Made some new friends last week—two of Prague‘s finest: Antonín Dvořák and Franz Kafka.

A #photodump from my brief but wonderful time in the "City of a Hundred Spires.“ I’m already looking forward to returning two more times this season…

🗓️ 25 May 2026
Berlioz: La damnation de Faust
@netopiltom | conductor
Prague Symphony Orchestra @orchestrfok

🗓️ 28 June 2026
Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex
@p_popelka | conductor
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
@symfonickyorchestrcro
@smetanovalitomysl

#classicalmusicians #collaborations #czechrepublic🇨🇿 #statuesofinstagram ...

Memories from Monday: Czech 🇨🇿 debut at the beautiful Rudolfinum in Prague

Oedipus Rex | Stravinsky

@P_Popelka | Conductor
@LukasVasilek | Choirmaster
@PraguePhilharmonicChoir
@symfonickyorchestrero

Paul Appleby | Oedipus Rex
@EsterPavlu | Jocasta
@Jiri_Bruckler | Creon & Messenger
@PavelSvingr | Tiresias
@Daniel_Matousek | Shepherd
Igor Bareš | Narrator

📷: (1,2,3) Matěj Komár

Looking forward to reuniting with this wonderful group of artists at the @smetanovalitomysl Festival in June 2026.

#oedipusrex #stravinsky #performances #stagephoto #classicalmusicians ...

Vere is one of the greatest roles I’ve had the privilege of wrestling with and I am honored to bring this complex character to life for the final time tonight in Benjamin Britten‘s BILLY BUDD at @operadelyon . Thank you to the wonderful crew aboard the Indomitable and to the fantastic crew backstage who made the magic happen every night. ✨

Cast & Creative

@Benedict.Kearns | Conductor & Chorus Director
@RichardBrunel | Director

Paul Appleby | Captain Vere
@SeanMichaelPlumb | Billy Budd
@Derek.Welton | John Claggart
@Alexander.w.h.deJong | Mr. Redburn
@RafalPawnuk | Mr. Flint
@Daniel.Miroslaw | Lt. Ratcliffe
@OliverJohnston5580 | Red Whiskers
@MichalMarhold | Donald
Scott @Wildebass | Dansker
William Morgan | The Novice
@GuillaumeAndrieux_ | Novice‘s Friend
@FilippVarikOfficial | Squeak

@Stephan_Zimmerli | Set Designer
Bruno de Lavenère | Costume Designer
Laurent Castaingt | Lighting Designer

#benjaminbritten #operalife #billybudd #hermanmelville ...

Captain Vere is ready for performance no. 4 of BILLY BUDD at @operadelyon. Toi toi toi to all of my fantastic colleagues!

Cast & Creative
Finnegan Downie Dear | Conductor
@RichardBrunel | Director

Paul Appleby | Captain Vere
@SeanMichaelPlumb | Billy Budd
@Derek.Welton | John Claggart
@Alexander.w.h.deJong | Mr. Redburn
@RafalPawnuk | Mr. Flint
@Daniel.Miroslaw | Lt. Ratcliffe
@OliverJohnston5580 | Red Whiskers
@MichalMarhold | Donald
Scott @Wildebass | Dansker
William Morgan | The Novice
@GuillaumeAndrieux_ | Novice‘s Friend
@FilippVarikOfficial | Squeak

@Benedict.Kearns | Choir Director

@Stephan_Zimmerli | Set Designer
Bruno de Lavenère | Costume Designer
Laurent Castaingt | Lighting Designer

🗓️ Performance Dates
March 21, 23, 27, 29, 31
April 2 & 4

#benjaminbritten #hermanmelville #operasinger #classicalmusician #timelapseart ...

A few production photos from Richard Brunel‘s wonderful new production of BILLY BUDD at @operadelyon

📷: Jean-Louis Fernandez

Cast & Creative
Finnegan Downie Dear | Conductor
@RichardBrunel | Director

Paul Appleby | Captain Vere
@SeanMichaelPlumb | Billy Budd
@Derek.Welton | John Claggart
@Alexander.w.h.deJong | Mr. Redburn
@RafalPawnuk | Mr. Flint
@Daniel.Miroslaw | Lt. Ratcliffe
@OliverJohnston5580 | Red Whiskers
@MichalMarhold | Donald
Scott @Wildebass | Dansker
William Morgan | The Novice
@GuillaumeAndrieux_ | Novice‘s Friend
@FilippVarikOfficial | Squeak

@Benedict.Kearns | Choir Director & Conductor

@Stephan_Zimmerli | Set Designer
Bruno de Lavenère | Costume Designer
Laurent Castaingt | Lighting Designer

🗓️ Performance Dates
March 21, 23, 27, 29, 31
April 2 & 4

#billybudd #benjaminbritten #operadelyon #performances #collaborations ...

Happy Birthday, Handel! Thank you for the all the amazing music I’ve been lucky enough to sing. I am looking forward to forward to some more great opportunities to sing your stuff in the coming years…

First up: MESSIAH with the @torontosymphony, December 2026.

📷 Handel’s SAUL at @Glyndebourne 2015

#otd #handel #saul #operasingersofinstagram #glyndebourne ...

Enjoying my return to this beautiful city and the superb company of @operadelyon for a new production of BILLY BUDD.

I never feel like I really know an opera until going through a full rehearsal process—we are having a rigorous and thorough one here to be sure. As I make my way through the many layers of this Britten masterpiece, I am amazed at its power and mystery, the intellectual and moral questions it grapples with, and the incredible score, orchestration and libretto. Vere is one if the greatest roles I’ve had the privilege of wrestling with and I am honored to bring this complex character to life with the wonderful CREW here in Lyon.

BILLY BUDD
An Opera by Benjamin Britten

Cast & Creative
Finnegan Downie Dear | Conductor
@richardbrunel | Director

@stephan_zimmerli | Set Designer
Bruno de Lavenère | Costume Designer
Laurent Castaingt | Lighting Designer

Paul Appleby | Captain Vere
@SeanMichaelPlumb | Billy Budd
@Derek.Welton | John Claggart
@Alexander.w.h.deJong | Mr. Redburn
@RafalPawnuk | Mr. Flint
@Daniel.Miroslaw | Lt. Ratcliffe
@OliverJohnston5580 | Red Whiskers
@MichalMarhold | Donald
Scott @Wildebass | Dansker
William Morgan | The Novice
@GuillaumeAndrieux_ | Novice‘s Friend
@FilippVarikOfficial | Squeak

@Benedict.Kearns | Choir Director & Conductor
@MichaelCobb_Conductor | Assistant Conductor
@cecilerestier & William Green | Répétiteurs

🗓️ Performance Dates
March 21, 23, 27, 29, 31
April 2 & 4 ...