Jason Barry-Smith

Since graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 1991, and studying at the Musikhochschule in Munich, in London and the Teatro dell’Opera in Rome, Jason Barry-Smith has established a reputation as one of Australia’s most sought after singers.

Some of Jason’s many awards include the Queensland Conservatorium Medal for Excellence, the Marianne Mathy Scholarship (Australian Singing Competition), and Opera Foundation Australia’s Italian Opera Award. And his directorial debut, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas for the 2001 4MBS Festival, in which he also sang the role of Aeneas, won him the coveted Perform–4MBS Award for Opera Production.

In 2001 he was a soloist in the world premiere of Richard Mills’ Symphonic Poems for the Centenary of Federation Celebrations, and as a concert soloist he has also performed Faure’s Requiem, Haydn’s Paukenmesse, Bach’s Cantata BWV 56, St John Passion, St Matthew Passion and Christmas Oratorio, Purcell’s Ode to St Cecilia’s Day, Liszt’s Via Crucis, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Britten’s War Requiem and Handel’s Messiah.
 
Jason’s versatility is also reflected in the wide range of roles he has undertaken in both opera and musical theatre. While still studying at the Queensland Conservatorium Jason performed the title role in the Australian premiere of Billy Budd. His other roles include Enjolras in Les Miserables, Major General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance, Geoffrey Hargrave in Lawrence Hargrave Flying Alone, the title role of Don Giovanni (for which he won a National Opera Award), the Boatswain and Captain Corcoran in HMS Pinafore, Eisenstein and Dr Falke in Die Fledermaus, Danilo in The Merry Widow, Yamadori in Madama Butterfly, Guglielmo in Cosi fan Tutte, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Escamillo, Dancairo and Morales in Carmen, Dr Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Silvano in Un Ballo in Maschera, Figaro in The Barber of Seville, Marullo in Rigoletto, Mathieu in Andrea Chenier, Dandini in La Cenerentola, Tony in West Side Story, Shaunard in La Boheme and Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette. He created the role of Julian in the 2004 world premiere performances of Anthony Richie’s comic opera Quartet and performed the role of Mamoud in the 2005 Australasian premiere of John Adams’ The Death of Klinghoffer.

In 2004 Jason co-created and directed a new concert showcase for Opera Queensland called Food of Love, which toured Queensland in 2005. He made his debut as the Musical Director and Conductor of the Channel 7, Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols which was televised throughout Queensland.

(Plenty of OQ opera!)