Bass-Baritone
Bio
"The strongest performer is bass-baritone Giles Tomkins, who has a solid, rich voice and clear diction.”
Michael Johnson,
The Classical Music Network
Bass-baritone Giles Tomkins is in demand as one of
Canada’s leading young singers, widely recognized for
his vocal virtuosity and lyricism in an impressive
range of repertoire. His voice has been described as
“sweet but manly” complete with “lovely phrasing and
beautiful placement” by Paula Citron, Opera Canada.
This 2005 Distinguished Graduate from the University of
Toronto’s Opera Division is a frequent guest artist
with the Aldeburgh Connection, and has appeared with
Tapestry New Opera Works, St. Lawrence String Quartet,
Canadian Brass, Opera in Concert and the Canadian Opera
Company. Mr. Tomkins’ performances in the United
Kingdom include King Arthur (Purcell) at the
Aldeburgh Festival, Colline in a
touring production of Puccini’s La Boheme with
Scottish Opera, and in 2006, the European premiere of
Queen of Puddings Music Theatre’s production of The
Midnight Court at the Royal Opera House, Covent
Garden.
Recent operatic roles for Giles include Don
Alfonso in Cosi fan Tutte at
Tanglewood, (conducted by James Levine), Don
Basilio in Il Barbiere de Siviglia
(Scottish Opera) directed by Sir Thomas Allen, and
Superintendent Budd in Britten’s
Albert Herring (Aldeburgh Festival). Other
engagements include Pish-Tush in
The Mikado (Toronto Operetta Theatre) and
Somnus in Handel’s Semele
(Opera in Concert). In 2008, Giles returned to Scottish
Opera as Pistola in Verdi’s
Falstaff, and made his debut in the title role
in Ottawa’s Opera Lyra production of Le Nozze di
Figaro. Giles starred as Pedro in
James Rolfe’s new opera Ines with Queen of
Puddings Music Theatre, and joined the cast of La
Boheme as Colline with Saskatoon
Opera.
Giles has appeared on five international Naxos
recordings with the Aradia Ensemble, (Kevin Mallon,
conductor) singing major roles in Rameau’s Castor
et Pollux, Handel’s Rinaldo, and
Vivaldi’s Griselda, as well as
Christus in Bach Consort’s 2009
performance of St. John Passion with Yannick
Nezet-Seguin, conductor. Other concert appearances
include Beethoven’s Mass in C with Guelph
Chamber Choir and Messiah with Classical Music
Consort.
In September, Giles Tomkins was a member of Pacific
Opera Victoria’s Resident Artist Program, and sang
Dr. Grenvil in their production of
La Traviata. Other performances this season
include Toronto Masque Theatre’s premiere of Dean
Burry’s “A Mummer’s Masque” in December,
Messiah with Peterborough Singers, Mozart’s
Mass in C with Fanshawe Chorus London, and
“A Gilbert and Sullivan Extravaganza” with
Chorus Niagara in May 2010.