Philip Smith sings Marcello
One time zoologist and National Otter Surveyor of England, Philip hung up his waders to study singing, first at the Birmingham Conservatoire and then at the Royal Northern College of Music. He is a Samling Artist, a Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme alumnus and Crear Scholar.
He has sung for the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, WNO, Royal Danish Opera, Polish National Opera and Maggio Muiscale Florence and made his debut with Opera North in 2023. Last year he toured as Giorgio Germont in La traviata for Diva Opera in France and the UK, sang Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro at the Tobacco Factory Theatre in Bristol and then Tonio in Pagliacci touring Wales and the borders with Mid Wales Opera.
This season sees him return to touring with Diva Opera as Malatesta in Don Pasquale and work with Scottish Opera as well as concerts around the UK.
He is delighted to return and sing with Devon Opera once again and fondly remembers he previous roles in other productions including Rigoletto Rigoletto and Giorgio Germont La traviata.
Follow on X @psmithbaritone and on Instagram @philipsmithbaritone
https://www.stevenswalesartists.com/artist/philip-smith/
How did you get involved in Devon Opera? Somewhat by accident as I went to the Birmingham Conservatoire with intentions to train to become a professional choral singer! The access and participation in operas and opera scenes there soon made me realise that opera was the best way to combine my love of singing and stage work and I haven't looked back since.
How are you involved in our production of La bohème? I am singing the role of Marcello for the matinee Schools Performance
What are you currently working on besides Devon Opera? I am understudying the role of Baron Zeta in The Merry Widow for Scottish Opera and in the middle of a tour of Don Pasquale for Diva Opera singing the role of Malatesta. There are a couple of other things I am working on for later in the year too but they are yet to be announced - watch this space!!
Do you have any unexpected or surprising talents outside of music? I used to be the National Otter Surveyor of England so I am a dab hand at finding out if otters are using a river or stream!
Beach or woodland walk? Woodland walk anytime!!! Goes back to the otter surveying days!
Indian or Thai Curry? Depends on the mood to be honest, I love both and have eaten way too many of both in my time!
Mozart, Monteverdi or Massenet? Soooooo difficult to answer but it is between Monteverdi and Mozart. One of my all time favourite recordings is of Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 recorded in St Mark's Basilica in Venice and I often turn to that to escape from everything else. Having said that, I love performing Mozart and his music is close to perfection.
What is your favourite Book and why? I really don't read enough anymore but I love escaping in fantasy and science fiction novels. I grew up reading Terry Pratchett and Michael Crichton as well as Tolkien. I am currently reading Wolf Hall, or at least attempting to, after watching the TV series and loving it.
Dogs or Cats? Essentially a dog person but I love cats too!
What is your favourite Film? Fifth Element
Your Desert Island luxury? Endless supply of ice cream and chocolate
What is your musical guilty pleasure? Eurovision - just love it!
And most importantly, what is your favourite Opera and why? Way too difficult to answer as it usually tends to be the opera I am working on at any one time! Having said that Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten has a particular place in my heart as it was one of my first professional engagements, singing Sid. I love how it is a detailed snapshot of small village life in the early to mid 20th Century and so many of the characters are so recognisable. I would love to sing the Vicar now and strive to get somewhere near the perfection that the brilliant Eric Roberts achieved in the role when we did those productions together at the start of my career.