Oreste Kirkop was born in Ħamrun (Malta) in 1923. Oreste made his operatic debut in 1945 as Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana. He continued singing opera with visiting Italian companies and appeared in concert with Tito Gobbi and Maria Caniglia.

In 1950 he moved to the United Kingdom and sang principal tenor roles with the Carl Rosa Opera Company, later with Sadler's Wells (1952) singing Turiddu, Mario Cavaradossi, and Rodolfo in Luisa Miller. He appeared on BBC TV as Canio in Pagliacci.

In 1954 Kirkop made his Covent Garden debut as the Duke in Rigoletto and later as Rodolfo in La bohème. A contract with Paramount Pictures led to the leading role of François Villon in the 1956 film version of The Vagabond King.

He sang opera at Las Vegas and the Hollywood Bowl and appeared on NBC TV in pioneering productions of Madame Butterfly, La traviata and Rigoletto.

In 1958 he returned to Covent Garden and retired in 1960. He died in his native land on the island of Malta, in 1998.

[edit] Sources

• Biography on All Malta Accessed 19 September 2007
• Oreste Kirkop in IMDB Accessed 19 September 2007

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