Benedict Nelson

Recently hailed by Rupert Christiansen in the Daily Telegraph as Best Newcomer in his “Opera Highlights of 2009”, British baritone Benedict Nelson is one of the most exciting singers of his generation and is attracting comparisons to Gerlad Finley and Simon Keelyside among others.

Born in London, Nelson studied at the Guildhall school of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio. In 2007 Benedict won second prize in both the Kathleen Ferrier awards and the Guildhall Gold Medal at the tender age of 23.

Still only 26, Benedict has amassed a considerable number of operatic roles, including; Aeneas (Dido and Aeneas), Count Almaviva, Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), Masetto, Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), Sprecher (Die Zauberflote), Marcello (La Boheme), Demetrius (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Sid (Albert Herring), Don Parmenione (L’occasione fa il ladro), Baron Gondremarck (La Vie Parisienne) Christian (Un ballo in maschera), Zurga (Les pêcheurs de perles), Morales (Carmen) and Tarquinius and Junius (Rape of Lucretia). A protegée of Sir Thomas Allen and a Samling Foundation scholar, Benedict is equally enthusiastic about orchestral repertoire and recently made his debut with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Ji?í B?lohlávek singing the Brahms’ Requiem. He has also performed in a variety of prestigious venues including the Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, King’s Place, Snape Maltings, St John’s Smith Square and St Martin-in-the-fields under conductors such as Sir Neville Marriner, David Parry, Bernard Labaie and Thomas Zehetmair.

Other recent performances have included Britten’s Songs and Proverbs of William Blake at Snape Maltings with Malcolm Martineau (recorded in Spring 2010), Silvano Ballo in Maschera for Opera Holland Park, Morales (Carmen) at the Royal Albert Hall, concerts with the Classical Opera Company, Messiah at St Martin in the Fields and Bach Passions with various UK Choral Societies.

Recent and future engagements include Ping Turandot at English National Opera, The Tender Land Opéra de Lyon, the world premiere of The Lion’s Face at the Linbury Studio, Covent Garden and on tour, Tarquinius Rape of Lucretia Opera Nantes, Valentin Faust ENO and his debuts with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Andris Nelsons and with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Andrew Litton.