PAUL AUSTIN KELLY
Tenor
Paul Austin Kelly's honey-toned, lyric tenor voice has earned international acclaim during his distinguished career as a star of the opera world, performing leading roles with the prestigious Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden and La Scala.
His recordings include La romanzesca, Zoraida di Granata, L’Esule di Granata, Rossini - Three Tenors, Cendrillon and Il Salotto – Volume 7 (Opera Rara), Der Stein der Weisen (Telarc), two volumes of Rossini Cantatas (Decca) and 20th Century English Art Songs (GM Recordings). His performance as Tonio in La fille du Régiment from La Scala, Milan, is now available on DVD.
Recent engagements include a Schumann recital in Dublin, Ireland, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at Carnegie Hall, the Beethoven Missa Solemnis at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Mozart’s Requiem for the London Mozart Players, Friday Night is Music Night for BBC Radio 2, Tito in Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito for Opera Boston, Almaviva in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia for the Royal Opera at Covent Garden, and Florida Grand Opera, and Don Ramiro in Rossini’s La Cenerentola for Opera Ireland. Upcoming engagements include Selimo in Rossini’s Maometto Secondo at the Concertgebouw and Haydn’s Creation in Ireland.
In a parallel career move, inspired by such artists as Dick Haymes, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett and the famed Rat Pack, Paul Austin Kelly has now teamed up with the legendary pianist and musical director, Kenny Clayton, who has worked with such artists as Charles Aznavour and Petula Clark. Mr. Kelly and Mr. Clayton's first collaboration is a tribute recital to Rodgers & Hammerstein also featuring the music of Rodgers & Hart and Hammerstein & Kern.
Mr. Kelly is also co-director of Walking Oliver Productions Ltd, www.walkingoliver.com, a music company and CD label devoted to the creation and preservation of quality music for children. The company boasts a catalog of 10 CDs, three of which were written and recorded in partnership with composer and multi-instrumentalist, Richard Durrant.
Irish Times review:
Kelly is a bel canto specialist, heard in Dublin last year in Opera Ireland's La Cenerentola. He brought the same unmannered clarity and subtle, intelligent expressiveness to Schumann as he did then to Rossini's prince. There is an appealing tenderness in his voice, from the firm, baritone-like richness of his lower register to his easy, unfussy quality at the top. How well this served Heine's emotional range from quiet reflection to spiteful outburst.
For contrast - and then some - the pair closed with showtunes from Richard Rodgers and Meredith Willson. Although these presented a lighter view of love than Schumann's, Kelly's performances were characterised by a winsome zeal. - Michael Dungan
© 2007 The Irish Times
The Irish Times also voted Mr. Kelly’s Ramiro in Rossini’s La Cenerentola the operatic performance of the year in Ireland for 2006.
Paul lives with his wife, Carol, his son Zack, their dogs, Oliver & Zeke, their snakes, Sid, Sal and Murphy and their gerbil, Linus in the south of England.