Baritone Derek Welton
is a graduate of the University of Melbourne, Australia, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree
majoring in German and Linguistics, and of
the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, holding Master of Music (Vocal Studies) and Master of Music Performance (Opera Studies) degrees with Distinction. Having completed the School’s prestigious Opera Course, he is currently a Vocal Department Fellow and remains under the tutelage of internationally acclaimed singing teacher Janice Chapman.Operatic roles Derek has performed include Silvano (Cavalli La Calisto, Early Opera Company), Vertigo (Gluck La rencontre imprévue, Guildhall School), Mozart’s Figaro (Opera East Productions), Count Almaviva (In Good Company, Don Giovanni (Bloomsbury Opera), Masetto, Guglielmo and Papageno (Melbourne Opera Company) and Sprecher (Guildhall School), Mill (Rossini La cambiale di matrimonio, Guildhall School), Salieri’s Falstaff (Opera Otago, New Zealand), Prince/King (Sallinen The King goes forth to France, Guildhall School) and Nick Shadow (Stravinsky The Rake’s Progress, British Youth Opera). Derek is currently involved in The Opera Group’s production of Jonathan Dove The Enchanted Pig (Linbury Theatre and New York and UK tour) and forthcoming roles include Farfarello (and cover Pantalon) in Prokofiev L’amour des trois oranges and Bonzo in Puccini Madama Butterfly at the Grange Park Festival, as well as Creonte in Haydn L’anima del filosofo, ossia Orfeo ed Euridice for Pinchgut Opera (Sydney).
Derek’s numerous competition successes include winning the Handel Singing Competition, the Australian Youth Aria, the Boroondara Eisteddfod Vocal Championship and the Geelong Aria. He has been runner up in the Herald Sun Aria and a finalist in the Kathleen Ferrier Awards, Richard Tauber Prize and the Australian Singing Competition. Derek gratefully acknowledges the support of a Wingate Scholarship.
A sought-after concert artist, Derek has performed as soloist at the Barbican, Bridgewater Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Hamer Hall (Melbourne) and Verbrugghen Hall (Sydney) in the majority of the commonly performed choral repertoire as well as a diverse range of song repertoire. Forthcoming engagements include Beethoven Mass in C major with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Mendelssohn Elijah with the Dundee Choral Union and Handel Messiah for the Early Opera Company in the Wigmore Hall.
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Critical acclaim of Derek Welton’s performances includes the following:
‘Derek Welton, the Nick [Shadow], is a complete artist, odd to find so mature a figure in a youth opera, but one of those performers you can’t take your eyes off when he is onstage.’ (Spectator, 9 September 2009)
‘It also showcased a number of fine performances, none finer than … the baritone Derek Welton’s virile-voiced, authoritative King.’ (Opera, May 2009)
‘It portrays the transformation of the King (grippingly depicted by the fine Australian bass-baritone Derek Welton) from foppish idealist to boozed-up totalitarian monster.’ (The Times, 6 March 2009)
‘Derek Welton’s King sings with immense authority while morphing from infantile monarch to loud-mouthed sadist..’ (Financial Times, 6 March 2009)
‘In my review of the Bach Choir’s Messiah earlier this year I singled out the baritone Derek Welton for particular praise. At last Saturday’s concert Welton was again the star … Welton’s wonderfully controlled and expressive singing, clear enunciation and confident stage presence confirmed that he is a young artist with a great future … Welton’s voice seemed made for this music.’ (Oxford Times, 10 December 2008)
‘The star of the four [soloists] though was the bass, Derek Welton. His expressive singing seemed effortless; the extraordinary voice perfectly controlled, and the effects dramatic. The final air, The Trumpet Shall Sound, was particularly splendid … a wonderfully uplifting expression of hope’ (Oxford Times, 13 March 2008)
‘Rising Australian baritone Derek Welton is majestic in the title role … opulent, authoritative tone, liquid legato, impressive agility and near-flawless English diction combining to create a memorable performance … a natural stage animal in remarkable command of his material who deserves a shining future’ (Prima la musica, poi le parole, 27 March 2006)
‘A voice as rich and dark as the finest chocolate’ (Herald Sun, 24 October 2005)
‘A star in the making’ (The Age, 28 September 2004)
‘It also showcased a number of fine performances, none finer than … the baritone Derek Welton’s virile-voiced, authoritative King.’ (Opera, May 2009)
‘It portrays the transformation of the King (grippingly depicted by the fine Australian bass-baritone Derek Welton) from foppish idealist to boozed-up totalitarian monster.’ (The Times, 6 March 2009)
‘Derek Welton’s King sings with immense authority while morphing from infantile monarch to loud-mouthed sadist..’ (Financial Times, 6 March 2009)
‘In my review of the Bach Choir’s Messiah earlier this year I singled out the baritone Derek Welton for particular praise. At last Saturday’s concert Welton was again the star … Welton’s wonderfully controlled and expressive singing, clear enunciation and confident stage presence confirmed that he is a young artist with a great future … Welton’s voice seemed made for this music.’ (Oxford Times, 10 December 2008)
‘The star of the four [soloists] though was the bass, Derek Welton. His expressive singing seemed effortless; the extraordinary voice perfectly controlled, and the effects dramatic. The final air, The Trumpet Shall Sound, was particularly splendid … a wonderfully uplifting expression of hope’ (Oxford Times, 13 March 2008)
‘Rising Australian baritone Derek Welton is majestic in the title role … opulent, authoritative tone, liquid legato, impressive agility and near-flawless English diction combining to create a memorable performance … a natural stage animal in remarkable command of his material who deserves a shining future’ (Prima la musica, poi le parole, 27 March 2006)
‘A voice as rich and dark as the finest chocolate’ (Herald Sun, 24 October 2005)
‘A star in the making’ (The Age, 28 September 2004)
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