John Tomlinson as Wotan
Drawing
1990s (made)
1990s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Pencil drawings by Ken Howard (obverse and reverse) of the opera singer John Tomlinson as Wotan in Wagner's Ring Cycle, signed by the artist and dedicated to Tony and Susan Gasson.
British operatic bass John Tomlinson (b.1946) first sang Wotan in his debut at Wagner’s Bayreuth Festspielhaus in 1988. He was Bayreuth’s Wotan for five years (1988-1992) in the Ring cycle directed by Harry Kupfer, and again in a new production by Alfred Kirchner (1994-1998) - a record number of performances in the role there. He has also sung it in Berlin, Munich and Vienna, and at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in productions by Richard Jones (1994-1996) and Keith Warner (2005 and 2007). It is the role with which he is most closely associated. On-line journal MusicalCriticism.com called Tomlinson ‘the leading Wotan of his generation’ (September 2006).
Ken Howard’s sketches show two aspects of Wotan – as the Wanderer in Siegfried, disguised in hat and coat, and as a more aristocratic figure. The drawings are dedicated to ‘Tony and Susan’, opera lover Anthony Gasson and his wife. Anthony Gasson (died 2012) was an enthusiastic collector of opera memorabilia and items from his collection have been acquired by the V&A.
British operatic bass John Tomlinson (b.1946) first sang Wotan in his debut at Wagner’s Bayreuth Festspielhaus in 1988. He was Bayreuth’s Wotan for five years (1988-1992) in the Ring cycle directed by Harry Kupfer, and again in a new production by Alfred Kirchner (1994-1998) - a record number of performances in the role there. He has also sung it in Berlin, Munich and Vienna, and at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in productions by Richard Jones (1994-1996) and Keith Warner (2005 and 2007). It is the role with which he is most closely associated. On-line journal MusicalCriticism.com called Tomlinson ‘the leading Wotan of his generation’ (September 2006).
Ken Howard’s sketches show two aspects of Wotan – as the Wanderer in Siegfried, disguised in hat and coat, and as a more aristocratic figure. The drawings are dedicated to ‘Tony and Susan’, opera lover Anthony Gasson and his wife. Anthony Gasson (died 2012) was an enthusiastic collector of opera memorabilia and items from his collection have been acquired by the V&A.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | John Tomlinson as Wotan (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil on paper |
| Brief description | Pencil drawings by Ken Howard (obverse and reverse) of the opera singer John Tomlinson as Wotan, undated, signed by the artist |
| Physical description | Three-quarter length pencil drawing of John Tomlinson as Wotan in the guise of the Wanderer in coat and hat, with an eye patch over his left eye. He holds a thick staff with both hands. Signed by the artist and dedicated to Tony and Susan, lower right hand corner. On the reverse, a second three-quarter length pencil drawing of John Tomlinson in a long robe, again with eye patch and staff, signed by the artist. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Acquired with the support of the Friends of the V&A |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Pencil drawings by Ken Howard (obverse and reverse) of the opera singer John Tomlinson as Wotan in Wagner's Ring Cycle, signed by the artist and dedicated to Tony and Susan Gasson. British operatic bass John Tomlinson (b.1946) first sang Wotan in his debut at Wagner’s Bayreuth Festspielhaus in 1988. He was Bayreuth’s Wotan for five years (1988-1992) in the Ring cycle directed by Harry Kupfer, and again in a new production by Alfred Kirchner (1994-1998) - a record number of performances in the role there. He has also sung it in Berlin, Munich and Vienna, and at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in productions by Richard Jones (1994-1996) and Keith Warner (2005 and 2007). It is the role with which he is most closely associated. On-line journal MusicalCriticism.com called Tomlinson ‘the leading Wotan of his generation’ (September 2006). Ken Howard’s sketches show two aspects of Wotan – as the Wanderer in Siegfried, disguised in hat and coat, and as a more aristocratic figure. The drawings are dedicated to ‘Tony and Susan’, opera lover Anthony Gasson and his wife. Anthony Gasson (died 2012) was an enthusiastic collector of opera memorabilia and items from his collection have been acquired by the V&A. |
| Bibliographic reference | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1718-2014 |
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| Record created | October 28, 2014 |
| Record URL |
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