Peter Baillie

Born in England, Baillie came to New Zealand as a child. After vocal studies in Australia and New Zealand, he started his career in both countries in the early 1960s (New Zealand Opera, Elizabethan Trust Opera in Sydney). From 1966 to 1988, he was a member of the Vienna Volksoper. Guest appearances at the Glyndebourne, Wexford and Salzburg Festivals, at the Vienna Staatsoper and in Toulon. In 1990, he went back to New Zealand, where he remained active as a singer until at least 1995.

Initially a lyrical tenor, he specialized in buffo parts during his time at the Vienna Volksoper. Thus, his repertory included Ferrando, Tamino, Tito, Faust (Gounod), Ernesto, Albert Herring, both Jeník and Vašek, Don Basilio (Nozze), Malcolm, Lorenzo (Fra Diavolo), the four Servants (Contes d'Hoffmann), Monostatos, Nando, Junker Spärlich (Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor)...

Reference: Kutsch & Riemens; picture source: Theatermusesum, Wien