Celeste Armonia

Simon Bailey
1° Premio 2004

Nato a Lincoln, Inghilterra, il basso-baritono Simon Bailey ha iniziato gli studi al Clare College, Cambridge University,proseguendo preso il Royal Northern College of Music, con il M° Neil Howlett.
Nel luglio 1999 ha debuttato a Londra, nel ruolo di Figaro per l'Opera Holland Park insieme ad Anna Ryberg che è diventata sua moglie.

Ha frequentato l'Accademia di Studi Rossiniani di Pesaro dove - grazie alle se incredibili doti canore - è stato invitato a partecipare all'audizione per l'Opera Studio del Teatro la Scala di Milano. Superata brillantemente la selezione per entrare in quella che probabilmente è una delle più prestigiose scuole di perfezionamento del mondo - l'ha frequentata dal 2000 al 2002 studiando e lavorando fianco a fianco con alcuni tra i più grandi artisti del mondo.Il programma dell'Accademia gli ha offerto infatti non solo di perfezionarsi frequentando i corsi tenuti da Leyla Gencer, Luigi Alva e Leo Nuccima anche di debuttare alla Scala durante le produzioni dell'Accademia. In questo intenso periodo Simon ha cantato e partecipato in numerosissime produzionitra cui ricordiamo il ruolo di Schaunard nella Boheme con la regia di Zeffirelli e nell'anno del centenario verdiano il tuolo del Barone di Kelbar in Un giorno di Regno. Il M° Sinopoli lo ha diretto nella Ariadne auf Naxos(Lakai) ed ha eseguito in prima assoluta mondiale l'opera Tat´jana di Corghi (Viceprocuratore). Numerossissimi i concerti a cui ha partecipato sempre nell'ambito del programma dell'Accademia del Teatro La Scala di Milano

Born in Lincoln, England, the bass-baritone Simon Bailey read music at Clare College, Cambridge University, where he was a choral scholar. In 1997 he commenced postgraduate study at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he was taught by Neil Howlett.
July 1999 saw his London debut, in the role of Figaro for Opera Holland Park alongside future wife Anna Ryberg as Susanna. A series of outstanding performances saw them both awarded the OHP/ American Express awards for that season´s festival.
At the 1999 Rossini Opera Festival Academy in Pesaro, Italy, he was heard by a ´talent scout´ from the Teatro alla Scala Opera Studio, the prestigious Accademia del Teatro alla Scala. This led to an audition in Milan and a two-year contract in the studio, beginning in January 2000.
Just over two years after beginning serious vocal study, Simon was on his way - working alongside some of the world´s greatest artists, at perhaps the world´s most famous opera house, Teatro La Scala.
The programme at the Accademia offered both regular coaching with distinguished singers such as Leyla Gencer, Luigi Alva and Leo Nucci as well as the opportunity to appear on the famous Scala stage in smaller roles and in the annual Accademia production. In this intense period Simon sang Schaunard in the Zeffirelli production of La Bohéme, in the Verdi centenary year the role of Barone di Kelbar in Un giorno di Regno, created the role of Viceprocuratore in the world premiere of Corghi´s Tat´jana, sang the Lakai in Ariadne auf Naxos under the direction of the late Giuseppe Sinopoli, as well as covering a variety of roles in other operas and participating in a series of recitals and concerts organised by the Accademia.
Nel 2002 Simon ha debuttato nel nuovo Teatro degli Arcimboldi il ruolo di Nikitic (Boris Godunov) diretto da Valery Gergiev nonchè in Salomè. Nel luglio dello stesso anno - terminata l'esperienza dell'Accademia del Teatro La Scala di Milano - è stato scritturato dall'Opera di Francoforte riscuotendo subito un grande successo con le sue interpretazioni di Papageno (Die Zauberflöte) e Dulcamara (L´elisir d´amore) a cui sono seguite performances in repertori russi e tedeschi - Schakloviti (Khovanschchina) and Klingsor (Parsifal).
La grande professionalit e le splendide doti vocali n e la travolgente presenza scenica hanno fatto ben prestodi Simon Bailey uno dei beniamini del Frankfurt Opera

In 2002 Simon sang in the new Teatro degli Arcimboldi, Milan, the roles of Nikitic (Boris Godunoy), conducted by Gergiev, and the 5th Jew in Salome, as well as covering the role of Jochanaan.
July 2002 brought a new challenge both professionally and culturally with a move to Frankfurt am Main, Germany, as house bass-baritone at the Oper Frankfurt. Initial success as Papageno (Die Zauberflöte) and Dulcamara (L´elisir d´amore) has led to performances in other repertoire, such as Schakloviti (Khovanschchina) and Klingsor (Parsifal) in the 2005-06 season. Other roles performed in Frankfurt include the title role in Don Giovanni, Leporello, Alidoro Cenerentola, Don Alfonso Cosi fan Tutte, Lescaut and Bretigny Manon, Lord Sidney Il viaggio a Reims, Swallow Peter Grimes, the Ferryman in Britten´s Curlew River, Don Basilio Il barbiere di Siviglia, Acrobat/Animal tamer in Lulu, Publio La clemenza di Tito and Claudio Agrippina.
Simon has performed as a guest artist as Don Bartolo Il barbiere di Siviglia at Teatro alla Scala, as Enrico for Prolirica´s production of Lucia di Lammermoor in Lima, Peru, as Don Basilio in Beijing, in the title role in Händel´s Hercules for the Athens festival, and in Vienna as Publio in La clemenza di Tito.
Simon has also enjoyed success on the concert platform - as an oratorio soloist he was awarded first prize in the 2004 International Concorso Vocale Internazionale di Musica Sacra in Rome. His repertoire includes Händel´s Messiah, Haydn´s Creation, the Mozart, Faure and Duruflé Requiems, Rossini´s Petite Messe Solemnelle, Beethoven´s Missa Solemnis and many others, works he has performed throughout Europe and South America.
As well as frequent broadcasts on German radio, Simon has recorded for Opera Rara, Chandos and Naxos - most recently on the critically-acclaimed release of Stainer´s Crucifixion.
Whilst at the RNCM Simon was awarded sponsorship by J.W Lees Breweries, the Wall trust and the Peter Moores foundation, to whom he is grateful for their ongoing support.




In 2002 Simon sang in the new Teatro degli Arcimboldi, Milan, the roles of Nikitic (Boris Godunoy), conducted by Gergiev, and the 5th Jew in Salome, as well as covering the role of Jochanaan.
July 2002 brought a new challenge both professionally and culturally with a move to Frankfurt am Main, Germany, as house bass-baritone at the Oper Frankfurt. Initial success as Papageno (Die Zauberflöte) and Dulcamara (L´elisir d´amore) has led to performances in other repertoire, such as Schakloviti (Khovanschchina) and Klingsor (Parsifal) in the 2005-06 season. Other roles performed in Frankfurt include the title role in Don Giovanni, Leporello, Alidoro Cenerentola, Don Alfonso Cosi fan Tutte, Lescaut and Bretigny Manon, Lord Sidney Il viaggio a Reims, Swallow Peter Grimes, the Ferryman in Britten´s Curlew River, Don Basilio Il barbiere di Siviglia, Acrobat/Animal tamer in Lulu, Publio La clemenza di Tito and Claudio Agrippina.
Simon has performed as a guest artist as Don Bartolo Il barbiere di Siviglia at Teatro alla Scala, as Enrico for Prolirica´s production of Lucia di Lammermoor in Lima, Peru, as Don Basilio in Beijing, in the title role in Händel´s Hercules for the Athens festival, and in Vienna as Publio in La clemenza di Tito.
Simon has also enjoyed success on the concert platform - as an oratorio soloist he was awarded first prize in the 2004 International Concorso Vocale Internazionale di Musica Sacra in Rome. His repertoire includes Händel´s Messiah, Haydn´s Creation, the Mozart, Faure and Duruflé Requiems, Rossini´s Petite Messe Solemnelle, Beethoven´s Missa Solemnis and many others, works he has performed throughout Europe and South America.
As well as frequent broadcasts on German radio, Simon has recorded for Opera Rara, Chandos and Naxos - most recently on the critically-acclaimed release of Stainer´s Crucifixion.
Whilst at the RNCM Simon was awarded sponsorship by J.W Lees Breweries, the Wall trust and the Peter Moores foundation, to whom he is grateful for their ongoing support.