Peter Hemmings
Encyclopedia
Peter Hemmings OBE was an English Opera
administrator, impresario
and singer
.
As a singer, he was an accomplished chorister in his youth and had a fine bass voice
.
He began his administrative career as President of the Cambridge University
Opera Group. That company's success lead to the founding of the New Opera Company in 1957 with Hemmings as general manager. In 1966, he became the chief administrator of the Scottish Opera
, a position he held for almost 20 years. In 1977, he was appointed general manager of the Australian Opera
, but clashed with the music director, Richard Bonynge
. In that difficult time his most significant contribution to opera in Australia was the commissioning of the opera Voss
from Richard Meale
. After that unpleasantness, he managed the London Symphony Orchestra
for four years, then accepted a position as the general manager of the Los Angeles Opera
in 1984.. He remained the company's general manager until he returned to the UK in 2000 to take up a position on the board
of the Royal Opera
. He was survived by his wife Jane née Kearnes, two daughters, two sons and one stepdaughter.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
administrator, impresario
Impresario
An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...
and singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
.
As a singer, he was an accomplished chorister in his youth and had a fine bass voice
Bass (voice type)
A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
.
He began his administrative career as President of the Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
Opera Group. That company's success lead to the founding of the New Opera Company in 1957 with Hemmings as general manager. In 1966, he became the chief administrator of the Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera is the national opera company of Scotland, and one of the five national performing arts companies funded by the Scottish Government...
, a position he held for almost 20 years. In 1977, he was appointed general manager of the Australian Opera
Opera Australia
Opera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House runs for approximately eight months of the year, with the remainder of its time spent in the The Arts Centre in Melbourne...
, but clashed with the music director, Richard Bonynge
Richard Bonynge
Richard Alan Bonynge, AO, CBE is an Australian conductor and pianist.Bonynge was born in Sydney and educated at Sydney Boys High School before studying piano at the Royal College of Music in London. He gave up his music scholarship, continuing his private piano studies, and became a coach for...
. In that difficult time his most significant contribution to opera in Australia was the commissioning of the opera Voss
Voss (opera)
Voss is an opera by Australian composer Richard Meale with libretto by David Malouf. It is an adaptation of Patrick White's novel of the same name...
from Richard Meale
Richard Meale
Richard Graham Meale, AM, MBE was an Australian composer of instrumental works and operas.-Biography:Meale was born in Sydney and studied piano with Winifred Burston at the NSW State Conservatorium of Music, as well as clarinet, harp, music history and theory, before studying at the University of...
. After that unpleasantness, he managed the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
for four years, then accepted a position as the general manager of the Los Angeles Opera
Los Angeles Opera
The Los Angeles Opera is an opera company in Los Angeles, California. It is the fourth largest opera company in the United States. The company's home base is the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, part of the Los Angeles Music Center.-Current leadership:...
in 1984.. He remained the company's general manager until he returned to the UK in 2000 to take up a position on the board
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Royal Opera
Royal Opera, London
The Royal Opera is an opera company based in central London, resident at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Along with the English National Opera, it is one of the two principal opera companies in London. Founded in 1946 as the Covent Garden Opera Company, it was known by that title until 1968...
. He was survived by his wife Jane née Kearnes, two daughters, two sons and one stepdaughter.