Operatic tenor Robert Tilson is a passionate interpreter of a wide range of roles in genres spanning from the 17th century to the present day. In 2016 Robert was awarded a place to study on the esteemed Masters course at The Royal Academy of Music under internationally renowned tenor Ryland Davies and multi-award winning accompanist James Baillieu. He has recently been involved in their spring opera scenes, working on the role of ‘Davey’ in John Dove’s 1994 opera Siren Song.
Robert is looking forward to working in the chorus for the summer season at Opéra de Baugé, and is also taking the role of ‘Ferrando’ in Flat White Opera’s Cosi Fan Tutte.
During his undergraduate degree at the Birmingham Conservatoire, Robert’s passion for opera grew dramatically. He performed the title role in the Conservatoire’s 2015 production of Actéon by Charpentier, and the role of ‘Satyavan’ in the 2016 production of Savitri by Holst. He created the lead tenor role of ‘Dave’ in the 2015 production of Michael Wolters’ world premier Ava’s Wedding, the role of ‘L’Aumonier’ in the 2014 production of Dialogues des Carmelites by Poulenc, and the role of ‘Lover’ in the 2013 production of Il Trittico by Puccini.
Robert has also featured regularly in the Birmingham Conservatoire’s autumn opera scenes, appearing twice as ‘Rodolfo’ in Puccini’s La Bohème, ‘Monostatos’ in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, ‘Fenton’ in Verdi’s Falstaff, ‘Snout’ in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, ‘Raoul de Gardefeu’ in Offenbach’s La Vie Parisienne, and ‘Grocery Boy’ in Berkeley’s A Dinner Engagement. He has also sung as a member of the chorus in scenes from Bizet’s Carmen, J Strauss’s A Night in Venice, Verdi’s Macbeth, Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, and Weil’s Street Scene.
Robert has had several external opportunities while at the Conservatoire. His highlights include working with Midland Opera, performing the lead role of ‘Giannetto’ in La Gazza Ladra by Rossini. Other performances include being a featured soloist for Opera At Bearwood’s winter season, and singing the lead tenor role of ‘Angelo’ in a new operatic commission, Die Welt Ist Das Exil by Austrian composer Ulf-Diether Soyka.
In his years at the Birmingham Conservatoire Robert has been a key member of all three choirs at the Conservatoire, recently featuring on his third CD for the choir. Maintaining his choral foundations, Robert has performed as a tenor soloist in: Bach’s Mass in B minor, Handel’s Messiah, Dixit Dominus and Chandos Anthem No. 9, Haydn’s Creation and Harmoniemesse, Mozart’s Requiem Mass, Spatzenmesse and Coronation Mass, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Saint Saën’s Christmas Oratorio, Puccini’s Messa Di Gloria, Dvorak’s Mass in D, Schubert’s Mass in G, Stainer’s Crucifixion, and Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music.