burrows began his career as a teacher in Bargoed. However, his exceptional vocal talent soon brought him success and renown. His solo concerts showcased works by Beethoven, Berlioz, Schubert, Sullivan, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Offenbach, and Handel. He earned worldwide recognition for his masterful performances of oratorios and operas, specializing in the music of Puccini, Verdi, Donizetti, and particularly Mozart, earning him the title "King of Mozart."
As a child, Burrows possessed a pure soprano voice and would sing to his neighbors from his bedroom window. He made his debut as a soloist at a local chapel gathering, performing the song "Bless This House." Starting in the mid-1960s, Burrows established himself as one of the leading lyric tenors in the UK for over 20 years. He gained a reputation for his interpretations of Mozart on the international opera stage. However, few know that if he hadn't pursued a career in opera and concert singing, Stuart could have had an outstanding career as a rugby player.
International Success
In 1963, Stuart Burrows made his debut at the Welsh National Opera as Ismael in Verdi's "Nabucco". In 1967, his phenomenal performance at the Athens Festival brought him international fame. His interpretation of Igor Stravinsky's "Oedipus Rex" placed him among the world's finest lyric tenors. This performance was specifically requested by Stravinsky himself.
Burrows performed in "Don Giovanni" in Brussels and San Diego, "Madam Butterfly" in Vienna, "Faust" in Milan, "L'elisir d'amore" and "Die Zauberflöte" in San Francisco, "Die Entführung aus dem Serail" in Paris Opera, and "Les contes d'Hoffmann" in Teatre de la Monnaie. In addition, he sang Mozart's "Requiem" at the Cardiff Festival of Choirs and made numerous appearances at the Royal Opera. He also toured the United States and Japan. Burrows made his debut at La Scala in 1978, performing the lead role in Berlioz's "La damnation de Faust". He appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in New York more times than any other British singer and collaborated with esteemed conductors such as Sir Georg Solti, Zubin Mehta, Seiji Ozawa, Leonard Bernstein, and Eugene Ormandy, including prestigious performances at Carnegie Hall.
Burrows was well-known on television in Australia, North America, and Europe. For over eight years, he starred in the BBC series "Stuart Burrows Sings". In 1981, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Wales in Cardiff, and in 1989, he became a fellow of Trinity College, Carmarthen, his alma mater, after establishing the International Singing Competition. He also serves as the president of several charitable organizations in South Wales and devotes much time to fundraising for their needs.
