About this Artist
DAVID DANIELS is known for his superlative artistry, magnetic stage presence, and a voice of singular warmth and surpassing beauty, which have helped him redefine his voice category for the modern public. The American countertenor has appeared with the world’s major opera companies and on its main concert and recital stages. He made history as the first countertenor to give a solo recital in the main auditorium of Carnegie Hall.
Two European recital tours highlight David Daniels’ 2009/10 season, taking him to Frankfurt, Tampere, Finland, Paris, Belgrade, Berlin, London, and Munich. He returns to Houston Grand Opera as Arsamene in Nicholas Hytner’s production of Handel’s Serse and makes his debut with Atlanta Opera in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. Concert engagements include this tour of Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with Les Violons du Roy and Bernard Labadie, visiting Montreal, Quebec City, Carnegie Hall, and Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Highly sought after for the works of Handel, Monteverdi, Gluck, Mozart, and Britten, David Daniels has been featured on the great operatic stages of the world to overwhelming critical acclaim. Highlights of recent seasons include his title role debut as Orfeo in the Robert Carsen production at Lyric Opera of Chicago, his first performances in the title role of Handel’s Orlando at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, and his portrayal as Didymus in Peter Sellars’ renowned production of Theodora at the Glyndebourne Festival (available on DVD).
Daniels has given recitals worldwide, including performances at London’s Wigmore Hall, New York’s Avery Fisher Hall, Munich’s Prinzregententheater, and Barcelona’s Teatre del Liceu; and at the Edinburgh, Tanglewood, and Ravinia Festivals. His French recital debut was a sold-out performance at the Salle Gaveau in Paris.
In concert, Daniels recently made his debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker in Bach’s B-minor Mass. He has also toured extensively with long-time collaborator Harry Bicket and The English Concert, performing in London, Toulouse, Vienna, Munich, Vancouver, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.
An exclusive Virgin Classics recording artist, Daniels’ latest release is a collection of Bach’s Sacred Arias and Cantatas, conducted by Bicket with The English Concert. Showing his diverse musical personality, another release featured Berlioz’ song cycle Les Nuits d’été. Other recordings include A Quiet Thing (with guitarist Craig Ogden) and Handel’s Rinaldo, which received a Gramophone Editor’s Choice Album of the Year award in 2002.
David Daniels has been the recipient of two of classical music’s most significant awards: Musical America’s Vocalist of the Year for 1999 and the 1997 Richard Tucker Award.
Daniels was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the son of two singing teachers. He began to sing as a boy soprano, moving to tenor as his voice matured, and earned an undergraduate degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Dissatisfied with his achievements as a tenor, David Daniels made the daring switch to the countertenor range during graduate studies at the University of Michigan with George Shirley.
For further information about David Daniels visit danielssings.com. David Daniels appears by arrangement with IMG Artists, 152 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019.