Benjamin Luxon

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Benjamin Matthew Luxon (born March 24, 1937 in Redruth ) is an English opera singer (baritone).

Luxon trained as a physical education teacher before studying singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and with Walter Gruner in London. He joined in 1963 the English Opera Group to Benjamin Britten and sang during a tour of the group by the Soviet Union to Tarquinius in his opera The Rape of Lucretia and the Sid in Albert Herring . In 1965 he won an international singing competition in Munich. In 1971 Britten entrusted him with the title role of the television opera Owen Wingrave .

In 1972 he made his debut at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera with the title role in Claudio Monteverdi's Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria and at the Covent Garden Opera in the world premiere of Peter Maxwell Davies ' Taverner . In 1974 he first appeared at the English National Opera in London, and in 1980 at the Scottish Opera in Glasgow. In 1984 he gave a guest performance at the Frankfurt Opera and in 1986 he made his debut at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan with the title role in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin . He also sang this role on his debut at the Metropolitan Opera New York in 1980 and in 1987 at the Grand Théâtre de Genève . In 1988 he sang the title role in Alban Berg's Wozzeck in Los Angeles , and in 1992 Falstaff at the English National Opera.

Luxon also became known as a concert, oratorio and lied singer, with his repertoire ranging from standard literature to folk music. Recordings with him have appeared on the Philips , Decca Records , DGG , RCA Records and HMV labels, among others . In 1986 he was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire .

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personal data
SURNAME Luxon, Benjamin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Luxon, Benjamin Matthew (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION English opera singer (baritone)
DATE OF BIRTH March 24, 1937
PLACE OF BIRTH Redruth