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, at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, and the Tonhalle, Zurich, with Ton Koopman, at the Barbican, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and Lincoln Center, and at the Royal Albert Hall in the BBC Proms.
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 conductors Rinaldo Alessandrini, Philippe Bender, Harry Bicket, Ivor Bolton, Frans Brüggen, Harry Christophers, Stephen Cleobury, Laurence Cummings, Christian Curnyn, Alan Curtis, Steven Devine, Richard Egarr, John Eliot Gardiner, Edward Gardner, Jane Glover, Paul Goodwin, Emmanuelle Haïm, Matthew Halls, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Edward Higginbottom, David Hill, Benedict Hoffnung, Christopher Hogwood, Peter Holman, Robert King, Nicholas Kraemer, Stephen Layton, Iain Leddingham, Charles Mackerras, Paul McCreesh, Kenneth Montgomery, Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Kent Nagano, Donald Nally, James O'Donnell, Enrico Onofri, Daniel Reuss, Jeffrey Skidmore, Jean-Christophe Spinosi, Charles Stewart, Patrick Summers, Elizabeth Wallfisch, Alison Balsom and Dominic Wheeler, and recitalists Julius Drake, Mark Padmore, Philip Langridge and Roger Vignoles.
Davies was the guest soloist in Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in September 2013.
He sang his first full operatic performance for La Scala in Death in Venice. In London, he sang the role of Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream for English National Opera.
Davies performed the singing voice of Farinelli in Farinelli and the King for a 16-week run at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway. The production opened in December 2017, and featured Mark Rylance as King Philippe V of Spain. Davies reprised the role at Shakespeare's Globe and in London's West End.
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 Release YearMusic LabelRecording TitleComposerConductorArtist / GroupNotes2006NaxosHandel: Messiah (1751 Version)George Frideric HandelEdward HigginbottomChoir of New College, Oxford, Academy of Ancient MusicDavies is the principal countertenor/alto soloist.2006NaxosVivaldi: GriseldaAntonio VivaldiKevin MallonAradia EnsembleDavies sings the role of Corrado.2008HyperionHandel: Chandos AnthemsGeorge Frideric HandelStephen LaytonChoir of Trinity College, Cambridge, Academy of Ancient MusicDavies is the featured alto soloist.2008HyperionŁukaszewski: Via CrucisPaweł ŁukaszewskiStephen LaytonPolyphony, Britten SinfoniaDavies provides the featured countertenor solos.2009Opus ArtePurcell: Dido and Aeneas (DVD)Henry PurcellChristopher HogwoodThe Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Age of EnlightenmentDavies sings the role of the Spirit.2009HyperionHandel: MessiahGeorge Frideric HandelStephen LaytonPolyphony, Britten SinfoniaDavies features as the primary countertenor soloist.2009DeccaHandel: Partenope (DVD)George Frideric HandelLars Ulrik MortensenConcerto Copenhagen, Royal Danish OperaDavies sings the principal role of Arsace.2010ChandosHandel: Flavio, re de' LongobardiGeorge Frideric HandelChristian CurnynEarly Opera CompanyDavies sings the title role of Flavio.2013HyperionBach: St John PassionJohann Sebastian BachStephen LaytonPolyphony, Orchestra of the Age of EnlightenmentDavies is the featured alto soloist.2013HyperionHandel: Chandos Anthems, Vol. 2George Frideric HandelStephen LaytonChoir of Trinity College, Cambridge, Academy of Ancient MusicDavies is the featured alto soloist.2013Les Arts FlorissantsHandel: BelshazzarGeorge Frideric HandelWilliam ChristieLes Arts FlorissantsDavies sings the principal role of Cyrus.2013HyperionBach: Christmas OratorioJohann Sebastian BachStephen LaytonChoir of Trinity College, Cambridge, Orchestra of the Age of EnlightenmentDavies is the featured alto soloist.2013Deutsche GrammophonAdès: The Tempest (DVD)Thomas AdèsThomas AdèsThe Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and ChorusDavies sings the role of Trinculo.2015Opus ArteSteffani: Niobe, Regina di TebeAgostino SteffaniThomas HengelbrockBalthasar-Neumann-EnsembleDavies sings the role of Creonte.2016Opus ArteHandel: Saul (Glyndebourne)George Frideric HandelIvor BoltonOrchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Glyndebourne ChorusDavies sings the principal role of David.2017AAM RecordsBach: St John Passion (Live)Johann Sebastian BachRichard EgarrAcademy of Ancient MusicDavies is the alto soloist.2019EratoAdès: The Exterminating Angel (DVD)Thomas AdèsThomas AdèsThe Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and ChorusDavies sings the role of Francisco de Ávila.2019PentatoneGluck: Orfeo ed EuridiceChristoph Willibald GluckDavid BatesLa Nuova Musica, Iestyn Davies, Sophie BevanDavies sings the principal role of Orfeo.2020HyperionHandel: Israel in Egypt / Schütz: Musikalische ExequienGeorge Frideric Handel, Heinrich SchützRobert King, Richard EgarrThe King's Consort, Scottish Chamber OrchestraDavies features as the alto soloist.2021Challenge RecordsBuxtehude: Membra Jesu NostriDieterich BuxtehudeTon KoopmanAmsterdam Baroque / PhantasmDavies is the alto soloist.2021Linn RecordsHandel: RodelindaGeorge Frideric HandelHarry BicketThe English ConcertDavies sings the principal role of Bertarido.
Choral, Ensemble, and Soundtrack Works