Born: 22 March, 1952, in London. Died: 27 April, 2008, in London, aged 56. EDMUND Barham was a robust tenor, physically and vocally. On stage his stature was commanding and his vocal prowess – especially in the Puccini and Verdi
roles – ensured all his performances were exciting.
In Britain he was principally associated with the English National Opera (ENO) and was heard for a decade there in some forthright and dramatic roles. He worked at the Coliseum with many leading directors. He also had a burgeoning career in Germany and Australia.
Barham, a sensitive and perceptive artist, came to Scotland for two series of popular concerts with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, when his singing was highly praised.
His mother was a professional singer and he showed considerable talent as a musician from an early age, at school in south London and later at the Opera Centre in London. After two years with Opera For All he moved to Germany and assumed many leading roles with smaller companies before being picked up by the Munich Opera House.
Barham was cast by Mark Elder at the ENO in Smetana's The Bartered Bride in 1984. That performance ensured that he was cast in all the leading Italian tenor roles with the company for the next decade. Particularly well remembered were his Pinkerton (Madam Butterfly), Cavaradossi (Tosca), Calaf (Turandot) and Don Jose (Carmen). He was also heard in these roles with Opera North and Welsh National Opera.
In 1990, when the ENO gave acclaimed performances in Leningrad and Moscow, Barham sang the role of Macduff in Verdi's Macbeth; his delivery of the act two aria was cheered in both cities.
The next year Barham was heard at the Coliseum in one of the most testing roles for a tenor. Nicholas Hytner was directing Verdi's The Force of Destiny. Barham delivered a thrilling interpretation of Don Alvaro and he enjoyed working with such a renowned director. "Very human and open to ideas," Barham recalled.
Barham came to Scotland to sing with the RSNO in 1990. He sang with the orchestra at the Usher Hall and the following year at the Scottish Proms at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall. He won standing ovations for his heroic delivery of Nessun Dorma at both venues.
He recorded widely with the conductor Owen Arwel Hughes and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on the EMI label.
He made several appearances in Australia (the title role of Otello, in 1997, was described as "sensational" by a visiting London critic). In 1999 he was diagnosed with kidney failure, but continued to sing, appearing in London for the last time in 2001.
A keen follower of cricket and an avid collector of opera CDs, Barham is survived by his wife.
The full article contains 458 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
