Jess Thomas (August 4, 1927, Hot Springs, South Dakota- October 11, 1993, San Francisco, California) was a lyric and Wagnerian tenor. As a child he took part in various musical activities and later studied psychology at the University of Nebraska and Stanford University. He was awarded the Wagner medal at Bayreuth, Germany in 1963. His many appearances in North America and Europe between the late 1950s and early 80s included 15 seasons in 95 performances of 15 roles at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

Operatic Career

Thomas made his operatic debut in 1957 for the San Francisco Opera performing in Der Rosenkavalier performing as the Haufhofmeister. In 1958, he debuted in the title role of Lohengrin for the Karlsruhe Staatstheater at the commencement of a career in Germany. Thomas appeared as Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos at the Munich Festival.

It was at Bayreuth that he established his reputation as a Wagnerian tenor performing in the following roles:

• Parsifal 1961-63, 1965;
• Lohengrin 1962, 1967;
• Walther in Meistersinger 1963,1969;
• Tannhäuser 1966-67; and
• Siegfried 1969, 1976.

In 1963, he joined the cast of the Metropolitan Opera appearing in 95 performances for 15 years. Amongst the highlights of his career with the Metropolitan Opera was appearing at the opening of the Lincoln Center hall in the first performance of Samuel Barber's Anthony and Cleopatra with Leontyne Price.

Thomas's farewell performance took place in Washington DC in a guest performance of Parsifal by the Metropolitan Opera in 1982.

External Link

• Jess Thomas biography