Theodor Lay [SEP] voice type
Theodor Lay
Theodor Lay was a nineteenth-century German operatic baritone who was particularly admired for his interpretations of the roles of Richard Wagner and Albert Lortzing. He is best remembered today for portraying the role of Baal-Hanan in the world premiere of Karl Goldmark's "Die Königin von Saba" in 1875.
Biography.
Lay began his performing career as a child appearing in stage plays at the young age of four. From 1857-1849, he sang in the opera chorus and acted in plays in Leipzig
to this project, and worked with Eric Crozier, a regular Britten collaborator, to write the opera's libretto.
While Britten was composing the music, the Italian composer Giorgio Federico Ghedini premiered his one-act operatic setting of "Billy Budd" at the 1949 Venice International Festival. This disturbed Britten, but Ghedini's opera gained little notice.
Britten originally intended the title role for Geraint Evans, who prepared it but then withdrew because it lay too high for his voice. Britten chose Theodor Uppman to replace him