Country

:

Canada

Birth

:

January 30, 1960 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Gerald Finley is a Canadian bass-baritone opera singer and recitalist who has established himself as one of the most sought-after performers of his generation. Born on January 30, 1960, in Montreal, Quebec, Finley grew up in Ottawa, where he began his musical studies at an early age. He attended the University of Ottawa, where he earned a degree in music, and later studied at the Royal College of Music in London. Finley's career began in the early 1980s, when he made his debut with the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto. He quickly gained recognition for his powerful voice and commanding stage presence, and soon began performing with some of the world's leading opera companies, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Paris Opera. Over the course of his career, Finley has performed a wide range of roles, from Mozart's Figaro to Wagner's Wotan. He has also been praised for his interpretations of contemporary works, including the title role in Mark-Anthony Turnage's "The Silver Tassie" and the lead role in Kaija Saariaho's "L'Amour de Loin." One of Finley's most notable performances came in 2008, when he starred in the world premiere of John Adams' "Doctor Atomic" at the San Francisco Opera. The opera, which tells the story of the Manhattan Project and the creation of the atomic bomb, was a critical and commercial success, and Finley's performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer was widely praised. In addition to his work in opera, Finley is also a highly regarded recitalist, known for his interpretations of lieder and art songs. He has recorded several albums of this repertoire, including "Schumann: Dichterliebe" and "Songs by Samuel Barber." Throughout his career, Finley has received numerous awards and honors for his work. In 2014, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to music. He has also been awarded the Gramophone Award for Best Solo Vocal Album twice, for his recordings of Schubert's "Winterreise" and "Songs by Samuel Barber." Despite his many accomplishments, Finley remains committed to his craft and continues to perform regularly around the world. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest bass-baritones of his generation, and his powerful voice and commanding stage presence continue to captivate audiences everywhere he performs.

More....