Colin Morris

Colin Morris is from Sheerness, in Kent. He graduated from Exeter University with BA and PhD degrees in geography, and he holds the Performer's ARCM. His principal singing teachers have been Gordon Clinton, Paul Hamburger and Derek Hammond-Stroud, OBE. Colin's concert and recital career has taken him around Britain and The Netherlands - he is particularly noted for his CARMINA BURANA - and he has recorded lighter repertoire for the BBC.

    Colin has performed fifty operatic roles, predominantly buffo characters in Telemann, Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti and operetta, but also dramatic roles by Verdi and verismo composers. He has sung with Kent Opera, London Opera Players, Pavilion Opera in the UK and the USA, Regency Opera and The New Savoyards.

    Notable engagements include The Duke of Plaza-Toro in THE GONDOLIERS for D'Oyly Carte at Sadler's Wells and on tour, Sir Joseph Porter in HMS PINAFORE and Ko-Ko in THE MIKADO for Martin McEvoy Productions/Crystal Clear Opera, the title-role in GIANNI SCHICCHI and Don Annibale in IL CAMPANELLO for Neath Opera at Craig-y-Nos in South Wales, the title-role in FALSTAFF for Palace Opera in the Holland Park Opera Festival, Mr Peachum in THE BEGGAR'S OPERA twice, and Dr Bartolo in THE BARBER OF SEVILLE for Central Festival Opera, Alberich in DAS RHEINGOLD for the Covent Garden Festival, Frank in DIE FLEDERMAUS for London City Opera at the QEH, throughout the UK and on their 1999 USA tour, Dr Bartolo in THE BARBER OF SEVILLE and Calchas in LA BELLE HELENE for Castleward Opera in Northern Ireland, Don Magnifico in LA CENERENTOLA for Diva Opera, Buonafede in Haydn’s IL MONDO DELLA LUNA for Opera East, Alberich in DAS RHEINGOLD and Sharpless in MADAMA BUTTERFLY for Secret Opera, Reginald Bunthorne in PATIENCE for Kent Opera and Ko-Ko in THE MIKADO at Grim’s Dyke. His concert performances at Piggots Summer Camp, conducted by Nicholas Braithwaite, include Alberich in DAS RHEINGOLD and SIEGFRIED, and Faninal in DER ROSENKAVALIER.

     Internationally, his roles have included Dr Bartolo in THE BARBER OF SEVILLE, Frank (twice) in DIE FLEDERMAUS and Baron Zeta in THE MERRY WIDOW for Singapore Lyric Opera, Baron Zeta and Frank for the Penang Arts Council, Baron Zeta for Lyric Opera Malaysia and Alberich in DAS RHEINGOLD and Sharpless in MADAMA BUTTERFLY for Bangkok Opera.

     As a director/designer, his proscenium and in-the-round productions have encompassed operas by Mozart, Donizetti, Bizet and Puccini, operettas by G&S, Offenbach and Kalman, Broadway musicals, plays by Shakespeare, Wilde, Coward, Orton and numerous others, and several pantomimes. In particular, he has directed THE MIKADO twice, HMS PINAFORE and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE for the Heart of Kent Hospice, appearing as Ko-Ko, Sir Joseph Porter and Major-General Stanley in these productions.