David Hibbard Bass

Australian bass David Hibbard graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 1981. As a young artist, he gained experience singing minor principal roles for three seasons with the State Opera of South Australia, followed by study in New York with Daniel Ferro and in England with Sir Peter Pears in 1985.

A contract with the English National Opera saw him as a principal in Die Meistersinger, Julius Caesar and Rossini’s Moses in Egypt and Simon Boccanegra for the Glyndebourne Festival Opera. In 1987, he sang Sparafucile, touring England with Opera 80. He returned to Australia in 1988 to appear with Opera Australia in roles ranging from Fiesco in Boccanegra, Ramphis in Aida, Monterone in Rigoletto and The Speaker in The Magic Flute to Publio in La Clemenza di Tito

In 1990, after receiving the German Operatic Award from Opera Foundation Australia, he commenced a contract with Cologne Stadtsoper, performing roles by composers from Mozart to Peter Maxwell-Davies, as well as Lieder Recitals. In 1992, he was appointed First Bass with the Bremen Stadts Theater where he performed Fiesco in Simon Boccanegra, Padre Guardiano in La Forza del Destino, Sparafucile, Baron Ochs, Prince Gremin, Colline and Alvise Badoero in La Gioconda.

Since returning to Australia in 1994 to sing Sarastro for the West Australian Opera, he divides his time between Europe and Australia. In 1995, he sang Colline and Basilio for the State Opera of South Australia and Alvise Badoero in La Gioconda for Bremen.

Mr Hibbard’s 1996 overseas engagements included performances in Barcelona of The Lighthouse by Peter Maxwell-Davies and, in Amsterdam, The Commendatore in Don Giovanni. He also sang Timur in Opera Australia’s production of Turandot in Adelaide and Brisbane. 1997 engagements included performances of Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro and Geronte in Manon Lescaut for the SOSA, the old Hebrew in Opera Queensland’s Samson et Delilah and, in 1998, Fafner in the SOSA’s Ring Cycle and the title role in Don Pasquale. In 1999, David Hibbard performed the Bonze in Madama Butterfly and the title role in The Mikado for SOSA. 2000 engagements included Snug in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Grand Inquisitor in Don Carlo for Opera Australia, guest soloist in a Queensland Symphony Orchestra opera concert, bass soloist in Verdi’s Requiem for the Intervarsity Choral Festival and the title role in The Mikado for Opera Queensland.

In 2001, he was guest soloist in Walton’s Façade for the Queensland Orchestra and sang Nourabad in The Pearl Fishers for Opera Queensland. He also travelled to Scandinavia where he featured as bass soloist in a tour by the Sydney Youth Orchestra.

In 2002, he performed Fléville/Schmidt in Andrea Chenier and Brander in The Damnation of Faust for Opera Queensland and appeared in concert for the Brisbane Festival and the Tyalgum Festival. Mr Hibbard also sang the title role in Don Pasquale at the Elder Hall, Adelaide. Forthcoming appearances for State Opera of South Australia include George Benton in Dead Man Walking in 2003 and Fafner in Der Ring des Nibelungen in 2004. In 2003, he will also sing Angelotti in Opera Queensland’s Tosca.