Felix Kemp

British baritone Felix Kemp is a former Britten Pears Young Artist, Momentum Emerging Artist, finalist at the 2021 London Handel International Singing Competition, and in the 2022/23 season made his debut at the Royal Ballet & Opera in Don Carlo.

Last season performances included his Italian debut as Maximilian Candide (Teatro Verdi di Trieste, Teatro Comunale di Bologna); Belcore L’elisir d’amore (Celebrate Voice); and Strephon Iolanthe, Florian Princess Ida (National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company). In concert he performed Zelenka Lamentations of Jeremiah (Ensemble Diderot – Chapelle Corneille, Kölner Philharmonie); and Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music (Outcry Ensemble – Sinfonia Smith Square).

Among his other recent highlights are Adham in the world première of Will Todd’s Migrations (Welsh National Opera); Dick Dewy in the world premiere of Paul Carr’s Under the Greenwood Tree, Papageno The Magic Flute (Dorset Opera Festival); Pilgrim Britten’s Curlew River (Aldeburgh Festival, filmed for BBC broadcast); and Falke Die Fledermaus (If Opera).

His operatic roles include Don Fernando Fidelio (Lyric Opera Ireland); Giove La Calisto (Longborough Festival Opera); Le Brigadier in Hérold’s Le Pré aux Clercs (Wexford Festival Opera); Gaoler Tosca (English Touring Opera); Masetto Don Giovanni (British Youth Opera, Oxford Sinfonia); The Herald The Travelling Companion (New Sussex Opera); the title role Eugene Onegin (OperaUpClose); Marchese d’Obigny La traviata (Opera Holland Park Young Artist); and Melot Tristan und Isolde (Grange Park Opera). He has covered roles including Marcello La bohème, Le Dancaïre Carmen (English National Opera); Papageno The Magic Flute, Malatesta Don Pasquale (Welsh National Opera); and Novice’s Friend Billy Budd (Royal Ballet & Opera).

 Roles in contemporary opera include Felix in scene’s from Tom Coult’s Violet (Britten Sinfonia at Snape Maltings), Noah / George Putnam in Russell Hepplewhite’s Silver Electra and Prospero in scenes from Anthony Bolton’s Island of Dreams. 

An accomplished oratorio and concert artist, Felix has performed Bach Lutheran Mass, Mozart Requiem (Israel Camerata); Bach B Minor Mass (Opole Philharmonic); St John Passion (Bournemouth Symphony Chorus); Beethoven Symphony No. 9 (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra); Handel Messiah (London Handel Festival); Vaughan Williams Dona nobis pacem (Britten Sinfonia); Schubert Lieder arr. Brahms (Royal Scottish National Orchestra); Verdi Requiem (Winchester Cathedral); and Mendelssohn Elijah (Lincoln Cathedral).

In recital, Felix’s performances have included the ROH Crush Room, Oxford International Song Festival, London Song Festival, and Presteigne Festival, collaborating with pianists including Sholto Kynoch, Simon Lepper and Huw Watkins. Felix’s recordings include Joseph Phibbs Juliana and Ethel Smyth Fête Galante. Broadcasts include In Tune for BBC Radio 3.