 Philip Sheffield studied English Literature at Cambridge University and then voice at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music before making his professional debut as a soloist in L’incoronazione di Poppea in Brussels at the Théâtre de la Monnaie.
2012/13 projects include Reverend Adams in Peter Grimes (production David Alden) in Oviedo, Jacob Schmidt in Mahagonny in Athens at he Megeron and a new production by Robert Carsen of House of the Dead in Strasbourg. In 2010/11 operatic work has included Tichon in Katya Kabanova at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, The tell-tale Heart by Stewart Copeland for the Royal Opera, Peter Grimes for The Vlaamse Opera, The King and other roles in Robert Carsen’s famous production of Candide in Osaka and Tokyo. He also premiered Michael Berkeley and Ian McEwan’s new opera, For You, in Rome.
In previous seasons he has performed Tom Rakewell in Robert Lapage's new production of The Rakes Progress at La Monnaie; Candide at La Scala, Milan; The Prince in Das Märchen at the Teatro San Carlos, Lisbon; Edward IV in Giorgio Batistelli’s opera Richard III (production Robert Carsen) in Strasbourg and for the Vlaamse Opera. He also took the leading tenor role in Jonathan Dove’s new opera Kwasi and Kwame for OT Rotterdam, performed the role of Eisenstein (Fledermaus) at The Concertgebouw/Amsterdam and Flagey/Brussels. He performed Bach’s Johannes Passion on tour with Paul Dombrecht and the orchestra “Il Fondamento”, and performed Haydn's Die Schöpfung in Firenze, Siena and Perugia with the “Orchestra della Toscana”.
As a concert singer Philip is a highly regarded Evangelist in both the St John and St. Matthew Passions as well as a renowned interpreter of Britten’s music and especially the War Requiem. He has appeared regularly in international concert halls including the Concertgebouw, Berlin Philharmonie, De Singel, Symphony Hall Birmingham to name but a few. Forthcoming concerts include The Dream of Gerontius in Ripon Cathedral and Coronation Ode in The Barbican.
Other career highlights include singing the role of Pelleas at the Opera Comique in Paris (Georges Prêtre), Don Ottavio (under Leopold Hager), the lead role of Terry Bond in Playing Away for Opera North and The Munich Biennale, performances of Britten’s War Requiem to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War 2 at the Berlin Philharmonie, Serenade for tenor horn and strings in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Britten’s Nocturne in the Berlin Philharmonie.
Philip has sung over 70 roles at venues including The Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Nederlandse Opera, Vlaamse Opera, English National Opera, Opera North, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Teatro San Carlos, Teatro Colon, Staatsteater Saarbrücken, Opera du Rhin (Strasbourg), Opera Comique (Paris), Opera de Nantes, München Biennale and the Savonlinna Festival in Finland. He has created roles with prominent composers such as Jonathan Dove, Alexander Goehr, Hans Jurgen Von Bose, Ben Mason, Michael Berkeley, Elena Firsova and Nicola Lefanu.
He has performed many world creations with leading orchestras in the contemporary field including the London Sinfonietta, Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.
CV-update: Season 2011/2012 |
