Gwyn Hughes Jones (born 25 October 1969) is a Welsh operatic tenor, best known for his leading roles in romantic Italian operatic repertoire.

Canu'r Cymry, album cover

Early life and education edit

Gwyn Hughes Jones was born in Llanbedrgoch, Anglesey, Wales,[1] and, after attending Ysgol Llanbedrgoch and Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni,[2] studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio.[3]

Career edit

Jones began his operatic career at Welsh National Opera in 1995, appearing as Ismaele in Verdi's Nabucco.[4] He has subsequently appeared for WNO in roles such as Cavaradossi in Tosca, Don Alvaro in La forza del destino and Pinkerton in Madam Butterfly.[5]

In 2011, he appeared as Cavaradossi in Puccini's Tosca directed by Catherine Malfitano for English National Opera.[6] In 2012, he made his debut for the New York Metropolitan Opera as Manrico in Verdi's Il trovatore directed by David McVicar.[7] In 2015, he was cast as Don Alvaro in Verdi's La forza del destino by director Calixto Bieito.[8] In 2016, he was cast as Turiddu in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana by director Elijah Moshinsky.[9]

Recordings edit

Jones has released three solo albums for Sain Records: Gwyn Hughes Jones - Tenor (1996);[10] Baner Ein Gwlad (1998);[11] and Canu'r Cymry (2011).[12] He appears as Macduff in Verdi's Macbeth for Chandos Records, released in 2014.[13]

References edit

  1. ^ "Gwyn Hughes Jones". Royal Opera House. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  2. ^ Gwyn Hughes Jones, The Daily Post 19 April 2013, retrieved 18 August 2023
  3. ^ Biography from Opera de Paris
  4. ^ "Gwyn Hughes Jones". BBC. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Gwyn Hughes Jones". Welsh National Opera. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  6. ^ Ashley, Tim (27 November 2011). "Tosca – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  7. ^ Woolfe, Zachary (2 October 2012). "Cast of Unknowns Swept Along by the Verdian High Tides". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  8. ^ Fairman, Richard (10 November 2015). "The Force of Destiny, Coliseum, London — 'A muddled evening'". Financial Times. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  9. ^ Picard, Anna (31 May 2016). "Opera: Cavalleria rusticana/ Pagliacci at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff". The Times. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  10. ^ Sain Records
  11. ^ Sain Records
  12. ^ Sain Records
  13. ^ Chandos Records