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Baritone
Rhys Jenkins

Reviews
On Stage
Interviews


  BIOGRAPHY  

 

Rhys Jenkins made his debut in Germany as JAGO in “Otello”at the International Music Festival Gut Immling in summer 2014 and returned here as LINDORF/COPPELIUS/DR.MIRACLE/DAPPERTUTTO in “ The Tales of Hoffmann'' and as JOCHANAAN in “Salome”.

Further engagements brought him to Germany as RIGOLETTO to the Koblenz Theatre , als FALSTAFF and SHARPLESS (Madama Butterfly) to the Pforzheim Theatre and as the FLYING DUTCHMAN to the Landesbühnen Sachsen .

From 2015 to 2022 he was a member of the Osnabrück Theatre, where he sang a broad repertoire including such roles as SIMONE BOCCANEGRA, TELRAMUND, OREST, OWEN WINGRAVE, the SPEAKER in ‘“Die Zauberflöte”, in the title parts of Busoni’s DOCTOR FAUST, Verdi’s RIGOLETTO and FALSTAFF, Magnard’s GUERCOEUR, SCARPIA in “Tosca”, MINISTER in Beethoven's “Fidelio” and RAIMONDO in “Lucia di Lammermoor’.
In the season 2023/24 he returned for guest performances to the Osnabruck Theatre and could be seen here as GIORGIO GERMONT in “La Traviata” and as BALSTRODE in “Peter Grimes”.

After reading Modern Languages in Edinburgh and Vienna, the Welsh baritone trained at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama Opera School, (RSAMD) followed by the Cardiff International Academy of Voice where he was supported by BBC Wales and the Dennis O’Neill Foundation. He is a Britten-Pears Young Artist, Samling Foundation Scholar, a Wingate Scholar and alumnus of the Solti Accademia di Bel Canto.

While still studying, Rhys Jenkins already performed the title role in DON GIOVANNI at the Verbier Festival Academy under the musical direction of Manfred Honeck and made his debut recital at the Aldeburgh Festival singing Lieder by Duparc and Mussorgsky’s Songs and Dances of Death. In Manchester he portrayed DANDINI under Maestro Enrique Mazzola.

His repertoire also includes such roles as ALBERT HERRING, DANDINI “a Cenerentola”, SCHAUNARD, MARCELLO in “La Bohème”, BOTTOM in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, LEPORELLO in “Don Giovanni”, THE SORCERESS in “Dido and Aeneas”, DUCA DI NOTTINGHAM in “Roberto Devereux”, ESCAMILLO in “Carmen”, PETER in “Hänsel und Gretel”, LE GENDARME in “Les Mamselles de Tiresias”, RODRIGO in “Don Carlo”, CONTE DI LUNA in “Il Trovatore”, GIANNI SCHICCHI and TONIO “I Pagliacci”.

Rhys Jenkins is also a very much sought-after Lieder and Oratoria singer. His repertoire includes Brahms’ Requiem, Dvorák’s Mass in D, Maunder's Jerusalem, Handel’s Messiah and Israel in Egypt, Stanford's Songs of the Sea, Elgar’s Coronation Ode, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Berlioz Messe Solennelle, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Maunder's Bethlehem, Bach's St Matthew Passion and Rutter's Mass for the Children.

In the season 2024/25 he portrays PRIES GRIGORIS in “Greek Passion” and SHARPLESS in “Madama Butterfly”at the Jyske Opera, RIGOLETTO at the Opera House Chemnitz and return as GIORGIO GERMONTto the Osnabruck Theatre.

 

 
 
REVIEWS
 
Den Jyske Opera – Greek Passion – PASTOR GRIGORIS
Captain Balstrode – sonorously and warm-heartedly sung by Rhys Jenkins.
Aarsskriftet-Critique
aarsskriftet-critique.dk
Theater Osnabrück – Peter Grimes - BALSTRODE
Captain Balstrode – sonorously and warm-heartedly sung by Rhys Jenkins.
theater:pur
www.theaterpur.net
Rhys Jenkins performs the old sea-dog with the caliber of a captain.
NOZ
www.noz.de
Theater Osnabrück – Falstaff - FALSTAFF
Rhys Jenkins, for whom the role seems to have been cut out, sang the title part of Sir John Falstaff. In his hotel room in a shabby tavern, one saw him right from the beginning in his grubby nightgown, eating chicken and drinking wine. The Osnabrück audience already knows that Rhys Jenkins always convincingly portrays his roles. But seeing him in his kilt, while dancing to a jig was just gorgeous.
M.Thomzik Opernglas November 2019
As almost all huge, male title roles in the last years, Rhys Jenkins portrays Falstaff and as always his interpretation is sovereign and powerful. Entirely according to Verdi’s will, one also has to recognize his acting performance. Unshakable self-confidence and offended pride: excellently portrayed. Yet undoubtedly the most funny highlight of the evening was when Rhys Jenkins dressed in a kilt started his funny little dance.
NOZ
www.noz.de
Especially Rhys Jenkins in the title role has plenty of text. He mastered his part with bravery and once again he thrilled the audience with his versatility. After having performed the dramatic leading roles in the operas “Der Horla” and “Guercoeur”this year, in the role of Falstaff he proves once again that he is an excellent comedian and vocally absolutely reliable. With his earthy-powerful baritone voice, with which he can excellently even reach the low registers, he is truly brilliant. But he also is a superb actor – his Falstaff is a human parasite, a repugnant greedy pig and a tippler, a lecher with a good sense of humor. Terrific!
kulturfeder.de
www.kulturfeder.de
Rhys Jenkins is the man for all seasons at the Theater Osnabrück, at least concerning complex, dark characters such as Rigoletto, Faust or Guercœur. That’s why I was especially looking forward to his Falstaff. Once again, the Welsh singer turns out to be a real all-purpose weapon, succeeding with his excellent theatrical talent, his perfect vocal line and his utterly present portrayal of the title role.
Der Opernfreund
www.deropernfreund.de
Theater Osnabrück – Guercoeur - GUERCOEUR
With great energy and lyrical voice control the Welsh baritone Rhys Jenkins throws himself into the title role. Also as an actor, Jenkins as the obviously despairing hero, who doesn’t see any joy in getting a second chance on earth, bears the evening.
Süddeutsche Zeitung
www.sueddeutsche.de
Baritone Rhys Jenkins has the condition, but also the necessary brokenness in this timbre to sing Guercœur as a drawn figure, a hero of kindness, whose ghost is haunted.
Frankfurter Allgemeine
www.faz.net
Powerfully and presently Rhys Jenkins portrayed the main character. His nuanced singing, his sufferance and his struggle are so intense, it even touches the audience in the last row.
Der Opernfreund
www.deropernfreund.de
Rhys Jenkins was undoubtedly the star of the evening. As the title hero Guercœur, the baritone seems to have everlasting reserves. He sings the huge part with a powerful, clear voice and is also a truly convincing actor.
Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung
www.noz.de
Theater Osnabrück - Lohengrin - TELRAMUND
'Especially in the first act Rhys Jenkins (Friedrich von Telramund) succeeds in boosting his profile,...'
www.operapoint.com
The Osnabrück newcomers Rhys Jenkins as Telramund (in appearance and attitude he would also make an appropriate Alberich ) and José Gallisa as the German king perfecty fit in this pleasantly mixed ensemble.
www.epaper.osnabruecker-nachrichten.de
Rhys Jenkins with his secure, but rather hard baritone voice convinces as Lohengrins opponent Friedrich von Telramund.
Horst Dichanz, www.opernnetz.de
Theater Osnabrück - Lohengrin - TELRAMUND
'Rhys Jenkins perfectly masters the demnding role of Friedrich von Telramund. ...'
NOZ
www.noz.de
Osnabrück Theatre - SIMONE BOCCANEGRA
In the title role Rhys Jenkins made his remarkable debut at the Osnabruck Theatre. The Welsh baritone has a rich and powerful voice, by which he knows how to indicate the disparate aspects of the Boccanegra character.
NOZ
www.noz.de
Oper festival Immling - The Tales of Hoffmann - 4 VILLAINS
As his opponent, the Welsh baritone Rhys Jenkins, in the form of a diabolical clown with smoothly flowing notes, presented far better.
Opernglas 10/2015
The second fixed point and pillar of the entertaining new production is the baritone Rhys Jenkins, who portrays here the roles of Hoffmann's opponents. A diabolic clown, who grimacingly dances a across the stage, hardly succeeding in hiding his true nature.
Der neue Merker
www.merkur.de
International Music Festival in Chiemgau - Otello - JAGO
'Rhys Jenkins from Wales, this philistine in his grey jersey, sneers and smirks behind Otello's back. He fully meets the requirements of this difficult role, both as a singer and as an actor.'

 
'Especially the casting of the constellation Otello-Jago-Desdemona turns this second last Verdi opera into a real psychothriller, even more suspenseful than any American crime series. With this ensemble the producers of Immling made three real discoveries. The Welsh baritone Rhys Jenkins' interpretation of Jago shows a fiddler, an almost Mephistophelian character with wit and an absolutely space-filling, highly convincing voice.'

BR Klassik
www.ardmediathek.de

 
'The third in the trio is Rhys Jenkins as Jago, both vocally and dramatically extremely agile. At first glance he doesn't at all seem to fit in with the stereotyped cliché of the sinister intriguer, always entering the stage with a smile on his face, miming a dancing jester with fuzzy hair and bagy clothes. But behind the cheerful facade, pure hatred is slumbering. In the furiously ejected "Credo" we catch a short glimpse of this hatred. Afterwards, Jago once again puts on his pokerface...'

Ostbayerische Volksblatt
www.ovb-online.de

 
'The Welsh Rhys Jenkins gave his first Jago. No doubt, in future he will sing this part, which suits him perfectly, quite often.'

Der neue Merker
www.der-neue-merker.eu

 
Welsh National Opera – Lohengrin – HERALD – June 2013
'... and was replaced in that role by Rhys Jenkins. Both were fine in their new roles. Jenkins' diction and stage presence were ideal.'
Opera Britannia
'I was impressed by Simon Thorpe and Rhys Jenkins, both of whom had to step up to new roles at the last minute due to John Lundgren (originally cast as Telramund) being unable to sing.'
Hippodrome Heather
 
ON STAGE
Theater Osnabrück – Peter Grimes - BALSTRODE
 
Theater Osnabrück - Manon Lescaut - LESCAUT
 
Theater Osnabrück - Lohengrin - TELRAMUND
 
Osnabrück Theatre - SIMONE BOCCANEGRA
 
Internationales Musikfestival Gut Immling - Otello - JAGO
 
 
INTERVIEWS - PORTRAITS
 
Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung (deutsch)