British opera singer, leader

Richard Van Allan, 73, a British bass-baritone who was a commanding presence on the world’s opera stages, died Dec. 4 in London, according to the National Opera Studio, which he directed from 1986 to 2001. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer two years ago, the Guardian newspaper reported.

His roles included Pooh-Bah in Jonathan Miller’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” at English National Opera.

Born Alan Jones on May 28, 1935, he was a miner’s son who grew up in central England. He had his first major role at Britain’s Glyndebourne Festival in 1967 in Francesco Cavalli’s “L’Ormindo.” He had the lead role in “Don Giovanni” with the Sadler’s Wells opera in 1969, and made his debut at London’s Royal Opera in 1971 as the Mandarin in “Turandot.”

The Count in “Manon” was Van Allan’s debut role at New York’s Metropolitan Opera in 1987.