Philip Curtis

Philip Curtis (1952) was born in London and studied music at York University. He began his professional performing career as an opera singer, studying with Otrakar Kraus and Mino Campanino. He has specialized in contemporary music theatre, working with such composers as Luciano Berio, John Cage, Morton Feldman, Bernard Rands and Stephen Sondheim. He has also been a soloist in musicals, including Chess in London’s West End and the Royal National Theatre’s award-winning production of Sweeney Todd (Sondheim). In 1997 he co-founded Music Theatre Group Amsterdam and wrote and directed The Sofa (1998) and Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? (2000). He directed the Dutch première of Thomas Adès’ opera Powder her Face and the musical The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Elsewhere he has written and directed Een Seizoen in de Hel for the Basho Ensemble and Trom’s Day Off for Slagwerkgroep Den Haag and new versions of Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor and Donizetti’s Rita for the Covent Garden Festival. He is an internationally recognized teacher of music theatre and drama for singers, actors and instrumentalists. He is Head of Drama of the singing department of the Conservatorium of Amsterdam and is attached to the De Nieuwe Opera Academie. He is also visiting drama teacher at Trinity College of Music and The Royal Academy of Music in London and York University. Philip is also teaching at the master education of the Prince Claus Conservatoire, 'New Audiences and Innovative Practices' where he focusses on 'Leading and Guiding' and 'Performance and Communication'.