HughCutting
Representation
About Hugh
Hugh Cutting is a graduate of the Royal College of Music where he was a member of the International Opera Studio. On graduating, he was awarded the Tagore Gold Medal, presented by King Charles III. In the autumn of 2021, Hugh became the first countertenor to win the Kathleen Ferrier Award and to become a BBC New Generation Artist (2022-24).
During his first professional season in 2022/23 Hugh made his debut at Opernhaus Zürich singing Monteverdi, sang Arsace Partenope on tour in Europe with William Christie and Les Arts Florissants, made his debut at Wigmore Hall, and sang Bach's St Matthew Passion at Carnegie Hall with Bernard Labadie and the Orchestra of St. Luke's, marking his U.S. debut.
He has gone on to sing Polinesso in Handel's Ariodante with les Arts Florissants, Arsace in Berenice with il Pomo d'Oro, and Bach's Christmas Oratorio with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Masaaki Suzuki. He made role debuts as the Boy in George Benjamin's Written on Skin in Stavanger, Ariel in Anthony Bolton's new Island of Dreams at Grange Park Opera, and Dardano in Handel's Amadigi with The English Concert and Harry Bicket.
In the 2024/25 season he makes his debut at La Scala Milan singing Corindo in Cesti's Orontea, makes his U.S. opera debut in the title role of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, his Australian debut singing Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare for Pinchgut Opera and Unulfo in Handel's Rodelinda at the Garsington Festival.
Concerts this season include Bach's Christmas Oratorio with the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover and Bernard Labadie, Messiah with the Tonkunstler Orchestra and Ivor Bolton, St Matthew Passion with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and Jonathan Cohen, and Bach's solo Cantatas with les Violons du Roy and Bernard Labadie in Quebec City and Montreal.
A committed recitalist, he has premiered works by Alex Ho, Piers Connor Kennedy, Elena Langer, Anna Semple and Tara Viscardi.
Representation
Season Highlights
Video
Hugh Cutting performs "Erbarme dich mein Gott" from Bach's St Matthew Passion
Credit: YLE Finland
PlayingHugh Cutting performs as Arsace from Handel’s Partenope
Credit: Les Arts Florissants
PlayingHugh Cutting performs Handel: Agrippina, HWV 6, Act 1: “L’ultima del gioir”
Credit: Kathleen Ferrier Awards
PlayingHugh Cutting performs Nico Muhly’s “Searching for lambs”
Credit: Kathleen Ferrier Award
PlayingHugh Cutting performs Hugo Wolf’s “Herr, was trägt der Boden hier”
Credit: Kathleen Ferrier Awards
Playing
Photos
Selected Repertoire
| Benjamin | Written on Skin (Boy) |
|---|---|
| Bolton | Island of Dreams (Ariel) |
| Cesti | Orontea (Corindo) |
| Dove | Flight (Refugee) |
| Handel | Agrippina (Nerone) • Amadigi di Gaula (Dardano) • Ariodante (Polinesso) • Berenice (Arsace) • Giulio Cesare (Tolomeo) • Partenope (Arsace) • Rodelinda (Bertarido, Unulfo) |
News
Samantha Clarke sings her first Cleopatra alongside Hugh Cutting who makes Australian debut
Hugh Cutting debuts at La Scala
Hugh Cutting makes Wigmore Hall recital debut
ON TOUR: il Pomo d’Oro tours Europe with Joyce DiDonato, Fatma Said and Hugh Cutting
Hugh Cutting debuts at Opernhaus Zürich
Hugh Cutting and Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha join BBC New Generation Artist Scheme
Askonas Holt welcomes Hugh Cutting to its roster for general management
Press
Handel | Giulio Cesare (Tolomeo)
Pinchgut Opera, SydneyNov 2024 - Nov 2024Hugh Cutting is most fascinating as Tolomeo – an immature and psychopathic character, who is unrelenting in his pursuit of power. Cutting’s voice and body merge in a performance that delivers nuanced details of Tolomeo’s conniving and cruel nature. He creates in the moment, making the organic rendition of his character exciting to watch. In Act 3, Scene 2, with countertenor brilliance and acting dexterity Cutting powerfully conveys Tolomeo's rage as he orders the imprisonment and potential execution of Cleopatra
- Australian Stage
- 22 November 2024
Hugh Cutting sang Tolomeo, playing the spoiled, cruel brat to the hilt... he produced good unforced tone, with some excellent snarls and drops into chest for dramatic effect
- BachTrack
- 23 November 2024
Fellow English countertenor Hugh Cutting is a formidable force as Tolomeo, who plots for singular control of the throne while manipulating the wife of Caesar’s decapitated Roman rival Pompeo. The dexterity of and intentions conveyed by Cutting’s vocal interpretations are outstanding and his character’s manipulative and dangerously unpredictable nature might have you making modern day comparisons
- Australian Arts Review
- 23 November 2024
As the evil villain Tolomeo countertenor Hugh Cutting was nastiness itself and for those of us who love a perfect villain he was surely it. He brought an edge of wickedness into his singing whilst always singing with sustained beauty.
- Classikon
- 22 November 2024
