Robert Macdonald (Bass-Baritone)

Born: England

The English bass-baritone, Robert Macdonald, began his singing career at an early age as a chorister at Hereford Cathedral where he not only developed a love of the Anglican choral repertoire, but also through participation in the Three Choirs Festival, an appreciation of the broader orchestral and oratorio genres. From Hereford, he took up a choral scholarship at Christ Church, Oxford where he read Biochemistry and Music.

After a brief period of study at the Royal Academy of Music, Robert Macdonald has rapidly developed a busy and versatile career as both a soloist and as a consort singer. In the latter capacity he regularly sings with most of the major period ensembles of this country, including The Tallis Scholars (Director: Peter Phillips), The Sixteen, The King's Consort and The Gabrieli Consort, while he is a full time member of both The Cardinall's Musick and of The Clerks' Group.

As a soloist Robert Macdonald encompasses most of the core oratorio repertory and has sung with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in Symphony Hall, Birmingham; with the Monteverdi Choir and The English Baroque soloists conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner and with the choir of St Paul's Cathedral. Future plans include his first Commendatore, and a performance of J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) conducted by Sir David Willcocks.

Robert Macdonald currently studies with Nicholas Powell.

Source: Chamelon Arts Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2004)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

John Eliot Gardiner

Bass

Member of Monteverdi Choir:
C-5 (1998); BWV 16, BWV 98 , BWV 139
C-10 (1998); BWV 133
BCP Vol. 1: CD-2: BWV 75, BWV 39, BWV 20
BCP Vol. 2: CD-1: BWV 2, BWV 10, BWV 76; CD-2: BWV 21, BWV 135
BCP Vol. 4: CD-2: BWV 186, BWV 107, BWV 187
BCP Vol. 5: CD-1: BWV 178, BWV 136, BWV 45
BCP Vol. 12: CD-2: BWV 139, BWV 163, BWV 52, BWV 140
BCP Trinity I: BWV 94, BWV 105, BWV 168

Hilliard Ensemble

Bass

BWV 225-226, BWV 228-229, BWV Anh 159

Timothy Roberts

Bass

Mvts. from BWV 29/7, BWV 38/1, BWV 38/6, BWV 62/6, BWV 118, BWV 432 (w/ HMS&C)

Links to other Sites

Robert Macdonald (Chamelonn Arts)