Benson Wilson

Baritone

INTRODUCTION

Winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Awards and the Lexus Song Quest, Benson Wilson was a Harewood Artist at English National Opera, for whom he has sung roles including Moralès Carmen, Guglielmo Così fan tutte and Schaunard La bohème.

Roles elsewhere have included Friedrich Bhaer in the UK première of Mark Adamo’s Little Women for Opera Holland Park, Frank / Fritz Die tote Stadt for Longborough Festival Opera, Schaunard La bohème for Welsh National Opera and Marullo Rigoletto for Glyndebourne On Tour.

A committed recitalist, he has toured in New Zealand, including programmes at Auckland Chamber Concert Hall and Hawkes Bay Opera House, as well as appearing with pianists including Lucy Colquhoun, Ella O’Neill, James Baillieu, Iain Burnside and Joseph Middleton at venues including London’s Wigmore Hall and at the Brighton, Kings Lynn, Leeds Lieder, Ludlow and Oxford Lieder Festivals. He has appeared in concert with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of Opera North, also singing Finzi’s Et in terra pax for his debut with BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sakari Omaro.

Engagements during 2023 / 2024 include Horemheb Akhnaten, Marcello in Robin Norton-Hale’s new film of La bohème for Finite Films, Count Ceprano Rigoletto for Opera Holland Park, Messiah with New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Mahler Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Belshazzar’s Feast at both Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, and with Orchestra Wellington.

Please note that this biography is not to be used for programmes. Current information is available on request.

REVIEWS

Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen / Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra 2023

“Benson Wilson expressed the joy of the wayfarer with a bird-like thrill…”

New Zealand Arts Review

“Benson Wilson displayed the authoritative stage presence that won him the Lexus Song Quest a few years ago…his crip characterisations of each song offered immense satisfaction.”

New Zealand Herald

Walton: Belshazzar’s Feast / Orchestra Wellington 2023

“Benson Wilson made the most of his Babylonic ‘shopping-list,’ allowing rather more fateful tones to take over his concluding item of current, “…and the souls of men.’”

Middle C

In Benson Wilson’s existing reviews can you please replace the Resound 2021 with this,

ReSound / St Martin-in-the-Fields 2021

“Benson Wilson has the potential to be one of the voices of the decade with his dark-toned, immensely powerful baritone…”

Seen and Heard International

Horemhab: Akhnaten / English National Opera 2023

“The supporting cast is stronger than ever, especially Jolyon Loy (Aye), Paul Curievici (High Priest of Amon) and Benson Wilson (Horemhab) whose contributions, whether singing alone or together, were vivid and engrossing.”

Music OMH

“…a very positive impression from Benson Wilson as General Horemhab.”

Opera

“Wonderful to see an ENO Harewood Artist among the main cast members: Benson Wilson plays the general and future Pharoah Horemhab with an earthy voice and real dramatic authority.”

Seen and Heard International

Schaunard: La bohème / Welsh National Opera 2022

“Benson Wilson was a vivacious Schaunard…”

Opera Today

Friedrich Bhaer: Little Women / Opera Holland Park 2022

“The music for the men in the girls; lives was memorably delivered by (ia) Benson Wilson (Bhaer), the latter performing Adamo’s version of ‘Kennst du das Land?’ with plenty of soul.”

Opera

“The most resonant singing comes from Benson Wilson as Bhaer…”

The Standard

Fritz: Die tote Stadt / Longborough Festival Opera 2022

“Benson Wilson, a notably mellifluous baritone…:

Bachtrack

“…he really excelled, capturing the nostalgic timelessness of the song ‘Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen.’”

Opera

Guglielmo: Così fan tutte / English National Opera 2022

“Benson Wilson’s resonant, velvety Guglielmo…”

The Stage

ReSound / St Martin-in-the-Fields 2021