JOHN FANNING
RUBY RECIPIENT
In a profession known for its impermanence, Canadian baritone John Fanning is longevity personified. From his debut in 1980 in the small role of the Commissioner in La Traviata for Opera Hamilton, to his last public performance, his unofficial farewell, in a recital just this past May, a month before his 68th birthday, Fanning enjoyed an enviable career spanning an astounding 42 years.
Throughout his career, Fanning was known for his beautiful, warm baritone, solid technique, fine musicianship, dependability—“I never ever canceled”—collegiality, and as an all-round nice guy. A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and University of Toronto, Fanning’s repertoire ran the gamut, from opera,
