Robert Hale

Operatic bass-baritone Robert Hale was born on August 22, 1933, in Kerrville, Texas. He is best known for a repertoire that includes Wagner’s operas as well as baroque music and modern opera. He grew up in Louisiana but moved with his family to Oklahoma, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1955 from Bethany-Peniel College. He then earned his master’s degree at University of Oklahoma, where he also won the Singer of the Year award from the National Association of Teachers of Singing. He also studied at Boston University and New England Conservatory of Music and won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. In 1965, Robert Hale made his operatic debut appearing in the title role of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. Two years later, he performed in Puccini’s La bohème at the New York City Opera, where he remained for the next 10 years. While at the New York City Opera, he performed in many productions including Donizetti's Anna Bolena, Mozart's Don Giovanni, Bizet's Carmen, Chabrier's Louise, and many others. In the mid-1960s, Robert Hale formed the duo Hale & Wilder with tenor Dean Wilder and recorded several albums of sacred music duets including Now Praise God and Sing! (1967), A Song of Love (1970), America (1974), Joy to the World (1976), and Jesus, The Very Thought of Thee (1982). After the duo stopped recording together in 1983, he returned to performing and recording in production such as Handel’s Messiah (1983), by John Eliot Gardiner. He also expanded his international career and performed roles in Wagner-composed productions in countries including Germany and Switzerland. His recorded works in the 1990s included several operas composed by Wagner including Der Fliegende Halländer (1994), Das Rheingold (1995), and Die Walküre (1997). Robert Hale expanded his repertoire with recordings such as Strauss’ Salome with Inga Nielsen (1999). He continued to perform all around the world including cities such as Moscow, London, Vienna, Milan, Barcelona, and New York. In 2009, he toured with his wife, soprano Julie Davies, in a show entitled Hale & Davies: Celebration of Song. On August 23, 2023, Robert Hale died just one day after his 90th birthday.

Please enable Javascript to view this page competely.