Colin Lee tenor
Biography
South African-born tenor, Colin Lee has rapidly established himself as one of Britain’s leading tenors in the bel canto repertoire. Since his début 10 years ago, he has worked with most of the major houses around the world.
2007 saw the emergence of Colin's international career when he sang the role of TONIO La fille du Regiment in Laurent Pelly's new production for ROH, and LEOPOLD La Juive in Pierre Audi's new production for Opéra national de Paris, Bastille, to great acclaim. In 2008 he made his house début in Athens for Greek National Opera in the title role Le Comte Ory, before returning to Paris to sing ALMAVIVA at the Bastille. He also made his house and role dé'but at Opéra Comique, Paris in Hérold's Zampa under the baton of William Christie. In 2009 he made his Metropolitan Opera house and role début as ARTURO in Lucia di Lammermoor, alongside Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon. Thereafter he made his house début at the Vienna Staatsoper as ALMAVIVA. He also made his role début as ARGIRIO in Tancredi at Theater an der Wien under the baton of René Jacobs before making his house and role début at Berlin Staatsoper as NARCISO, Il turco in Italia.
Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Colin attended the world renowned Drakensberg Boys' Choir School as a young boy. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, Colin came to London in 1994 and commenced private vocal studies with the Welsh tenor, Jeffrey Talbot, all the while working as an accountant. During the next 7 years, he concentrated solely on his vocal studies before starting his new profession as a classical singer in 2000.
Colin's first operatic engagement came in October 2000, when he was cast by director Ian Judge as NANKI POO Mikado in a new D'Oyly Carte production at the West End Theatre, Savoy. The show ran for 4 months with Colin singing 142 consecutive performances to critical acclaim. Following this success, Colin was engaged by a number of regional festivals in the UK and Ireland in 2001 before joining the ENO's Young Singers Programme in 2002. During his 3 years on the programme, he performed roles such as ALMAVIVA, IOPAS/HELENUS Les Troyens, FERRANDO and FENTON.
Future engagements include TONIO La fille du Regiment (ROH, Hamburg Staatsoper, 2012). In 2011 Colin makes his house and role début in the title role Plateé (Rameau) under the baton of René Jacobs for De Nederlandse Opera, Amsterdam and in 2012 he returns to the Metropolitan Opera as ALMAVIVA.
Colin has enjoyed a decade-long relationship with the recording label Opera Rara during which time he has participated in 10 recordings for the label. Most recently he has recorded the role of ORESTE in Rossini's Ermione which will be released in 2010.
Colin has worked with conductors such as Antonio Pappano, René Jacobs, William Cristie, Bruno Campanella, Carlo Rizzi, Marc Minkowski, Riccardo Frizza, Marco Armiliato, Roberto Abbado, Richard Hickox, Paul Daniel.
He has also worked with directors such as David Alden, Pierre Audi, Laurent Pelly, Mary Zimmerman, Lluis Pasqual, Richard Jones, Graham Vick, Günter Krämer, Stephen Lawless and Ian Judge.
He has performed with orchestras such as Les Arts Florissants, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Les Musiciens du Louvre (Grenoble), LPO, BBC Symphony, LSO and RLPO.
Colin is a Trustee of the Concordia Foundation, which supports and develops young musicians around the world.