Scottish baritone Donald Maxwell made his Royal Opera debut in
1987 as English Archer (The King Goes Forth to France) and
has returned regularly to The Royal Opera, his many roles including
Herald (Lohengrin), Gunther (Götterdämmerung),
Faninal (Der Rosenkavalier), Krušina (The Bartered
Bride), Fritz Kothner (Die Meistersinger von
Nürnberg), Lockit (The Beggar’s Opera), Alcindoro
(La bohème), Hortensius (La Fille du régiment)
and Second Priest (Die Zauberflöte).
Maxwell was born in Perth and studied geography at Edinburgh
University and singing with Joseph Hislop. He is a former member of
Scottish Opera and Welsh National Opera, and has sung leading roles
with all the major British opera companies and with international
companies including the Metropolitan Opera, New York, La Scala,
Milan, Vienna State Opera and Paris Opéra. His repertory has
included many key baritone and bass-baritone roles, including Don
Alfonso (Così fan tutte), Figaro (Il barbiere di
Siviglia), the title role in Rigoletto, Iago
(Otello), the title role in Falstaff, the
Dutchman (Der fliegende Holländer), Marcello (La
bohème), Sharpless (Madama Butterfly), Golaud
(Pelléas et Mélisande), Eisenstein (Die
Fledermaus), Athlete (Lulu) and the title role
inWozzeck. His many character roles include Fra Melitone
(La forza del destino), Somarone (Béatrice et
Bénédict), Pooh-Bah (The Mikado) and Doolittle
(My Fair Lady).
Maxwell was Artistic Director of Buxton Festival (1999) and has
been Director of the National Opera Studio (2001–8) and Head of
Opera Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
(2004–9).
In 2017 Donald Maxwell was awarded prestigious
Worshipful Company of Musicians Santley Award, recognizing his
extensive career as an opera and concert singer, and his immense
contribution in mentoring and encouraging the next generation of
singers.