Steve Davislim, the renowned operatic tenor, passed away “after a prolonged illness” last Sunday, August 11. He was 57.
Born in Malaysia to a Chinese father and Irish mother, Davislim moved with his family to Australia shortly after birth. In later years, he settled in Vienna, Austria. In a statement, Davislim’s manager wrote,
Steve was a man of great humanity and keen intellect who possessed a voice of rare beauty and facility. One of Australia’s most successful international artists, Steve was heard around the globe on the stages of the world’s most prestigious opera houses and with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors for over three decades.
Here are three recordings featuring Steve Davislim:
Schubert: Winterreise: Die Post, Op.98
Die Post (“The Post”) is the thirteenth song from Franz Schubert’s Winterreise cycle. The call of the post horn rings out in the piano’s introduction, announcing the arrival of the mail coach. The text is filled with unbridled euphoria: “Why does my heart leap up so? There’s no letter for you! But maybe there’s some news of her?”
This footage was captured during a recording session for Melba Recordings:
Verdi: Falstaff, Dal labbro il canto estasiato vola
This aria (“From the lip the ecstatic song flies”) comes from the second part of Act III of Giuseppe Verdi’s Falstaff. It begins with nocturnal forest murmurs. We hear the far-off horn call of the forest warden. Under the moonlight, Fenton stands by an oak tree and sings of his happiness.
Claudio Abbado led this performance at Teatro Comunale di Ferrara:
Handel: Rodelinda, Io già t’amai
In the opening of the first act of Handel’s 1719 opera, Rodelinda, Grimoaldo, who has defeated Bertarido, King of Lombardy, in a battle and usurped the throne of Milan, boldly declares his love for Rodelinda. She is still grieving her lost husband (Bertarido) when the brash Grimoaldo proposes marriage, and offers her a return to the throne that is rightfully hers.
Recordings
- the complete discography of Steve Davislim
Featured Image: photograph by Rosa Frank
Thank you for presenting Steve Davislim, a beautiful singer who is new to me. Very sad to learn he died so young. I love Schubert’s songs and this rendition touched me to the core!