Graeme Danby

Swallow in Peter Grimes

Biography

Graeme Danby is widely recognised as one of Britain’s finest bassi profondi, and performs regularly with the Royal Opera Covent Garden.  In Spring 2005, he sang the major role of Charrington in Loren Maazel’s new Covent Garden commission 1984, a part written especially for him. In 2006, he sang the role of Sacristano in Covent Garden’s new production of Tosca, alongside Angela Gheorghiu, Marcello Alvarez and Bryn Terfel and in 2007 the role of Gonzalo in Thomas Ades The Tempest. In 2003, his rich and resonant bass was heard to advantage in the role of Lorenzo /I Capuletti ed I Montecchi under the baton of Sir Richard Bonynge.  This appearance was one amongst many in major roles for English National Opera, which include Don Basilio in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia; Dulcamara in Donizetti’s l’Elisir d’amore; Somnus in Handel’s Semele; Quince in Britten’s Misummer Night’s Dream; Collatinus in Britten’s Rape of Lucretia; Poo-Bah in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado; Sarastro in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte; Sacristan in Puccini’s Tosca; Pistol in Verdi’s Falstaff and Ribbing in Verdi’s Un Ballo in maschera. Further UK engagements include Bartolo in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro for Opera North and the Garsington Festival; Bosun/Billy Budd, Benedict/La Vie Parisienne and Masetto/Don Giovanni for the Scottish Opera.
In season 2002/2003 Graeme Danby made his Glyndebourne debut as Antonio/Le Nozze di Figaro, subsequently recording the role for Chandos Records.  He also made his debut at the Gran Teatro del Liceu Barcelona in the role of Brag in Purcell’s Fairy Queen. In season 2003/2004, he made his debut at the Opera National du Rhin Strasbourg in the role of Xuthus in Param Vir’s Ion.
Further roles in 2007 and 2008 include Sarastro, Poo-Bah, Zuniga, the Doctor/Punch and Judy and Czar Ivan/Candide with English National Opera and Billy Jackrabbit/La Fanciulla del West with the Royal Opera Covent Garden. In 2009, Graeme Danby made his debut at La Scala in the role of Snug. Further engagements include Theatre Manager/The Gambler at the Royal Opera Covent Garden.
At Flanders Opera he sang in already in Bartolo/Le Nozze di Figaro and Somnus/Semele.