| Biography | With a breadth of repertoire ranging from Wagner to Britten, British baritone Charles Johnston has performed with many leading companies both in the UK and abroad.
Johnston made his English National Opera début in 1992 in David Freemans production of Monteverdis Orfeo. Over the last two decades he has performed with many leading companies both in the UK and abroad, most recent engagements including, at ENO, Marquis dObigny La Traviata, 1st SS Officer in Weinbergs The Passenger, and the Guide in Deborah Warners production of Death in Venice, the latter bringing his débuts for La Scala, Milan, La Monnaie, De Nederlandse Opera, and at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Giorgio Germont in David McVicars La Traviata, and the covers of Enrico VIII Anna Bolena, and Lescaut Manon Lescaut for Welsh National Opera, Mr Gedge Albert Herring for English Touring Opera, and Scarpia Tosca with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at the National Concert Hall, Dublin.
Described as immaculate and the Jewel in the crown by The Times for his portrayal of Sir John Falstaff for Mid Wales Opera, Johnstons previous role highlights include the title role in Rigoletto, Dr Kolenaty The Makropulos Case, Nikitich Boris Godunov, The Cardinal The Duchess of Malfi, also covering Oedipus Thebans, Faninal Der Rosenkavalier, Scarpia Tosca, The Dutchman Der Fliegende Holländer, and Amonasro Aida for ENO, Forester The Cunning Little Vixen, Garibaldo Rodelinda, Talbot Maria Stuarda, and Scarpia Tosca with English Touring Opera, Don Alfonso Così fan tutte, Eisenstein Die Fledermaus, Marco Gianni Schicchi, Il Pedone La Wally, and Michonnet Adriana Lecouvreur for Opera Holland Park, Rambaldo La Rondine for Iford Arts, the title role in Puccinis Gianni Schicchi and Michele Il Tabarro at Haddo House. Further afield Charles has performed the title role in Don Giovanni, Il conte Almaviva Le nozze di Figaro, and Golaud Pelléas et Mélisande for lOpéra de Chambre de Paris, Garibaldo Rodelinda at BAM, New York, and the title role in Verdis Macbeth in Singapore. Other roles include Roderigo, Nabucco, Giorgio Germont, Ford, Posa, Il conte di Luna, Sonora, and Lord Enrico Ashton, and the Four Villains.
With an affinity for the works of British composers, Johnston has portrayed many of the leading baritone roles of Benjamin Britten including Balstrode and Ned Keene Peter Grimes, Demetrius and Theseus A Midsummer Night Dream, Mr Noye Noyes Fludde, Ananias The Burning Fiery Furnace, and the Father The Prodigal Son. He created the role of the Father/Sir Lancelot in Lynne Plowmans Gwyneth and the Green Night, a co-production between Music Theatre Wales and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, performed the role of the King in Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Eight songs for a mad King at the Electrostatic Festival, Choregos in Harrison Birtwistles Punch and Judy, and Smirnov in William Waltons The Bear at the Jardins Musicaux festival, Switzerland.
Johnstons 2014/15 engagements include Montano in Christopher Aldens new production of Otello, also covering Jago, Marquis dObigny in the revival of Konwitschnys La Traviata, and cover of Jack Rance La Fanciulla de West all for English National Opera. |