Vinay, Ramón (1912-1996)

Chilean baritone, later tenor and baritone. He made his debut in 1931, at Mexico City, as Donizetti's Alfonso. He performed baritone roles until 1943, and then sang Don José in Mexico. He was best known as Otello and recorded the role under Toscanini; he also sang the part at La Scala, Milan, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, and Salzburg. He performed in New York at the Metropolitan Opera House (1946-61), and at Bayreuth (1952-57) as Tristan, Tannhäuser, Siegmund, and Parsifal. He returned to sing Telramund there in 1962. Other baritone roles were Iago, Scarpia, and Falstaff.