SIR SIMON KEENLYSIDE

BARITONE • WORLDWIDE RECITALS

2026/27 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

In opera, this season sees Simon’s Rigoletto at Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, Macbeth at Hamburg State Opera, Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer Doctor Atomic and Giorgio Germont La traviata at the Bayerische Staatsoper, as well as Golaud Pelléas et Mélisande in concert with Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks under Sir Simon Rattle and Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia under Roberto González Monjas. He will give song recitals with pianist Malcolm Martineau at La Monnaie in Brussels, the Vienna State Opera, Paris’s Le Balcon series, Leeds Song Festival and Dortmund, amongst others.

Renowned British baritone Simon Keenlyside was born in London and honed his vocal skills at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Since his debut at the Staatsoper Hamburg, where he portrayed Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Keenlyside has graced the stages of leading opera houses across the globe. His close affiliations include the Metropolitan Opera New York, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, and the Bavarian and Vienna State Operas.

His extensive repertoire encompasses a diverse array of roles, showcasing his versatility and artistry. From Prospero in The Tempest to Posa in Don Carlo, Giorgio Germont in La Traviata, and Papageno in The Magic Flute, Keenlyside has demonstrated his mastery of characters such as Amfortas in Parsifal, Wolfram in Tannhäuser, and Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande. Notable among his portrayals are the title roles in Don Giovanni, Eugene Onegin, Wozzeck, Billy Budd, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Rigoletto.
Recent highlights in opera include Simon’s return to the Royal Opera House as Giorgio Germont in La Traviata; Ford in Falstaff at the Hamburg State Opera; Balstrode in Peter Grimes at the Rome Opera under Michele Mariotti; and the title role in Simon Boccanegra for Grange Park Opera. On the concert stage, highlights included Opera Arias & Duets with the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg at the Salzburg Easter Festival; Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra under Gustavo Dudamel; and Zemlinsky’s Lyrische Sinfonie with the Staatskapelle Berlin.
Beyond the operatic realm, Simon Keenlyside is highly sought after as a recitalist, captivating audiences with his renditions of Lieder and songs. His recitals have resonated in renowned venues such as Wigmore Hall, the Palace of the Arts in Valencia, La Monnaie, Konzerthaus Vienna, and Zurich Opera House.
A frequent guest on the concert stage, Keenlyside collaborates with leading conductors and performs with esteemed orchestras, including the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, City of Birmingham Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Cleveland Orchestra. He has graced the stages of the Czech, Vienna, and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras.
Simon Keenlyside’s discography is a testament to his musical prowess, featuring recordings of Schumann Lieder with Graham Johnson, four recital discs with Malcolm Martineau showcasing Schubert, Strauss, and Brahms Lieder, and a collection of English songs titled Songs of War, which earned the Solo Vocal Award at the 2012 Gramophone Awards. His vocal-symphonic recordings include Britten’s War Requiem with the London Symphony Orchestra under Gianandrea Noseda, Mendelssohn’s Elijah with Paul McCreesh, Des Knaben Wunderhorn with Sir Simon Rattle, and Carmina Burana with Christian Thielemann. Opera enthusiasts can enjoy his recordings of the title roles in Macbeth (conducted by Edward Gardner), Don Giovanni (Claudio Abbado), and Billy Budd (Richard Hickox), as well as Marcello in La Bohème (Riccardo Chailly), Papageno in The Magic Flute (Charles Mackerras), Count Almaviva in the Grammy Award-winning Le Nozze di Figaro under René Jacobs, and Prospero in Adès’ The Tempest, which won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording and the 2014 ECHO Klassik Award for Music DVD Recording of the Year.
Sir Simon’s contributions to the world of music have garnered prestigious honours. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2003, and in June 2018, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed a knighthood upon him. In 2017, he received the title of Austrian Kammersänger at the Vienna State Opera. The accolades continue, with a 2006 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera and the 2007 ECHO Klassik Award for Male Singer of the Year.