Malcolm Bennett (Tenor)

Born: Cardiff, Wales, UK

The Welsh tenor, Malcolm Bennett, was brought up in Brecon, where he sang as a chorister and lay-clerk at the cathedral. Having no expectations of becoming a professional singer he began his musical studies as a clarinettist, graduating from Trinity College of Music in 1992. After a PGCE course at The University of Wales, Aberystwyth, he became a peripatetic woodwind teacher for Pembrokeshire County Council Music Service. During this time he started to take his singing more seriously and began to study with Brian Parsons. He left teaching in 1999 to become a professional, freelance singer.

Since then Malcolm Bennett has been in great demand as a consort singer and soloist and has performed with some of the worlds leading ensembles including The Amsterdam Baroque Choir, Collegium Vocale Gent, The Sixteen, The Choir of the Enlightenment & Collegium Musicum 90. His repertoire ranges from the standard great works of the 17^th, 18^th & 19^th centuries through to contemporary works. Although he has had little operatic experience he is very keen to explore this area, especially the operas of the high baroque and classical periods. Roles have included Sailor (Dido & Aeneas), Shepherd (Venus & Adonis) & Abdallo (Nabucco).

Future concert engagements include: J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor ( BWV 232), St. John Passion (BWV 245) & Cantata recordings; Haydn's Creation at The Proms; Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Matthew Passion & Magnificat; George Frideric Handel's Messiah; Gabrielli's Motets; Mozart's Mass in C minor & Requiem; Benjamin Britten's St. Nicholas; & Monteverdi's Vespers 1610.

Malcolm Bennett has also been involved in numerous recordings. These include several volumes of the complete cantatas of J.S. Bach with The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Haydn & Vaughaun Williams Mass recordings with Richard Hickox & Collegium Musicum 90, J.S. Bach's St. John Passion (BWV 245) with Collegium Vocale Gent & Monteverdi’s Orfeo with Concert d’Astreé. He is also a founder member of the period instrument ensemble Concerto Gallese Baroque Orchestra & Soloists, with whom he sings and plays historical winds.

Source: Galesse Website (photo by Brian Tarr); The Artist (Photo, February 2008)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (October 2004)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

John Butt

Tenor

BWV 244

Philippe Herreweghe

Tenor

BWV 245 [2^nd]

Links to other Sites

Malcolm Bennett - tenor (Galesse)