LECTURES

A favorite of Benjamin Britten, who composed the title role of his television opera Owen Wingrave specifically for Luxon’s voice, he made his debut at both the Royal Opera House and Covent Garden, creating the role of the Jester in Peter Maxwell Davies’ opera Taverner, and at the Glyndebourne Opera Festival.

Thereafter, he enjoyed a hectic international career singing all the great baritone roles (Onegin at the Met, Wozzeck at La Scala) and turning out over 100 recordings in all genres.

In 1988 while rehearsing at the Paris Opera, the piano began sounding to him like a hurdy gurdy, and a few years later his career was cut short in its prime by every musician’s nightmare—acute hearing loss. These days he lives in the Berkshires and entertains audiences with his acting and with the spoken word, performing in plays and reciting poetry, including a recital of Victorian era poems and songs with fellow Brit and neighbor, author Simon Winchester.

Benjamin Luxon dips into his rich experiences to regale with anecdotes and observations, and shares his artistic credo and take on the current state of the music and opera world.