Draft:Archie Drake

Archie Drake was born in 1925 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. At age 15 he left home to work at sea, following his family's maritime tradition.^[1] During World War II, he served as a deckhand in the Merchant Navy^[2]. After the war, while posted in Vancouver, British Columbia, he became involved with local choirs, which helped him begin formal vocal training.^[1]

He was encouraged by Lotte Lehmann at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California to pursue a career in Opera.^[2] Early in his career, he sang with the Roger Wagner Chorale, giving more than 500 performances globally.^[1]

Drake made his operatic debut in 1968 with San Francisco Opera, in Puccini’s Rondine, playing the role of Rambaldo. That same year, Seattle Opera's general director, Glynn Ross, invited him to perform in Fidelio (in both German and English versions). In 1969, he became a permanent resident artist with Seattle Opera.^[1]

Over his Seattle Opera career, he sang 109 different roles in more than 1,000 performances spanning 39 seasons.^[2] Some notable roles and appearances:

• Of Mice and Men (world premiere, 1970) — as Candy. ^[2]
• In Richard Wagner operas: Wotan in Die Walküre, Gunther in Götterdämmerung, etc. ^[1]
• In The Marriage of Figaro, over the years he sang various bass roles (Figaro, Dr. Bartolo, Antonio) as he aged.^[3]
• In Macbeth toward the very end of his career, he played the small role of the Doctor.

In May 2006, after performing on stage in Macbeth (his final performance), Drake was taken home by an opera volunteer. On several occasions, he expressed concern about whether he would "make it through" the production. On Friday, the next-to-last night of the run, Drake sat backstage and told fellow singer Byron Ellis that "all I need is 30 more hours." He suffered a myocardial infarction and died after being rushed to hospital, without regaining consciousness. He was 81. He had lived in the Queen Anne neighbourhood in Seattle for 68 years.^[1]

After his death, Seattle Opera's general director, Speight Jenkins, referred to him as the “Soul of Seattle Opera”, lauding his longevity, stage presence, and service. ^[2] His colleagues admired his dedication as he was known for rarely missing rehearsals or performances.^[1] Drake is survived by one niece and four nephews in Britain.^[1]

Drake was a direct descendant of Edward Drake, brother of English explorer and privateer, Sir Francis Drake.