Derek Welton

Derek Welton
© Eduardus Lee
Derek Welton
© Eduardus Lee
Mahler 8 in Perth, Australia

Derek returned to Perth, Western Australia in September 2024 to be part of the first performance of Mahler’s Symphony No 8 in the state, performed by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Asher Fisch. It was Derek’s début in the role of Pater Profundus.   The performances were highly praised by the […]

Bayreuth Parsifal released by Deutsche Grammophon: Welton as Amfortas

Deutsche Grammophon’s video and audio recording of Wagner’s Parsifal from the 2023 Bayreuth Festival was released yesterday, 28 June 2024.   Derek Welton features as Amfortas and is joined by Andreas Schager as Parsifal, Elīna Garanča as Kundry, Georg Zeppenfeld as Gurnemanz and Jordan Shanahan as Klingsor.   The recording is available for listening on […]

Welton’s stage début as Walküre-Wotan also critically acclaimed
Derek Welton — Wotan

Derek Welton’s stage début as Wotan in Die Walküre in May 2024, in Stefan Herheim’s staging at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, conducted by Nicholas Carter and Sir Donald Runnicles, was also acclaimed by the press:   ‘Derek Welton’s Wotan came across as perhaps more tightly, certainly more darkly, focused; that is perhaps in part a […]

Critical acclaim for Derek Welton’s début as Wotan in Die Walküre

Derek Welton’s recent début in the role of Wotan in Wagner’s Die Walküre has been met with critical acclaim. Reviews of the performances include:   ‘Derek Welton is unsurpassable as Wotan.’ – Kölner Stadtanzeiger   ‘Derek Welton is at home in the Wagner world and is a welcome guest in the great bass-baritone roles at […]

Rehearsals begin for Die Walküre in Dresden

Following his house début at the Teatro Real Madrid in January, Derek worked for the first time with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Gustavo Gimeno, performing and recording Stravinsky’s Pulcinella, which will be released on the Harmonia Mundi label. Yesterday he began rehearsals in Dresden of Wagner’s Die Walküre with the Dresden Festival Orchestra and Concerto Köln, conducted […]

Reviews of Elijah
Derek Welton – Elijah

Derek Welton’s performances in the title role of Elijah have been critically acclaimed by the press:   ‘The splendid hero turns out to be Derek Welton. The Australian baritone dominates the overwhelming title role and infuses it with all the colours of the Lieder singer that he also is.’ – Classique News   ‘The baritone Derek […]

Photos of Elijah
Derek Welton – Elijah

Some impressions of Calixto Bieito’s visually spectacular production of Mendelssohn’s Elijah, which opened last night (17 December) at the Opéra de Lyon (photos © Bertrand Stofleth | Opéra de Lyon):  

Rehearsals for Elijah in Lyon begin
Derek Welton – Elijah © Opéra de Lyon | Nicky Bruckert

Rehearsals have begun at the Opéra de Lyon of Mendelssohn’s Elijah (Elias), sung in German in a staging by Calixto Bieito and conducted by Constantin Trinks.   Derek sings the title role and is joined by Tamara Banješević, Kai Rüütel-Pajula, Robert Lewis, Beth Taylor, Giulia Scopelliti, Pete Thanapat and Thandiswa Mpongwana.   Originally a production of […]

Season 2023/2024

After a break following his performances as Amfortas at the Bayreuth Festival in summer 2023, Derek commences his 2023/2024 season with performances of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in November, before joining rehearsals of Mendelssohn’s Elijah at the Opéra de Lyon, where he sings the title role.   In January and […]

Parsifal at the Bayreuth Festival
Derek Welton – Amfortas

Some impressions of Derek’s performances as Amfortas in Wagner’s final opera, Parsifal, at the Bayreuth Festival this summer:     ‘Derek Welton demonstrates great class as Amfortas: a deathly ill king with a wonderfully healthy voice.’ – BR Klassik   ‘Derek Welton impresses as Amfortas with his clarity and presence’ – Süddeutsche Zeitung   ‘Derek Welton […]