Charles Humphries’ vocal career began in the United Kingdom as a 7 year old chorister at Salisbury Cathedral and since those days music has taken him to all parts of the globe. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, he was honored with the letters ARAM (Associate Royal Academy of Music) for his services to music.  Known for his intelligent interpretations of baroque and renaissance music he has been one of the most sought after countertenors worldwide for the past twenty-five years. 

 

Throughout that time his career has paired him with a number of very distinguished conductors and directors including Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Richard Hickox, Paul McCreesh, Robert King, Rinaldo Allessandrini, Nicholas McGegan, James O’Donnell, Trevor Pinnock and Lars Ulrik Mortensen. As a consort singer and soloist he has made over forty recordings and highlights of those recordings include being an integral part of all the Venetian reconstructions that both the Gabrieli Consort and the Kings Consort produced throughout Europe. He was also a major contributor to the Bach cantata pilgrimage through the millennium year with Sir John Eliot Gardiner both as a soloist and consort member.

His Operatic appearances have taken him as far afield as Germany, England, Lithuania, France, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Greece and roles sung have included Ptolomeo, (Handel- Giulio Cesare), Delfa, (Cavalli - Giasone), Pompeo, (Cavalli -Pompeo Magno), Lichas (Handel - Hercules), Lucio Silla (Handel- Lucio Silla), Tamerlano (Handel- Tamerlano), The Sorceress (Purcell- Dido and Aeneas), Hamor (Handel- Jephtha), to name but a few.

Charles now resides in the USA's capital where his career continues to flourish. Appearances on the East coast have included working with groups such as Washington Bach Consort (J Reilly Lewis), Bach Sinfonia (Dan Abraham) and the Washington Cathedral Choral Society. Across the United States he has appeared extensively with ensembles such as Bach Collegium San Diego (CA), Pacific Bach Project (CA), the Berkeley early music festival(CA), Ensemble xiii, (Texas) and St Thomas 5th Avenue (NY). In recital he is in great demand and he is often seen in collaboration with the great young lutenist, Kevin Payne. Last seasons concert highlights included programmes of Handel Arias and Duets, Vivaldi cantatas, a programme of songs by Barbara Strozzi, John Dowland Lute songs, Handel's Messiah, a selection of cantatas of JS Bach, the St John Passion, the Pergolesi Stabat Mater and songs of Henry Purcell and his debut with Opera Lafayette directed by Ryan Brown. This summer saw his solo album  released featuring the Alto cantatas of JS Bach on the Claudio label with Naxos worldwide distribution.  

 

Future engagements include early cantatas from Bachs time in Weimar (Bach Sinfonia, DC), Couperin Lecons de Tenebrae (DC).  In the fall he will return to the UK to participate in a new recording of John Joubert's opera “Jane Eyre” for the SOMM label, a disc of Campian Lute songs will be recorded at that time for Claudio records as well as concerts to promote that disc in the UK and Europe. Proposals and negotiations are underway for projects in December in Australia. Mr. Humphries is also in high demand as a vocal coach, teacher and mentor nationwide and as well as running his successful private studio, he continues his collaboration with Universities throughout the country.

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For more information about Charles, please visit  http://www.charleshumphries.me/

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