| Biography | Raymond Nillson was born in Sydney, Australia, on May 26, 1915, the son of a merchant marine captain who was also a concert pianist, Mr. Nilsson showed early musical promise as an award- winning chorister at the age of 14 at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
Also a world-class athlete, Mr. Nilsson was a member of the Australian national rugby team as a young man. Initially trained as an architect, Mr. Nilsson was educated in Australia and England at Sydney University, Brighton College and London University.
After graduating, he joined the faculty of Sydney University and taught architecture for a year before winning a scholarship to study music and voice at the New South Wales State Conservatory.
His singing career was launched in 1939, when, at 24, he won the prestigious Australian National Operatic Contest.
He won the competition again as a tenor in 1945 -- the year another famed Australian singer, Joan Sutherland -- won it as a soprano.
Twelve years later, Mr. Nilsson performed as Arturo in Sutherland's debut as Lucia di Lammermoor at the Royal Opera House in London. After serving with Australian Army Intelligence during World War II, Mr. Nilsson traveled to London and joined the Carl Rosa Opera Company, the Sadler's Wells Company and, in 1953, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.
In 1957, he was honored by the British royal family for his 500th performance as Don Jose in Bizet's "Carmen" -- an opera that he also recorded many times for London Records.
Two years later, he was honored with a command performance at Covent Garden for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, marking his record run as Rodolfo in Puccini's "La Boheme."
Over the years, performing in guest artist roles at opera houses around the world, Mr. Nilsson sang with every renowned diva of the mid-20th century, including Maria Callas, Leontyne Price, Elizabeth Schwartzkopf, Marilyn Horne and Pilar Lorengar.
He was a principal tenor in the San Francisco Opera Company from 1961 to 1973, performing in a variety of roles, including his debut as Lionel in Flutow's "Martha," Rodolfo in "La Boheme," and lead roles in "Madama Butterfly," "Blood Moon," "Die Meistersinger," "The Masked Ball," "The Turn of the Screw," "Christopher Columbus" and "Fidelio."
Mr. Nilsson retired from his international singing career in 1973, and joined the faculty of San Jose State University as a professor of music, but he continued to perform locally with the Peninsula Symphony and gave recitals until 1985. |