Bio

Paul Kirby, hailed for his warm tone and musical intelligence is one of today’s outstanding young lyric tenors. He has garnered critical acclaim for his beautiful singing and also for the depth and originality of his portrayals. With an unusually wide repertoire ranging from medieval monophonic song through baroque, classical and romantic opera and song to late-twentieth century opera and concert works, he distinguishes himself on the stages and in the concert halls of Europe, Scandinavia and North America.

American-born and now a resident of Norway, Paul Kirby received his education at Blackburn College in Illinois and also at Boston University, where he pursued the Masters Degree and also the Diploma from the Opera Institute. While at Blackburn College, he was awarded the Mueller Humanities Fellowship, and at Boston University was a Director’s Award and the prestigious Kahn Career Entry Award.

As a concert soloist, Paul Kirby has performed with such renowned and varied ensembles as Emmanuel Music, Sequentia, Huelgas Ensemble, Vox Resonat, Les Arts Florissants, Grex Vocalis, Oslo Domkor, Les Solistes de Lyon Bernard Tétu, Ensemble Antiphona, the Boston Camerata, Tragicomedia, and the Handel and Haydn Society. He has recorded for the Harmonia Mundi, Sony Classics, Afka, Marc-Aurel Editions, and Koch International labels. Paul has performed with conductors such as Seiji Ozawa, William Christie, Christopher Hogwood, Paul Van Nevel, Claudio Abbado, Daniel Harding, Emmanuel Villaume, Yves Abel, John Harbison, Martin Pearlman, Dennis Russel Davies, Stephen Stubbs, Paul Van Nevel, Valentin Reymond, Christophe Coin, Terje Kvam, and Carl Høgset.

Photos by Derek Moore! www.derek-moore.com