| Biography | Born in London, Michael Druiett studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio. Studies with Norman Bailey, and, more recently, Sir John Tomlinson led to his debut as Wotan in Opera Norths Das Rheingold, a performance that received high praise in the National Press.
For The Daily Telegraph, he made an authoritative Wotan, with just the right hint of pomposity, whilst for Opera, Michael Druietts towering Wotan led from the front. Wagner News wrote that he invoked all the gravity and authority of the role and also sang it superlatively and brought out its high drama. His voice is clean-cut and pure in intonation, but his heldenbariton flexibility had an added seasoning from the dark, rich hues of a true bass. This Summer, he returned to the company to sing Der Wanderer Siegfried, a performance that received further acclaim, and of which The Financial Times wrote, Michael Druiett has matured into a majestic Wanderer of international quality.
Michael Druiett began his career as principal bass at English National Opera and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, also appearing as a guest at companies including Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Scottish Opera, La Monnaie, Brussels, LOpéra national de Lyon, LOpéra national de Montpellierand the New Israeli Opera.
As a bass-baritone, his operatic engagements have included Mr Redburn Billy Budd, Sharpless Madama Butterfly, Misha The Bartered Bride and Baron Douphol La traviata at the Opéra national de Paris, Commendatore Don Giovanni for Opera North, Prince Ivan Khovansky Khovanschina, Jokanaan Salome and Monterone Rigoletto for Welsh National Opera, Monterone Rigoletto for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and Donner Das Rheingold for Scottish Opera.
Michael Druiett sings regularly in concert, his repertoire including Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Berlioz La Damnation de Faust and LEnfance du Christ, Brahms German Requiem, Messiah, Mahler Symphony No. 8 and Verdi Requiem.
His recordings and broadcasts include Hobson Peter Grimes conducted by Mark Wigglesworth for Glyndebourne Festival Opera label, Casadesus Symphony No. 7 (Israël)with the Northern Sinfonia conducted by Howard Shelley and First Nazarene Salome with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras on Chandos and Elder McLean Susannah with the Opéra national de Lyon conducted by Kent Nagano on Virgin Classics. With the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, he has recorded The Puccini Experience with Angela Gheorghiu, Johan Botha and Anthony Michaels-Moore conducted by Sir Edward Downes for Conifer and The Nightwatchman Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg, conducted by Sir Bernard Haitink, available on the ROH Heritage Series.
Current engagements include Mr Redburn Billy Budd and The Commendatore Don Giovanni for the Deutsche Oper Am Rhein, Lawyer Huld / Inspector / Vice-President The Trial for Music Theatre Wales, Lord Davenaut Der Vampyr at The Everyman Theatre, Cork, The Bonze Madam Butterfly for Raymond Gubbay Ltd and Amonasro Aïda for the 2014 Dorset Opera Festival. |