Birth

:

August 3, 1959 in London, England

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Simon Keenlyside is a renowned British baritone who has established himself as one of the most versatile and accomplished singers of his generation. Born on August 3, 1959, in London, England, Keenlyside grew up in a musical family and was exposed to classical music from an early age. His father, Raymond Keenlyside, was a noted violinist and conductor, while his mother, Ann, was a pianist and music teacher. Keenlyside began his musical training as a chorister at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he sang in the choir and studied music. He later attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he studied voice with John Cameron and piano with Ryszard Bakst. After completing his studies, Keenlyside made his professional debut in 1985 as Papageno in Mozart's "The Magic Flute" at the English National Opera. Over the next few years, Keenlyside established himself as a rising star in the opera world, performing in a wide range of roles at major opera houses around the world. Some of his most notable performances during this period included his portrayal of Count Almaviva in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" at the Royal Opera House in London, his portrayal of Don Giovanni in Mozart's "Don Giovanni" at the Glyndebourne Festival, and his portrayal of the title role in Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. In addition to his opera work, Keenlyside also became known for his performances in concert and recital settings. He has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He has also given recitals at major venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York and the Wigmore Hall in London. Throughout his career, Keenlyside has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1992, he was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Singer of the Year award, and in 2003, he was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera. He has also been awarded the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to music. One of Keenlyside's most notable performances came in 2008, when he portrayed the title role in Mozart's "Don Giovanni" at the Royal Opera House in London. The production, directed by Francesca Zambello, was widely praised for its innovative staging and Keenlyside's powerful performance. The Guardian called Keenlyside's portrayal of Don Giovanni "a triumph of acting and singing," while The Times praised his "magnetic stage presence" and "rich, dark baritone." In recent years, Keenlyside has continued to perform at major opera houses and concert venues around the world. Some of his most notable performances in recent years have included his portrayal of Prospero in Thomas Adès's "The Tempest" at the Metropolitan Opera, his portrayal of the title role in Verdi's "Falstaff" at the Royal Opera House, and his performance in a concert version of Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde" with the Berlin Philharmonic. Despite his many accomplishments, Keenlyside remains humble and dedicated to his craft. In an interview with The Guardian, he said, "I'm still learning. I'm still trying to get better.

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