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Opera singer Peter dies, 80
ONE of the most acclaimed classical singers that Sheffield has ever produced has died.
The operatic baritone Peter Glossop - one of the classical world's most famous singers in the 1960s and 70s - died aged 80.
From the backstreets of Wadsley he rose to become the only Englishman to have sung Verdi's great tragic baritone roles at La Scala in Milan - which one commentator compared to having an Italian opening the batting for England at Headingley.
Such was his popularity in Italy at the height of his fame that he was once described as the most popular Briton there after James Bond.
He was one of the pre-eminent baritones of the 60s and 70s and specialised in some of the most famous roles in the repetoire.
Peter was born on July 6 1928 on Milden Road, Wadsley, where he had a tough introduction to life.
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His father Cyril was a manager at a cutlery factory, but died of tuberculosis when Peter was five. His elder brother Harry was struck down with the same illness at the age of 16, and a sister, Doreen, later contracted it. Peter's mother landed secretarial work at the Lyceum Theatre and by the age of 13 High Storrs Grammar School pupil Peter was being smuggled in to see every visiting show.
"I went to see Rigoletto and I was thrilled," he later recalled. "I was completely taken over by opera."
After National Service he joined the National Provincial Bank in Sheffield as a clerk and also sang with Sheffield Operatic Society, making his stage debut with them as Dr Coppelius in Tales of Hoffman in 1949.
Eventually he joined the Sadler's Wells chorus in 1952 where he honed his skills and was rewarded when he won the first prize at the first International Competition for Young Opera Singers in Bulgaria in 1961.
He became one of the few British singers successfully to blaze a trail abroad.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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