Russell Painter

Russell gained his BMus and MMus at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama to study voice on an unconditional place under the tutelage of Mr Ian Kennedy. After leaving college Russell has made his mark as a freelance singer up and down the country and on the continent and is in great demand. Opera credits include Tamino (The Magic Flute), Title role in Albert Herring, Pedrillo (The Abduction from the Seraglio), Don Basillio (The Marriage of Figaro), Don Jose (Carmen), Count Almaviva (The Barber of Seville) Gaston (La Traviata) and the second brother in the world premiere of Laurence Roman’s Isabella and the Pot of Basil at Covent Garden and Buxton. Which in turn was recorded under the LR record label. Choral works include Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Nelson Mass & The Seasons, Charpentier’s Messe De Minuit & Te Deum, Gounod’s Messe Solennelle,Haazen’s Missa Luba, Mozart’s Requiem, Vesperae Solennes & Coronation Mass, Rossini’s Petite Messe, Stainer’s Crucifixion,Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, Britten’s St Nicholas, Mendelssohn’s Elijah Orff’s Carmina Burana and numerous Bach cantatas and passions singing the role of the Evangelist. Russell has a very keen interest in the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, going so far as to write his Masters thesis on their life and music. He has performed many of the principal tenor roles across the Savoy opera range including The Defendant, Marco, Frederic, Hilarion, Ralph, Duke, Captain Fitzbattleaxe, Richard Dauntless, Earl Tolloller, Duke, Alexis, Nanki-Poo and Box. His recital work is also recognized in other fields of English music, most recently song settings of the poetry of Housman in “The Blue Remembered Hills” for the Worcester festival. Earlier this year Russell was very privileged to work with the Elgar society of Bristol to perform rare and previously unheard songs by the composer. Russell is also a fellow of the London College of Music (FLCM). Next sessions highlights include Evangelist in St john Passion in Bordeaux and recording of lesser known Elgar songs.