We have been notified of the death yesterday of David Rendall, a dominant figure at Covent Garden from the late 1970s.
Having sung solo in a Herbert von Karajan Bruckner Te Deum, he went on to perform regularly at the Met and around the world. A congenial, collegial personality, he was principal guest artist at La Scala and the Vienna State Opera.
In the past two decades he suffered persistent ill health following injuries sustained in a stage collapse in Denmark.
Aged 76 at his death, David had a 35-year happy marriage to the mezzo-soprano Diana Montague.
Their son, Huw Montague Rendall, is one of the fastest rising baritones on the present stage. Their daughter, Nell, is lead vovalist at Viva Music.
Diana Montague said: ‘We are deeply saddened at the loss of David. He leaves a big hole in our lives. We are very lucky to have his legacy of beautiful recordings, photographs and, of course, our wonderful family who hold David so dearly in their hearts. David was a tour-de-force and we have lost a great artist, dear friend, loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle. He will stay with us forever in our hearts and in every note we sing.’
He worked with some of the world’s greatest conductors including Bernstein, Barenboim, Levine, Mackerras and Davis. His recordings include Maria Stuarda with Charles Mackerras, La Rondine with Lorin Maazel and the London Symphony Orchestra, Mozart Requiem with Daniel Barenboim and Orchestra de Paris and Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius with Sir Colin Davis and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
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