Simon Estes
© Paige Peterson/Des Moines Metro Opera
American bass-baritone Simon Estes. 84, has announced his retirement from the opera stage, thus ending a career that spans 60 years. His last performance will be as Lawyer Frazier in Porgy and Bess at Des Moines Metro Opera.
Estes graduated from the University of Iowa and attended Juilliard on a scholarship. He made his debut in « Aida » at the Deutsche Opera in Berlin in 1965. In 1978, he became the first Black male singer to perform at the Bayreuth Festival in German. He performed more than 100 roles in 84 major opera houses.
According to the press release, Estes plans to continue to perform concerts and teach as a Professor at Iowa State University and Des Moines Area Community College.
Simon Estes
© Paige Peterson/Des Moines Metro Opera
