John-Shirley Quirk
British Bass-Baritone John Shirley-Quirk died yesterday at the age of 83. He was born on 28 August 1931 in Liverpool. He studied singing and violin, but first not to engage himself in a musical career. While studying chemistry and physics at Liverpool University, he studied voice with Austen Carnegie, finally giving the priority to music.
He made his operatic debut in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande at the Glyndebourne Festival in 1961, was a member of the English Opera Group from 1964 – 1976, and was thus prominent in performing and recording the operatic and vocal works of Benjamin Britten.
He appeared regularly with major orchestras and opera companies throughout the world and has a vast discography.
