Reginald Barry Mora (15 November 1940 – 11 October 2021)[1][2] was a New Zealand classical baritone who had an active international career in concerts and operas from the mid-1970s through the 1990s. Retired from the stage, he was a member of the board at The NBR New Zealand Opera.
Early life edit
Mora grew up at Taikorea, near Palmerston North and attended Palmerston North Boys' High School.[3]
Career edit
Mora's career began with the New Zealand Broadcasting Service followed by a job in the management of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He had been studying singing and performing as a concert soloist and in opera. In the early 1970s he moved to London to pursue his singing career.[3]
Mora studied singing in London with Otakar Kraus.[3] He was a member of the Gelsenkirchen Opera House from 1976 until 1980 where he became principal baritone.[3] He made his professional debut as Anckarström in Giuseppe Verdi's Un ballo in maschera.[citation needed] In 1980 he joined the Frankfurt Opera House where he had a highly successful career for the next seven years singing roles in Verdi operas among others.[3] From 1987 he worked as a freelance artist internationally with the Welsh National Opera, Covent Garden and at opera houses in Vancouver, Japan and Barcelona.[3] Mora also performed as a guest artist with De Nederlandse Opera, the Edinburgh Festival, La Monnaie, the Scottish Opera, and Theater Aachen among others.[citation needed]
In 1990 Mora returned to live in New Zealand. He performed with opera companies in Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland.[3] He performed roles with New Zealand Opera when he was well into his 70s: Sacristan in Tosca, and Benoît and Alcindoro in La Bohème.[3]
Personal life edit
Mora married Diane South and they had two children.[3]
Mora died on 11 October 2021, aged 80.[1]
Sources edit
References edit
- ^ a b Blackwell, Adam (15 October 2021). "Remembering renowned opera singer Barry Mora". Manawatū Standard. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ^ "Barry Mora death notice". New Zealand Herald. 16 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Obituary: Barry Mora, consummate singer who made his name in opera houses around Europe". Stuff. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
 | This article about an opera singer from New Zealand is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |