Biography

Born in Colchester, Robert studied at the University of Sheffield and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama before embarking on a solo career, both on the opera stage and concert platform.

Awarded the Erich Vietheer Memorial Award at Glyndebourne, he went on to appear as Mr Gedge Albert Herring, Marcello La Bohème, Count Almaviva Le Nozze di Figaro and Doctor Falke Die Fledermaus on the Festival Tour. Other notable roles at Glyndebourne include Curio Giulio Cesare, Indian The Bartered Bride, Guccio Gianni Schicchi and Shepherd Pellèas. Roles elsewhere include his debut at the Opera Comique, Paris as Ottoker Der Freischutz (also a BBC Prom); Ned Keene Peter Grimes for the Stadttheater Bern; Zurga Pearl Fishers and for Reisopera, Holland; Verdi's Rigoletto for Bury Court Opera; the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro, Demetrius A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Kuligin Katya Kabanova and Papageno in The Magic Flute for English Touring Opera; Verrina Fiesque in the critically acclaimed British première of Lalo’s opera at the Bloomsbury Theatre (UCL), Belcore L’Elisir D’Amore and Sharpless Madame Butterfly for Opera Box, Greek Captain Les Troyens in the Gramophone Award-winning production at the Châtelet Theatre, Paris, Dancaïre Carmen for Endellion Festival and Diva Opera, Pish Tush The Mikado for D’Oyly Carte, Waiter/Footman Der Rosenkavalier at the Spoleto Festival and Aeneas Dido and Aeneas at the Edinburgh and Bath Festivals. Robert also sang in the European premieres of Ned Rorem’s Hearing and The Robbers.  In 2007, Robert was shortlisted for the prestigious Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Robert has sung under the baton of such distinguished conductors as Sir Simon Rattle, Vladimir Jurowski, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Emanuelle Haim, Sir Mark Elder, Richard Hickox, Edward Gardner and Robin Ticciati. With a wide concert repertoire, performances include Monteverdi Vespers in St Mark’s, Venice; Handel Messiah in Barbican, London and St. David’s Hall, Cardiff; Orff Carmina Burana in the Barbican, London; Haydn Creation in Cadogan Hall, London; Brahms Requiem in Coventry, Westminster and Worcester Cathedrals; Mozart Mass in B Minor in Duomo, Pisa; Mendelssohn Elijah; Elgar The Kingdom; Bach St John Passion in St John's, Smith Square and Theatre du Champs-Elysees, Paris (OAE); Mozart Requiem; Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle; Britten War Requiem and Elgar Caractacus.

As well as his opera and concert work, Robert is in demand as a consort singer. He regularly performs with the Dunedin Consort and has been featured as consort soloist with the Gabrieli Consort (Elijah, BBC Proms 2011). He also specialises in educational projects. He works very closely with the OAE and has premiered several works for the Derby based orchestra, Sinfonia Viva.  

Recent and future engagements include the World Premier of Goode's Blitz Requiem in St Paul's Cathedral, London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (recorded live for Classic FM), Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs and Faure Requiem in Wells Cathedral and Handel Messiah in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Chelmsford Cathedral, Monteverdi Vespers in King's College, Cambridge, Barcelona and Versailles (Gardiner), Mozart Mass in C minor in St David's Hall, Cardiff with Florilegium, Handel Acis and Galatea in France, Handel Messiah in Australia and Seattle, and the roles of Don Alfonso Cosi fan Tutte for Reisopera and Leone Tamerlano Handel for Buxton Festival. Recordings include Monteverdi Vespers with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Handel Esther and Bach St John Passion with the Dunedin Consort, a live concert recording of Haydn Creation (ORF Alte Musik/Steinaecker) and a future release of Patrick Hawes 'Angel' (Decca).