Former Opera Star Dies At Age 77

Thomas Hayward, a leading tenor at the Metropolitan Opera during the 1940s and 1950s, died on Thursday at his home. He was 77.

Hayward first became known to opera audiences in 1945, when he was one of two winners in the “Metropolitan Opera Presents” auditions. The victory earned him $1,000, as well as a contract. As a lyric tenor, he sang with the Met for 14 years and had leading roles in “Madama Butterfly,” “La Traviata,” “Rigoletto”, and “Faust.”

Hayward had more than 400 concert performances with major symphony orchestras.