Richard Williams

Baritone Soloist

Oratorio - Recital - Ensemble - Symphonic Concerts

Video Recordings

Watch more video recordings on Richard Williams YouTube Channel

Bio

Born and raised in Western Canada, Richard Williams first distinguished himself as a singer in 1981 by winning First Place in the Alberta Provincial Music Festival. This led to a Second Place at the National Festival in Toronto. Richard has been a frequent guest soloist with various choirs and orchestras throughout Western Canada, including the Pacific Spirit Choir, Belle Voci, Handel Society, SummerChor, Abbottsford Symphony, Okanagan Symphony, Prince George Symphony, Vancouver Bach Choir and Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble. 

Richard made his European debut as a professional soloist in 1992.  His many solo performances took him to some of the world's great music centers, including Frankfurt, Milan, Geneva, London, and Paris.

While in Europe, Richard continued his teaching career, with important appointments such as: Head of Vocal Studies at the International School of Geneva, Chef de Chant for the National Youth Choir of Switzerland and Chef du Choeur for Opera Studio de Genève

Richard is the founding Artistic Director of Opera Pro Cantanti. Established in 2007, OPC is Canada's first and only repertory opera company. Over the years, OPC has performed several mainstream operas multiple times in a rotating schedule that, at times saw the company performing 3 times a month! In 2027, Opera Pro Cantanti will celebrate its 20th Anniversary.

Repertoire

Sacred and Oratorio 

Handel – Messiah, various other oratorios

Bach – St. John Passion, St. Matthew Passion, various cantatas.

Monteverdi – Vespro Della Beata Vergine (1610)

Carissimi – Historia di Jonas, Jephthe

Brahms – Requiem

Duruflé – Requiem

Fauré – Requiem

Mendelssohn – Elijah

Dubois – The Seven Last Words

Recital

Schubert – Winterreise, Die Schöne Müllerin, various songs

Schumann – Dichterliebe, various songs

Beethoven – An die Ferne Geliebte, various songs

Mahler – Rückert Lieder, Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen

Liszt – Petrarch Sonnets

Brahms – Lieder und Gesänge Op 32, Die Nonne und der Ritter, Vier Ernste Gesänge, Liebeslieder Waltzer (both sets)

Vaughan Williams – Songs of Travel, A House of Life

Orchestral

Mahler - Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen, Rückert Lieder

Berlioz – Les Nuits D’Eté

Vaughan Williams – Songs of Travel

Reviews

Richard has a rich and vibrant baritone, communicates brilliantly with an audience, and works great with any kind of ensemble. He is the complete package!

Kevin Zakresky,

Conductor of Pacific Spirit Choir

I am delighted to write this review for Richard Williams, whom I have had the pleasure of working with in my capacity as Music Director of Cantare, Super Orchestram, Belle Voci, and the Latin Mass Choir at Holy Rosary Cathedral. Richard is an exceptional vocalist whose contributions have greatly enriched our performances...

Paula DeWit, 

Choral Director at Holy Rosary Cathedral, Music Director and Conductor at Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra

This past Sunday, music lovers of the Sunshine Coast were treated to a performance of Schubert's Die Winterreise, generally considered to be the greatest of all song cycles. Created at the end of his life by the man whose songs are more widely sung those of any other composer of classical music. Each of the 24 songs is a masterpiece of its kind. To present it in full requires a singer of exceptional ability and stamina and an accompanist possessed of unusual interpretive subtlety and musical imagination. These qualities are rare enough that the cycle is seldom given, even in the larger cities. I will not mince words here. The performance we were treated to was of world-class calibre. I will not make invidious comparisons, but Richard Williams and his accompanist Harold Brown need defer to no one.

Review by Dick Hammond of Die Winterreise by Franz Schubert 

The hearts of the listeners were warmed by the smooth and tender voice of guest baritone soloist Richard Williams during Les Nuits D'Eté by Hector Berlioz. The six songs in this cycle were performed with an exquisite understanding of the sensuous French style. Williams performed effortlessly without the excessive vibrato that often burdens voices in the lower range. 

Review by Daniela Cinel O'Fee for Kamloops Daily News

Richard Williams, Baritone

Contact Richard for your next concert!

Available for solo engagements worldwide (except the US).
Oratorio, Symphonic Concerts or Recital.
Name E-mail Message Submit