Iestyn Davies

Iestyn Davies (born 16 September 1979) is a British classical countertenor, active internationally as a Baroque music soloist and opera performer.

Education and background Davies was born in York, England, and first studied piano and recorder. He was mentored in his early years by his father, Ioan Davies.

From the age of eight he sang as a boy treble in the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge, progressing to countertenor in his teens at Wells Cathedral School.

He returned to St John's College as a choral scholar to read Archaeology and Anthropology.

Davies' father, Ioan, was also a member of St John's College , and the founding cellist with the Fitzwilliam Quartet—founded by Cambridge students.

He gained his diploma from the Royal Academy of Music, which later appointed him an associate.

In 2004 he won the Audience Prize at the London Handel Singing Competition, and in 2010 was named "Young Artist of the Year" by the Royal Philharmonic Society.

Performance Davies's opera career to date has included the role of in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea for both Zurich Opera and Glyndebourne Festival Opera, and in Handel's Partenope he has sung both Arsace for New York City Opera and Armindo for English National Opera. He has sung Oberon in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream for Houston Grand Opera, Apollo in Britten's Death in Venice for English National Opera and Hamor in Handel's Jephtha for both Welsh National Opera and Opéra National de Bordeaux.

In 2010 he sang Creonte in Agostino Steffani's Niobe at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. In 2011, he sang the part of Unulfo in Handel's Rodelinda at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He returned to the Met in 2020 in another Handel opera, Agrippina, in which he sang the role of Ottone.

He has appeared in concert at Teatro alla Scala with Gustavo Dudamel,

He has worked with many leading orchestras, including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of Ancient Music, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Hallé Orchestra, the King's Consort, Northern Sinfonia, the English Concert, the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Retrospect Ensemble, the Parley of Instruments, Il Complesso Barocco, the Gabrieli Consort and Players, the Minnesota Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Concerto Köln, Concerto Copenhagen, Ensemble Matheus, Fretwork and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Leading interpreters with whom Davies has collaborated include

In April 2021 Davies sang with English National Opera in a socially distanced performance of Handel's Messiah, staged at the London Coliseum and conducted from the harpsichord by Laurence Cummings. It was broadcast by BBC Two.

In February 2022, Davies sang in a performance of Bach's Mass in B minor with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra under the direction of Richard Egarr.

In 2024 he made his Australian debut, starring alongside the Sydney Dance Company in the Australian Chamber Orchestra's national touring production Silence & Rapture. He also led Opera Australia's production of Orfeo ed Euridice later that year.

Honours Davies was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in 2012.

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to music.

Discography Solo and Duet Recitals Release YearMusic LabelRecording TitleComposerConductorArtist / GroupNotes2012HyperionArias for GuadagniVarious (incl. Handel, Gluck, Hasse)Jonathan CohenArcangeloDavies provides solo countertenor vocals celebrating Gaetano Guadagni. 2012Warner ClassicsSound the Trumpet: Royal Music of Purcell & HandelHenry Purcell, George Frideric HandelTrevor PinnockThe English Concert, Alison BalsomDavies features in countertenor duets with the trumpet. 2013Wigmore Hall LiveBritten: Five CanticlesBenjamin BrittenIestyn Davies, Allan Clayton, Mark Padmore, Julius DrakeDavies performs Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac and Canticle IV: Journey of the Magi. 2014HyperionThe Art of Melancholy: Songs by John DowlandJohn DowlandIestyn Davies, Thomas DunfordDavies is the solo countertenor. 2014Wigmore Hall LiveFlow My Tears: Songs for Lute, Viol and VoiceVarious (incl. John Dowland)Iestyn Davies, Thomas Dunford, Jonathan MansonDavies is the solo countertenor. 2014Wigmore Hall LiveArise, my museVarious (incl. Henry Purcell)Richard Egarr (harpsichord)Iestyn Davies, Richard Egarr & friendsDavies is the solo countertenor across this recital disc of English songs and anthems. 2014VivatYour Tuneful Voice: Handel Oratorio AriasGeorge Frideric HandelRobert KingIestyn Davies, Carolyn Sampson, The King's ConsortDavies provides solo countertenor vocals. 2016Signum ClassicsThe Complete Songs of Fauré, Vol. 2Gabriel FauréIestyn Davies, Malcolm MartineauDavies is one of the featured soloists performing selected Fauré mélodies. 2016HyperionBach: Cantatas Nos 54, 82 & 170Johann Sebastian BachJonathan CohenArcangelo, Iestyn DaviesDavies is the sole vocal soloist performing the three solo alto cantatas. 2017BISLost is my quiet: Duets and Solo SongsHenry Purcell, Felix Mendelssohn, etc.Carolyn Sampson, Iestyn Davies, Joseph MiddletonDavies sings countertenor solos and duets alongside soprano Carolyn Sampson. 2019Signum ClassicsIf: Michael Nyman & Henry PurcellMichael Nyman, Henry PurcellIestyn Davies, FretworkDavies is the featured solo countertenor accompanied by viol consort Fretwork. 2020VivatElegy: Countertenor Duets by Purcell & BlowHenry Purcell, John BlowJonathan CohenIestyn Davies, James Hall, The King's ConsortDavies sings countertenor duets alongside James Hall. 2020Apple MusicEight Songs From IsolationVariousOliver ZeffmanAcademy of St Martin in the Fields, various soloistsDavies sings one of the newly commissioned contemporary solo songs recorded during lockdown. 2021Signum ClassicsLamentoJohann Christoph Bach, Heinrich Schütz, etc.Iestyn Davies, FretworkDavies performs 17th-century German laments as the solo countertenor. 2022PentatoneHandel's Unsung Heroes 2George Frideric HandelDavid BatesLa Nuova MusicaDavies performs featured alto arias by Handel. 2022Warner ClassicsEternal HeavenGeorge Frideric HandelPhilippe JarousskyEnsemble Artaserse, Iestyn Davies, Philippe JarousskyDavies sings countertenor duets alongside Philippe Jaroussky. 2023Signum ClassicsDivine Music: An English SongbookVarious (John Dowland, Thomas Campion, etc.)Iestyn Davies, FretworkDavies is the solo countertenor performing English consort songs.

Opera and Oratorio Works

Choral, Ensemble, and Soundtrack Works Release YearMusic LabelRecording TitleComposerConductorArtist / Group / ChoirNotes1988ChandosCharpentier: Messe de minuit pour Noël / Poulenc: MotetsMarc-Antoine Charpentier, Francis PoulencGeorge GuestChoir of St John's College, Cambridge, City of London SinfoniaIestyn Davies likely features as a treble chorister. 1995ChandosPurcell: Dioclesian / Timon of AthensHenry PurcellRichard HickoxCollegium Musicum 90, Pierpont Morgan Library ChoirIestyn Davies likely participated as a boy treble/chorister. 2000NaxosRubbra: Nine Tenebrae MotetsEdmund RubbraChristopher RobinsonChoir of St John's College, CambridgeDavies sings in the choir as a choral scholar. 2000NaxosTavener: Song for Athene / SvyatiJohn TavenerChristopher RobinsonChoir of St John's College, CambridgeDavies sings in the choir as a choral scholar. 2001NaxosMiserere / Choral WorksVarious (incl. Allegri)Christopher RobinsonChoir of St John's College, CambridgeIestyn Davies was a choral scholar/member of the choir during this recording period. 2002NaxosEnglish Choral Music: William WaltonWilliam WaltonChristopher RobinsonChoir of St John's College, CambridgeDavies features as a choral scholar in the choir. 2002NaxosFinzi: Lo, the full, final sacrificeGerald FinziChristopher RobinsonChoir of St John's College, CambridgeDavies sings in the choir as a choral scholar. 2003NaxosKenneth Leighton: Sacred Choral MusicKenneth LeightonChristopher RobinsonChoir of St John's College, CambridgeDavies sang in the choir (tenor/countertenor) during his time as a choral scholar. 2004RCA / ECMTavener: The Veil of the TempleJohn TavenerStephen LaytonThe Temple Church Choir, Holst SingersDavies features in the choral ensemble. 2005Sony ClassicalKingdom of Heaven (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)Harry Gregson-WilliamsHarry Gregson-WilliamsThe Bach Choir, Hollywood Studio SymphonyDavies provides the featured countertenor solo vocals, notably on the track "Ibelin". 2010NaxosNesciens Mater: Choral WorksJean Mouton, variousVariousVarious Choirs (incl. Choir of St John's College, Cambridge)Compilation album; features Davies in his earlier collegiate choral recordings. 2015NMC RecordingsFinnissy: Maldon & Other Choral WorksMichael FinnissyJames WeeksEXAUDI Vocal EnsembleDavies features in the ensemble. 2019DeccaJenkins: Miserere - Songs of RedemptionKarl JenkinsStephen LaytonPolyphony, Britten SinfoniaDavies provides featured countertenor solos. 2021VivatPurcell: Royal OdesHenry PurcellRobert KingThe King's ConsortDavies is a featured alto soloist in the odes. 2021Hollywood RecordsThe Last Duel (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)Harry Gregson-WilliamsHarry Gregson-WilliamsHollywood Studio SymphonyDavies provides the featured countertenor vocal on "Celui que je désire". 2022VivatPurcell: Birthday Odes for Queen MaryHenry PurcellRobert KingThe King's ConsortDavies is a featured alto soloist. 2022Harmonia MundiRolling River: American ChoralTraditional, VariousGraham RossChoir of Clare College, CambridgeDavies features as a guest soloist, notably on the track "Beautiful River".

Reviews The Guardian (2010) Time Out (2010) The New York Times (2010) The Independent (2009) Press clippings