British bass baritone Benjamin Schilperoort is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, a laureate of Le Jardin des Voix, and was an Artist-in-residence at the Queen Elisabeth Chapel, Belgium (2019-2023), where he studied with Sophie Koch and José van Dam.
His current and future engagements include Christus St. John Passion with the Britten Sinfonia at the Brighton Festival; and further international performances as Winter/Sleep in Purcell’s The Fairy Queen (Les Arts Florissants).
His most recent performances include the bass roles in the Fairy Queen (Les Arts Florissants), conducted by William Christie and Paul Agnew; Walther Fürst and Melchtal Guillaume Tell (Nouvel Opéra Fribourg/Neue Oper Fribourg); the bass roles in King Arthur (Les Goûts Réunis); Basilio Il barbiere di Siviglia (Clonter); Golaud Pelléas et Mélisande; Colline La bohème; Masetto and Il Commendatore Don Giovanni; and Seneca L’Incoronazione di Poppea.
Benjamin has performed solo roles at prestigious venues including the Teatro alla Scala, The Lincoln Center, BBC Proms, Opéra Royal de Versailles, Opera Gent, Opéra de Compiègne, Tanglewood Festival, Paris Philharmonie, Philharmonie de Luxembourg, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Toronto Summer Music, and in many other opera houses, concert halls and festivals in Europe and the Americas.
Notable performances of sacred music include Purcell Divine Hymns (Festival de Lanaudière, Québec); Bach Magnificat (Le Concert d’Anvers); and Bach cantatas for the Kohn Foundation series in London. Benjamin is also dedicated to the performance of song repertoire, and has appeared at the Palais des beaux-arts and Flagey in Brussels, Wigmore Hall, and the Leeds Lieder Festival. Benjamin has been broadcast live on the BBC, France 3 Musique, TVR in Romania, and his performances have been recorded for France TV.
In addition to his performing career, Benjamin also works as a stage director. Recent directing credits include The Marriage of Figaro (Opera Kipling); La Voix Humaine/The Telephone, Così Fan Tutte, and a one-act musical about Lotte Lenya entitled Lenya-Lenya, which he wrote as well (Opera on the Move). Benjamin has worked with and assisted many renowned opera directors including Simon McBurney, Michael McCaffery, Alexandra Lacroix and Valery Rodriguez.
Bass roles / The Fairy Queen / Les Arts Florissants / 2023-26
“Bass-baritone Benjamin Schilperoort sung Hush, No More with a dark fervour and great beauty.”
(The Guardian)
“There was never a dull moment and the energy level never dropped, even in the quietest and most intimate scenes, such as “No noise”, featuring bass-baritone Benjamin Schilperoort”
(Bachtrack)
“Bass-baritone Benjamin Schilperoort ensures the group’s harmonic cohesion with his gleaming bass voice.”
(Olyrix)
“Benjamin Schilperoort’s bass-baritone, creamily resonant, shaped arias such as “Hush no more” with impressive power and presence.”
(The Arts Desk)
Don Basilio / Il barbiere di Siviglia / Clonter / 2021
“…as a kind of double act, Adam Maxey’s Bartolo and Benjamin Schilperoort’s Basilio, enjoyed their comedy chances, too, carrying conviction despite their youthful years, with powerful singing from both.”
(The Arts Desk)
