Metropolitan Opera singer John Macurdy died May 7 in Stamford, Connecticut as a result of natural causes at the age of 91.
Macurdy spent nearly forty years at The Met; the bass performed in over 1,000 productions during his career. He also gave performances in Paris, Milan, and Salzburg.
Among his most notable performances were the world premiere performances in “Wuthering Heights”, “Six Characters in Search of an Author”, “The Golem”, “Antony and Cleopatra”, and “Morning Becomes Electra”. Macurdy performed over 60 characters while at The Met. He gave his final performance at The Met in 2000.
Macurdy, Leontyne Price, and Cesare Siepi were among the performers to appear in the NBC Opera Theatre production of “Don Giovanni” in 1960.
Macurdy also appeared in the television productions of “Les Contes d’Hoffmann”, “Les Troyens”, “Tannhauser”, “Lohengrin”, and the television series “Directions”. He provided the singing voice of “Massimo Foschi” in “Otello” in 1986.
John Macurdy was born on March 18, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan. A young John studied voice before enlisting in the United States Air Force and worked as a radar instructor. Sergeant Macurdy was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi when he did some vocal coaching in New Orleans. It was there that New Orleans Opera conductor Walter Herbert discovered Macurdy. He made is performance debut in New Orleans in 1952. He made is New York City Opera debut in 1959 and his Met debut in 1962.
Macurdy is survived by his wife of over 60 years Justine, children John and Allison, and two grandchildren.
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