Forbes Robinson

Forbes Robinson was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, in May 1926 and studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London. He made his début at Covent Garden in 1954 as Monterone in *Rigoletto* — a relatively small role in which his dark, resonant bass voice and clear English projection nevertheless made an immediate impression. He became a Covent Garden principal bass and remained associated with the house for the rest of his career.

His central repertoire encompassed the standard bass roles of the Italian, Mozart and Wagner operatic repertoire — Sarastro, Banquo in *Macbeth*, Don Basilio in *Il barbiere di Siviglia*, the King in *Aida*, Padre Guardiano in *La forza del destino*, Pogner in *Die Meistersinger* — alongside an important body of contemporary British work. He created the title role in the world premiere of Tippett’s *King Priam* (Covent Garden, 1962), and parts in operas by Britten, Maxwell Davies, Maw and Bennett. He also sang Boris Godunov, King Mark in *Tristan*, and the title role in Boito’s *Mefistofele*.

Robinson was appointed CBE in 1979. He died in London in May 1987 of cancer. Music Preserved’s archive includes a range of his Covent Garden and contemporary British work.