Sir Thomas Allen is an established star of the great opera houses of the world. He has sung over fifty roles at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. In 2021, he celebrated the 50th anniversary of his debut with the company. He debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1981. He has been acclaimed for numerous roles, particularly Don Giovanni, long regarded his signature role.
As a director, his work began with Albert Herring at the Royal College of Music, his Alma mater, before continuing with productions of Magic Flute, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni – all for Scottish Opera. In addition, he has directed Cosi fan Tutte for Boston Lyric and Pittsburgh Opera companies, Don Pasquale for Chicago Lyric, and Le Nozze di Figaro for Arizona Opera.
An acclaimed recitalist, Sir Thomas is equally renowned on the concert platform and has appeared with the world’s great orchestras and conductors. Much of his concert and recital repertoire has been recorded under Sawallisch, Muti, Davis, Haitink, Rattle, Barshai, Marriner, Levine and Previn. His recitals have involved some of the finest accompanists of the day, including Geoffrey Parsons, Roger Vignoles, Christoph Eschenbach, Malcolm Martineau, and Joseph Middleton.
Sir Thomas has been Chancellor of Durham University since 2012. His many honours include the titles of Bayerischer Kammersänger, and Commander of the British Empire, which preceded the knighthood bestowed on him in 1999 in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. In 2013 he was awarded with the Queen’s Medal for Music. He holds honorary doctorates from The Royal College of Music and from the Royal Academy. Following a period as Hambro Visiting Professor of Opera at Oxford University, he became a Fellow of Jesus College at that university, and finally, though not least, he has a railway locomotive named after him, part of the fleet on Channel Tunnel service.
Participation generously supported by Amalia de Saint-Louvent et Pierre-Michel D’Anglade.
Photo : Sussie Ahlburg
