Sir Donald McIntyre, commanding Wagnerian bass-baritone, dies at 91

Sir Donald McIntyre, the New Zealand bass-baritone whose authoritative presence and incisive musicianship made him one of the major Wagner interpreters of his generation, died on 13 November in Munich. He was 91.

Early years and first steps on the international stage
Born in Auckland on 22 October 1934, McIntyre studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London. His professional debut came in 1959, singing Zaccaria in Nabucco with Welsh National Opera. In 1964 he appeared in the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti’s Martin’s Lie at the Bath International Music Festival, and that same year sang at Covent Garden.

A defining presence at Bayreuth
McIntyre made his Bayreuth Festival debut in 1967, beginning a relationship with the Green Hill that would last until 1990. His most emblematic role there was Wotan in the 1976 Centenary Ring, directed by Patrice Chéreau and conducted by Pierre Boulez — a production now regarded as a landmark in opera staging. Bayreuth highlighted not only his Wotan and Wanderer, but also his Kurwenal, Amfortas and Klingsor, roles in which he brought both dramatic intelligence and vocal authority.

Metropolitan Opera, La Scala and a global career
Internationally, McIntyre appeared at Teatro alla Scala, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and the Metropolitan Opera, where he debuted in 1975 as Wotan in Das Rheingold. His repertoire spanned major Wagnerian roles in Der fliegende Holländer, Parsifal and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. In 1982, he received a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording for Boulez’s Ring, in which he sang Wotan and the Wanderer.

A legacy rooted in artistry and integrity
Colleagues and administrators remembered him as a generous mentor and a central presence in Bayreuth’s artistic life. His integrity, professionalism and deep sense of character shaped generations of Wagner performance. McIntyre’s passing closes a significant chapter in the interpretation of Wagner’s music, with his Wotan — intense, human and sharply drawn — remaining one of the defining portrayals of the late 20th century.