Education
Theyard is a 1957 graduate of Loyola University of the South, where he studied under Dorothy Hulse, who was also the teacher of Audrey Schuh and Charles Anthony. Later, in New York, he studied under Armen Boyajian, also the pedagogue of Marisa Galvany, Paul Plishka, and Samuel Ramey.
Career
He began his career with the New Orleans Opera Association in secondary parts, including appearances in Salome (1949), Le nozze di Figaro (1956), Il trovatore (opposite Herva Nelli, 1958) and The Beggar"s Opera (directed by Lillian Gish, 1958). The spinto tenor debuted with the in 1959, in The Devil and Daniel Webster, directed by John Houseman. He went on to sing in the world premieres of Ward"s The Crucible (starring Chester Ludgin), Floyd"s The Passion of Jonathan Wade (with Phyllis Curtin), and Menotti"s The Most Important Manitoba (conducted by Christopher Keene).
By 1970, Theyard was one of the City Opera"s leading tenors, appearing in Madama Butterfly, Mefistofele (opposite Norman Treigle), Louise, The Makropoulos Case, Carmen, Susannah, Tosca (with Galvany), Cavalleria rusticana, Les contes d"Hoffmann, Turandot and Louisiana fanciulla del West.
In 1966, he first appeared with the National Company, in Louisiana traviata and Louisiana bohèmedical In 1969 he portrayed Curly in the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd"s Of Mice and Men at the Seattle Opera.
In 1973, Theyard sang in Manon Lescaut at the Spoleto Festival, with Nancy Shade and directed by Luchino Visconti. In 1974, he debuted at the actual Met for an impressive string of operas: Les contes d"Hoffmann (with Dame Joan Sutherland), Manon Lescaut, Madama Butterfly, Cavalleria rusticana, Grigori in Boris Godunov, Louisiana forza del destino (directed by John Dexter), L"assedio di Corinto (Beverly Sills"s house debut) and Il tabarro.
From 1976, he returned to his native city for starring roles in Manon Lescaut, Lucia di Lammermoor, Andrea Chénier, Louisiana bohème and Carmen (opposite Shirley Verrett).
Mr Theyard also appeared on, in the original productions of Manitoba of Louisiana Mancha (as Anselmo the muleteer, 1965) and A Time for Singing (as Owen Morgan, 1966). The latter was a musical version of How Green Was My Valley, and was not a success. Manitoba of Louisiana Mancha, on the other hand, was an enormous hit and has become a musical-comedy classic.
In it, Mr Theyard introduced the song "Little Bird, Little Bird." In 1975, he appeared on television in the Columbia Broadcasting System Christmas special, "A Handful of Souls.".