Classical Music - Sir John Tomlinson

Sir John Tomlinson, who is singing excerpts of the Mussorgsky opera Boris Gudunov this weekend with the Musicians of All Saints and the Brighton Singers, is undoubtedly one of the superstars of the world opera scene. Which is why it’s terribly embarrassing that I miss my slot to talk to him for a pre-arranged phone interview on Friday. In fact it is the bass singer himself, famous for his Wagnerian ‘baddie’ roles, who eventually phones me up, having tracked down my number. A deep, genteel, mellifluous voice greets me, to be met by a flurry of apologies. He waves them aside.

I ask, first, of his Lewes connections, and his impressive CV. “I first moved here in 1970, when I joined the Glyndebourne chorus,” he says, “and have been living here ever since, though I’ve since started singing all over the world. One indication of the work I have been doing is the fact that I’ve been singing in the Bayreuth Festival - an annual celebration of Wagner’s operas in the town he eventually settled in - for the last 18 years. I’ve had the chance to do some wonderful roles: Wotan in The Ring Cycle, Hans Sachs in the Meistersinger, Gurnemanz in Parsifal…”

In 2005 Tomlinson received the ultimate honour for his work, a knighthood. “This was bestowed on me simply for singing all over the world, in Austria, Germany, America, France. I was delighted and honoured to get the tribute.” So did the Queen actually tap both his shoulders with a sword? Does she still do that? “Yes. It was a thrilling experience. And great for opera that singers should be considered for such a privilege.”